Chinese New Year customs

The Spring Festival is the most solemn traditional festival in China, also known as the "Lunar New Year", which symbolizes farewell to the old and welcoming the new, as well as reunion and happiness. Here are some classic Spring Festival customs:

1. Preparation beforehand

Preparations for the Spring Festival begin in the twelfth lunar month. The 23rd or 24th day of the twelfth lunar month is the "Sacrifice to the Stove Festival". People worship the Stove King and pray for good luck in the coming year. Then there is a general cleaning to remove old dust, which means "removing the old and creating the new". Every household puts up Spring Festival couplets, window grilles and blessing characters to create a strong festive atmosphere.

2. New Year’s Eve reunion

New Year's Eve is the highlight of the Spring Festival. On this day, families gather together for New Year's Eve dinner. The fish on the table symbolizes "abundance every year" and the dumplings mean "attracting wealth and treasure". There is a tradition of staying up late on New Year's Eve. Elders tell family stories and the sound of fireworks and firecrackers not only ward off evil spirits and avoid disasters, but also express warm expectations for the New Year.

3. New Year greetings in the first month

On the first day of the first lunar month, people wear new clothes, pay New Year greetings, and express their best wishes to relatives and friends. Elders give "New Year's money" to their children to express their hopes for safe growth. There will also be folk performances such as dragon dance, lion dance, and stilt walking in rural areas, which are festive and lively.

4. The end of the Lantern Festival

The end of the Spring Festival is the Lantern Festival. People eat glutinous rice balls, watch lanterns, and guess lantern riddles, symbolizing a happy reunion and drawing a successful conclusion to the Spring Festival.

The customs of the Spring Festival reflect the Chinese people's pursuit of family reunion, happiness and health, and are an important symbol of Chinese culture.