Chinese New Year (pinyin: chunjié), or the Spring Festival is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It consists of a period of celebrations, starting on New Year's Day, celebrated on the first day of the first month of the Chinese Lunar calendar. The Chinese New Year period ends with the Lantern Festival, on the fifteenth day of the festival.

According to legend, in ancient China Nian ("Nyan"), a man-eating predatory beast from the mountains, could infiltrate houses very loudly. The Chinese were always very scared of this monster. The Chinese later learned that Nian was sensitive to loud noises and the color red, and so they scared it away with explosions, fireworks and the liberal use of the color red. So "GuoNian" actually means "Passover the Nian". These customs led to the first New Year celebrations.

Things Chinese Do

Here is a list of things or traditions Chinese may do around Chinese New Year.

1. Preparation

• Clean and decorate the house with red colors and poetic couplet;
• Buy new clothes;
• Purchase and prepare enough food for at least two weeks;
• Shop for different kinds of firecrackers;
• Get a haircut.

2. New Year’s Eve

• The New Year Eve’s dinner is the biggest dinner of the year, which is full of symbolic meaning:

• Chinese dumplings – wealth
• Hard liquor – longevity
• Rice cake – promotion
• Fish – abundance

• Stay up whole night, chat while watching CCTV New Year Gala
• Set off firecrackers as soon as the New Year arrives
• The old give Hongbao (red envelop with money inside, which symbolizes luck and wealth) to the young generation.

3. New Year greetings

Chinese New Year is also the time for socializing. People wear new clothes and go out to visit and greet relatives and friends.

Typical greetings include:

• Happy New Year!
• May everything goes on as you wish!
• Wish you come into a good fortune!

 

4. Lantern Festival

Chinese New Year ends with the lantern festival on the 15th day of the month. People glowing lanterns in temples,and carry lanterns to an evening parade under the light of the full moon. In many areas the highlight of the lantern festival is the dragon dance. The dragon – which might stretch a hundred feet long – is typically made of silk, paper, and bamboo. Traditionally the dragon is held aloft by young men who dance as they guide the colorful beast through the streets.