Chinese New Year, commonly called The Spring Festival, is the most important Chinese holiday. This is a time for families and friends to get together even if they live very far apart. It celebrates the beginning of spring and symbolizes a fresh start.

The date of Chinese New Year changes from year to year because it’s based on the lunar calendar. The lunar calendar measures a month by one complete lunar cycle. Since there are 12.37 lunar cycles in a year,

the lunar new year takes place later than the New Year

most of the world celebrates.

Most of the world now follows a solar calendar. Chinese New Year occurs between January 21st and February 20th each year.

At one time the Spring Festival holiday lasted about a month, but now it is officially celebrated for only 7 days. During this time many rituals and festivals happen each with their own meaning and history. On the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month people celebrate by making plenty of tasty food to share with their families in honor of the kitchen god. This day is called Preliminary Eve and it is when families first start to prepare for the new year.

Since it is seen as an opportunity for a fresh start, Chinese New Year is a common time to get a new haircut, shop for new clothes, and thoroughly clean your house. People use this time to decorate their homes, and hang up traditional Chinese calligraphy to welcome peace and abundance in the new year.

Fireworks have traditionally been an important part of celebrating the new year. The noise was believed to scare off evil spirits and keep bad luck away. Now because of safety concerns, big cities no longer allow fireworks. Some families substitute firecrackers or popping balloons to provide their noise.

Spring Festival Eve is a very important day. In the evening families make an especially delicious dinner of traditional foods such as chicken, fish, and bean curd. They all stay up late to welcome the new year together.

On the first day of the new year everyone dresses in their nicest clothes. Parents give children a gift of money wrapped in red paper. Each color has a symbolic meaning in Chinese culture and red represents happiness and good luck.