The Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival or Lunar New Year, celebrates the new moon and beginning of the lunar calendar. Each year is associated with the 12 zodiac animals. Legend has it, the Jade Emperor invited all the world's animals to a race with the first 12 crossing the finish line to be honored. 2025 is the Year of the Snake, which represents transformation and change. Happy New Year!
Who Celebrates Lunar New Year?
Lunar New Year is celebrated by people all around world. Traditionally, the lunar calendar is celebrated by those in China, Korea, Vietnam and other parts of Asia. The new year is a time of renewal, family connection and cultural pride. Each country or region adds its own unique flavor.
In Korea, they celebrate with tteokguk (rice cake soup); in Vietnam they eat bánh chưng (sticky rice cake) and in China they celebrate with dumplings.
Chinese New Year Festivities
The Chinese New Year is typically celebrated for 7-10 days in the country, with factories and companies shutting down to allow the citizens to return to their hometowns. As such, it’s usually the WORST time for foreigners to visit as trains, planes and accommodations are packed. However, if you do manage to come during January/February festivities, the fireworks and traditions are exciting. For more information, check out our post on the top 10 Chinese travel tips to know before visiting.
Fun Fact: The Chinese invented fireworks! They take their pyrotechnics very seriously and fireworks will go off at all hours of the night for at least a week around the holiday!
Lunar New Year Traditions
Because of my time living in China, I am more familiar with the traditions and customs of China. My favorite three traditions of Chinese New Year are:
cleaning house
making dumplings
the red envelope (hong bao) of monetary gift
Locals will do a deep clean for the new year as a way to sweep the dust away and drive out bad omens or luck. Dumplings are customarily eaten on New Year’s Eve, the first and fifth day of the New Year. There shapes represent the monetary ingots used long ago, so dumplings are believed to bring wealth for the new year. The red envelope (or hong bao) is known as lucky money and is traditionally given to children. If you want to try your luck at receiving one you can say, “Gong xi fa cai, hong bao na lai” which means “I wish you a prosperous new year, so please give me a red envelope of lucky money.” 😊
Every new year is marked by lion and dragon dances during parades and homes are decorated with paper cutouts and hanging lanterns. Red decorations are put up to attract good fortune and blessings.
Taboos of the Lunar New Year
You should avoid washing clothes or sweeping the floors ON New Year's Day (sweep beforehand to ward off evil spirits). It is believed that doing these things will sweep away all your good luck for the year.
You should also avoid using scissors or crying children as they are considered bad omens. I'm not sure what my brother will do with his 6-month-old daughter if she cries! :)
With this lesson, don’t you want to celebrate the Lunar New Year in style? Hope you learned something about the traditions and customs of Chinese New Year and feel better equipped to usher in good luck.
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