Here are 15 interesting facts about Chinese New Year. 1. Chinese New Year is also called "Spring Festival". Though in winter, Chinese call their New Year holidays 'Spring Festival' (春节 chūnjié /chwnn-jyeah/), because 'Start of Spring' (3 February) is the first of the terms in the traditional solar calendar. Chinese New Year ranges from January 21 to February 20. In 2024, it occurs on February 10. For a full list of dates and events check out our Chinese New Year calendar. Modern Chinese calendars use the Gregorian calendar but include lunar holidays. Chinese New Year, is an important Chinese festival celebrated at the turn of the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar. With these 55 interesting facts about the Chinese New Year, let’s learn more about its – history, how and where it is celebrated, foods and rituals associated with it, and lots more 1. Though China has a day off on January 1, and some fireworks are let off then, most attention is focused on the traditional date of New Year. Chinese New Year falls in the period from January 21 to February 20. In 2025, Chinese New Year will fall on Jan. 29. Click to see more about Chinese New Year date. 5. Sydney's Chinese New Year Festival includes dragon boat races, lantern displays, and cultural events. Fun Facts. Here are some fun and lesser-known facts about Chinese New Year that might surprise you. The world's largest human migration occurs during Chinese New Year as millions travel home to be with family. Chinese New Year starts a new animal’s zodiac year. In China, each lunar cycle has 60 years and 12 years is regarded as a small cycle. Each of the 12 years is defined by an animal sign: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. 2025 is the Year of the Snake and 2026 is the Year of the Horse. Here are some interesting Chinese New Year Facts especially for kids. 1. Chinese New Year has enjoyed a history of about 3,500 years. The Chinese New Year has been celebrated in China over 3500 years. The Spring Festival was originally a ceremonial day to pray to the gods for a good planting and harvest. People also pray to their ancestors. Chinese New Year is a festival beyond compare. Technically it’s a week—determined by the lunar calendar but always late January to mid-February—but for many, Chunjie (Spring Festival) is During Chinese New Year, people have a long list of things to do. From one week preceding the festival to the 15th day after, many Chinese New Year customs are widely observed for thousands of years. The family reunion dinner, eating dumplings, and setting off firework are the must-dos that you might know. What else interesting do the Chinese do? 2. Chinese New Year is 15 days long. On Chinese New Year’s Eve, families tend to gather for an enormous feast. Feasts may include dumplings that resemble ancient coins in northern China and This year, Chinese New Year begins on Wednesday, January 29. Those who celebrate will be entering the year of the snake. Just like with any holiday, traditions abound for Chinese New Year. Some of 7. Sending Chinese New Year Wishes. During Chinese New Year, Chinese people will greet each other with pleasant words like: 'Xin nian kuai le' which means 'Happy New Year' (simplified Chinese: 新年快乐). See more Chinese New Year Greetings and Wishes. 8. Watching the New Year TV Gala Taking naps, especially on the first day of the Chinese New Year, represents laziness. In Chinese culture, taking naps on the first day of the new year will affect your luck and career for the rest of the year. 9. Avoid breaking things in your home 3. Lucky New Year Group Art Exhibit. Chinese Calligraphy workshops, and maritime-inspired craft activities presented in collaboration with the New York Chinese Cultural Center. With a history of more than 1,800 years, dumpling (饺子 Jiǎozi /jyaoww-dzrr/) is a classic lucky food for Lunar New Year, and a traditional dish eaten on Chinese New Year's Eve, widely popular in China, especially in North China. Since the mid-1990s people in China have been given seven consecutive days off work during the Chinese New Year. This week of relaxation has been designated Spring Festival, a term that is sometimes used to refer to the Chinese New Year in general. The origins of the Chinese New Year are steeped in legend. One legend is that thousands of years Pre-Chinese New Year Preparations and Activities (Jan. 7–Feb. 12, 2025) Jan. 7, 2025: Laba Festival. Some Chinese start to celebrate and prepare for Chinese New Year as early as day 8 of the 12 th month of the lunar calendar. Some of those Chinese New Year taboos will only sustain for first few days of the festival, while others may be kept till the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the 1st lunar month, or even for a whole month. Hereunder are 16 things you should never do during the Chinese New Year. New clothes for the New Year. Do away with the old and wear new clothes for Chinese New Year as it symbolises a fresh beginning to the year. And since the colour red represents luck and positivity, many choose to wear red clothes, and sometimes even underwear, to help usher in an auspicious year. Note: From 2025 until 2029, the Chinese New Year’s Eve falls on the 29th day of the 12th lunar month for five consecutive years.. In ancient times, Chinese New Year was closely related to astronomical phenomena and agricultural production and life.
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