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? In this article, we will explore the top 15 Chinese New Year traditions and customs that reflect the deep-rooted cultural significance of this festive season. Each tradition carries its own symbolism, from cleansing away the old to welcoming the new with joy and unity. 1. Spring Cleaning (Sweeping Away Bad Luck) Now let’s take a look at some Chinese New Year traditions and customs, and feel the cultural memory that belongs to Chinese people. Worshiping the Kitchen God. Chinese New Year usually begins with the ceremony of offering sacrifices to the Kitchen God. It is a traditional custom that has a great influence and is widely spread among Chinese 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. This is a festival called Laba ( 腊八 Làbā /laa-baa/ '12th lunar month' + '8'), in the traditional sense, which Traditions . Aside from New Year’s Eve, there are other important days of the 15-day Chinese New Year Festival, including:. JIE CAI CENG: Welcoming the Gods of Wealth and Prosperity Chinese New Year is one of China's traditional festivals with a history of over 1000 years. Throughout its evolution, it has developed many customs. Most of the traditions we see today have been passed down from the past. Read the top 15 Chinese New Year Traditional activities below: Chinese New Year traditions 1. House Cleaning This festival emphasizes the importance of family ties. The dinner gathering on Chinese New Year's Eve is the most important family occasion of the year. Lunar New Year Calendar and holiday. The traditional Chinese New Year holiday is 7 days, starting from the first day of New Year's Eve to the seventh day, with work starting on the eighth day. C hinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival (春节), is the most significant celebration in Chinese culture, blending ancient traditions with vibrant modern adaptations. These beloved Chinese New Year traditions reflect the cultural essence of renewal, family unity, and prosperity. Chinese New Year is the time to clean out your space as a sign of new beginnings, dusting away dirt and debris and making room for a breath of fresh air. Cleaning house is a traditional CNY custom that symbolizes getting rid of bad luck from the previous year that may hinder fresh, new energy. Paying a New Year call is a traditional Chinese custom for expressing good wishes, which usually starts with close family, and then extends to visiting relatives and friends. Generally, young people offer warm greetings elders, in return, they usually receive lucky red envelopes . There are more Chinese New Year traditions and customs, such as wearing new clothes, staying up late on Chinese New Year's Eve, watching the Spring Festival Gala, etc. How Long Is Chinese New Year Celebrations? Celebrations of Chinese New Year traditionally last for 16 days, starting from Chinese New Year's Eve to the Lantern Festival. The Lunar New Year is rich with customs and traditions to attract good luck in the year to come. Culture Trip explains how the holiday is celebrated around WINTER SALE: Save up to $1,150 on our trips! During Chinese New Year celebrations, houses are decorated with paper lanterns. Red is considered lucky. (Image credit: szefei/Shutterstock) Chinese traditions and customs for the new year Out of all the Chinese New Year customs and traditions, this one might be a young person’s favorite. Every new year, adults give children red envelopes containing paper money and/or coins. Lunar New Year marks the beginning of a new year on China's traditional lunisolar calendar. It is a time for family gatherings. It is the most important festival in China (where it is known as Chinese New Year or Spring Festival), and it is also widely celebrated in South Korea (where it is known as Seollal), in Vietnam (as Tet), as well as Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and other countries This guide explores the rich customs and celebrations that make Chinese New Year traditions 2025 a truly unique cultural experience. The Heart of Chinese New Year Traditions 2025: Family Reunion Dinner. At the center of the Chinese New Year celebration is the family reunion dinner on New Year’s Eve. This meal is not just food—it’s a Main customs, traditions and activites of Chinese New year (Spring Festival): pasting spring couplets, setting off firecrackers, gathering for the reunion dinner, staying up on New Year's Eve, giving New Year's greetings, giving lucky money etc. What Are the Fireworks Customs Integral to Chinese New Year? The fireworks customs integral to Chinese New Year symbolize joy, prosperity, and the warding off of evil spirits. They play a significant role in the festive celebrations. Launching fireworks at midnight. Setting off firecrackers to scare away evil spirits. Traditional Chinese New Year Dishes. Chinese New Year is known for its rich variety of symbolic dishes: Dumplings: Resembling ingots, they signify wealth and togetherness. Rice Cakes: Represent progress and success. Spring Rolls: A symbol of wealth and good fortune. Fish: Signifies abundance and is often saved for the next day to extend good 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
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