Chinese New Year, annual 15-day festival in China and Chinese communities around the world that begins with the new moon that occurs sometime between January 21 and February 20 according to Western calendars. Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival (see also § Names), is a festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar. Rather than following the western Gregorian Calendar with 365-day years, the Chinese New Year follows a lunar calendar based the moon's 12 phases. Each phase cycle spans approximately 29 days with A brief introduction to the traditional Chinese New Year Festival, about how Chinese people celebrate the lunar festival and ways to enjoy the Spring Festival while you are in China. Celebrating the Chinese New Year. In Chinese-speaking countries, the Spring Festival (春节 chūn jié) is a general term used to refer to the festival season.This term is likely to replace the English phrase ‘Chinese New Year’ soon, given UNESCO’s recent decision to include chūn jié in its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year or Spring Festival 2025 falls on Wednesday, January 29th, 2025. Snake is the new year animal. Learn more about Chinese Lunar New Year traditions, taboos, food, zodiac signs, and greetings. Chinese New Year (also called Spring Festival or Lunar New Year) is the most popular holiday in China and Chinese communities around the world. As one of the most important and distinctive traditional Chinese folk festivals, Chinese New Year carries rich cultural connotations and profound national emotions. Also called the Spring Festival (春节 Chūnjié), the Chinese New Year celebrates the beginning of the Chinese year based on the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar and officially ends 15 days later with the Lantern Festival (元宵节 Yuánxiāo jié). Chinese New Year has enjoyed a history of about 3,500 years. Its exact beginning is not recorded. Some people believe that Chinese New Year originated in the Shang Dynasty (1600–1046 BC), when people held sacrificial ceremonies in honor of gods and ancestors at the beginning or the end of each year. Lunar New Year, often called the Spring Festival or Chinese New Year, is the most important holiday in China and Chinese communities around the world. It is not only celebrated in China. Vietnam, Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore also celebrate the Lunar New Year holiday. Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival (春节, Chūnjié), marks the beginning of a new year on the traditional lunar calendar. It’s a time of renewal, where families gather, homes are cleansed of last year’s misfortunes, and hopes are set high for a prosperous future. Lunar New Year, festival typically celebrated in China and other Asian countries that begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ends on the first full moon of the lunar calendar, 15 days later. The dates of the holiday vary from year to year, beginning some time between January 21 and February 20. Chinese New Year is a festival that celebrates the beginning of the new year in China. The celebration usually starts around late January or early February, and lasts 15 days. 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. As Chinese New Year 2025 approaches, now is the perfect time to explore fascinating facts about the Year of the Snake for kids. This blog offers a variety of Chinese New Year activities for kids that will help your little ones to understand the significance of the Year of the Snake and its symbolism in the Chinese zodiac. The Tang Dynasty period (618-907 AD) allows a change of paradigm in the Spring Festival celebration and the main function of the festival has also shifted.The festival was no longer perceived as a sacred ritual for the gods—which was the norm established for thousands of years—, and now the New Year was celebrated mainly as entertainment for both nobles and commoners. The document provides an overview of the Chinese New Year celebration, including traditions and legends. It describes how the festival lasts 15 days and involves cleaning homes, decorating with red colors and lanterns, preparing abundant food, family gatherings, giving children red envelopes with money, lighting firecrackers, dragon and lion dances, and releasing lanterns on the final day. The Role of the Dragon in Chinese New Year Celebrations I. Introduction. Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is one of the most significant traditional holidays in Chinese culture. It marks the beginning of the lunar new year and is celebrated with various customs and rituals that aim to usher in good fortune and happiness for It begins in late January or early February. The 15-day celebration begins with the new moon and lasts until the full moon. In Chinese communities, firecrackers are often shot off on New Year’s Eve. Fireworks celebrate the end of the old year and the beginning of the new year. Chinese New Year is a time to feast and to visit family members. The first day of the festival begins on the New Moon sometime each year between January 21st and February 20th. The holiday and festival lasts 16 days from New Year’s Eve to the 15th day of the New Year which also happens to be the Lantern Festival. In 2024, Lunar New Year starts Saturday, Feb. 10 and ends Saturday, Feb. 24.
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