Chinese New Year, the grandest festival for Chinese people, is celebrated for more than half a month.According to the oldest traditions, people follow a day-by-day schedule of Chinese New Year festivities from the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month, with specific things to do on certain days. Here is what each day means, running from New Year’s Eve on January 30 to the seventh day of the new year on February 7, and things you should make sure to do on each of these days. Fourth Day of Chinese New Year 初四. The day to honour the Kitchen god who would return to Heaven to report on the family to the Jade Emperor, some place nian2 gao1 (New Year Sticky Cake) as offerings to appease the Kitchen god who then either can’t speak much due to the stickiness of the sweet cake or speaks sweet nothings about the family. Chinese New Year's Day Gregorian Dates Activities; 30th Day of the 12th month (Chinese New Year's Eve) Jan. 28, 2025: Decorate houses, Have reunion dinners, Watch CCTV gala, Stay up late: 1st Day of the 1st month (Chinese New Year's Day) Jan. 29, 2025: Set off firecrackers, Give red envelopes, Enjoy Lion dances: Day 2: Jan. 30, 2025: Welcome Chinese New Year: Days 3–7 (Jan. 31–Feb. 4, 2025) From the third to the seventh day of New Year, Chinese people visit relatives and friends. On the third day, some people go to visit the tombs of their relatives, but others think being outside there on the third day is inauspicious because evil spirits roam around. Most major cities have their own unique take on celebrating the Chinese New Year, and have public performances or fairs, up to and including during the Lantern Festival (Chinese New Year day 15). These include lion dances, dragon dances, ceremonial folk shows, and religious worship. These fairs are fun for the whole family and are a great place The first day of the New Year is known as Yuan Dan (Chinese: 元旦; pinyin: yuándàn (First Morning of the year), New Year’s Day, First Day (or Duan Ri). During the 15 day period new year visits (Traditional Chinese: 拜年; pinyin: bài nián, translated: pay respect, worship, salute the year) will be made to family and friends. Starting from the second day of the Chinese New Year, people visit their relatives and friends to exchange best wishes with each other. According to traditional customs, married couples visit the wife’s parents on the second day of the New Year. When people visit relatives and friends, it’s polite to take gifts, such as local products and Chinese New Year, also called Lunar New Year or the Chinese Spring Festival, holds the most significant position among all Chinese festivals and holidays. It lasts for the first fifteen days of the Chinese lunar calendar, which on the Western calendar begins sometime between January 21 and February 21, varying from year to year. Many Chinese people visit ancestors' graves on the day before the Chinese New Year's day, offer sacrifices to ancestors before the reunion dinner (to show that they are letting their ancestors "eat" first), and add an extra glass and place it at the dinner table on New Year's eve. 3. Enjoying a Family Reunion Dinner on Lunar New Year's Eve When is Lunar New Year 2025? This year, Lunar New Year begins Jan. 29. Because the lunar calendar is based on the phases of the moon, the beginning of the year happens on a different day each year. Say “Happy New Year!” In Mandarin, they’ll say gong xi fa cai (恭喜发财), wishing you a prosperous New Year.In Cantonese, it’s gong hey fat choi.Still, if you wish someone xin nian 5 Popular Chinese New Year Wishes for Anyone and for Any Occasion. During the period of Chinese New Year, you can use these very common Chinese New Year sayings to express your best wishes. 1. 大吉大利 — Lots of luck and profits! In Cantonese, the pronunciation of gut (桔, 'mandarin oranges') is the same as gut (吉, 'auspiciousness'). Receiving a Red Envelope. 1. Always receive your red envelope with both hands. It is impolite to accept a red envelope with just one hand. 2. When you receive a red envelope, you should express thanks and greet the giver with a pleasing, auspicious phrase, such as 恭喜发财 (gōng xǐ fā cái, meaning 'happiness and prosperity'). Here is what each day means, running from New Year’s Eve on January 30 to the seventh day of the new year on February 7, and things you should make sure to do on each of these days. 1. Red Envelops/Packets. If your Chinese hosts have children, do not forget to prepare some red envelopes (hongbao) with suitable amounts of new bills in.This is the easy and traditional go-to Chinese gift for kids that fits all circumstances. Honoring the dead is a Chinese New Year's tradition that's kept to the word. Many Chinese people visit ancestors' graves on the day before the Chinese New Year's day, offer sacrifices to ancestors before the reunion dinner (to show that they are letting their ancestors "eat" first), and add an extra glass and place it at the dinner table on New Year's eve. Each year honors an animal based on the Chinese zodiac. The circle of 12 animals — the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig — measure the cycles of When is Lunar New Year 2025? This year, Lunar New Year begins Jan. 29. Because the lunar calendar is based on the phases of the moon, the beginning of the year happens on a different day each year. In Chinese, "fish" (鱼 Yú /yoo/) sounds like 'surplus'. Fish is a traditional Chinese New Year dish on the Chinese New Year dinner menu. Chinese people always like to have a surplus at the end of the year, because they think if they have managed to save something at the end of the year, then they can make more in the next year.
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