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 Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival (see also § Names), is a festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year on the Like many other New Year dishes The Chinese New Year or the Lunar New Year is a major celebration in many Asian countries and their diasporas around the globe. Chinese New Year, also referred to as the Spring Festival, is Among China’s traditional holidays and celebrations, none ranks higher in importance than the Lunar New Year (農曆新年). Also known as the Spring Festival (春節), or simply Chinese New For Chinese people, Lunar New Year is the Spring Festival, Leading up to and during the Spring Festival, the streets of Chinese cities used to sound like war zones, with firecrackers exploding 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 known as Spring Festival or Lunar New Year, is the grandest festival in China, usually with a 8 days' holiday. As the most colorful annual event, the traditional CNY celebration lasts longer, up to two weeks, and the climax arrives around the Lunar New Year's Eve. Before Chinese New Year's Eve, people buy New Year's food and snacks, New Year's decorations, and New Year's clothes, fireworks, etc. Chinese New Year in China, like Christmas, is a boom time for shopping. Chinese people may be thrifty most of the time, but they seem to spend generously during their traditional festivals. The Chinese New Year is also a time when the annual zodiac sign changes, meaning that each year is assigned to a specific zodiac animal. Zodiac signs play an integral role in Chinese culture. It is said that your luck regarding financial situations, health and relationships for each year can be calculated based on your zodiac sign. Chinese New Year, like Christmas in the West, is "the season of good will" in China, so most people receive a red envelope from someone, whether employer or family. There are lots of customs about who gives who how much in a red envelope. Chinese New Year is the most important holiday in China. Tied to the Chinese lunar calendar, it begins on the new moon that appears between January 21 and February 20. The holiday was Chinese artists leap from pedestals as they perform a traditional lion dance marking the Lunar New Year of the Snake in the Chinatown area of Yangon, Myanmar, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025. The best Chinese New Year greeting in Cantonese is “sun neen fai lok” (新年快樂), which means Happy New Year. You can also say kung hei fat choi (恭喜發財) which wishes wealth, and “sun tai geen hong” (身體健康) for good health. The legal holiday is seven days long, from the Lunar New Year's Eve to the sixth day of the first lunar month. Some companies and public institutions enjoy a longer holiday up to 10 days or more, because in common knowledge among Chinese people, the festival lasts longer, from the Lunar New Year's Eve to the 15th day of the first lunar month (Lantern Festival). See also: 10 taboos to avoid on Chinese New Year. In Chinese culture, your Ben Ming Nian, or zodiac birth year, is also considered unlucky, so make sure to wear red jewelry or clothing throughout your year (Year of the Pig) to keep any misfortune at bay. Lucky Things. Lucky numbers: 4, 9. Lucky colors: Yellow. Lucky directions: Northwest. Lucky Bidding farewell to the mythical Dragon, the world welcomes the Year of the Snake on January 29 — the first day of the Lunar New Year. For those who celebrate this ancient festival, starting the 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. The terms Lunar New Year and Chinese New Year are often used interchangeably. But it’s not the same. Although both celebrate the start of a new year according to the lunar calendar, they have different meanings, traditions, and cultural significance. Chinese New Year is thought to date back to the 14th century BC, when the Shang dynasty ruled. Its origins are steeped in legend. One story says that a monster named Nian
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