Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival or Chinese Lunar New Year, is the most important traditional festival in China. Its history can date back to the Shang Dynasty (1600BC – 1100BC).

The festival consists of a period of celebrations, starting on the first day of the first lunar month and ending with the Lantern Festival, the fifteenth day of the month. In Chinese culture, it is the most important festival for all the family members to get together.

Celebration

Sweeping of the Grounds
For the preparation for the New Year, every corner of the house must be swept and cleaned ten days before the New Year Day.

Spring Couplets
Spring Couplets represent best wishes and fortune for the coming year. They will be posted on the front doors in the month before the New Year’s Day, and often stay up for two months.

Reunion Dinner
All the family members will get together to have dinner on the New Year’s Eve.

Lantern Festival
The Lantern Festival falls on the 15th day of the first lunar month.

Food
In Chinese culture, there are many foods related with this festival, for example, Niangao, Jiaozi, Fagao, Yusheng, etc.