Introduction to Chinese New Year

Article by Mike

Spring Festival, widely known as Chinese New Year in the west, is the most important traditional festival and a public holiday in China. The Chinese New Year 2011 starts in February 3. It is the year of rabbit. The festival falls on the first day of the first lunar month (usually in late January and early February), and ends with Lantern Festival which is on the 15th day.

The festival is celebrated grandly and extensively across the country. Various cultural activities such as Fireworks Dragon Dancing, Lion Dancing and other traditional performances, are arranged in parks and streets in cities and towns. Every family thoroughly cleans the house, sweeps the floors and washes daily things. House cleaning is believed to drive away ill-fortune and bring good luck in the coming year. Windows and doors are decorated with red paper-cuts and couplets. See New Year decorations.

Chinese New Year is a time for families to be together. There are many kinds of Chinese New Year food. Different places will eat different food in China. Eating habits are different between the north and south, west and east. In North China, people eat Dumpings and lamb, while south Chinese eat chicken or fish. A reunion dinner is held on New Year's Eve, when Chinese New Year food including Chinese dumplings and spring rolls is eaten.

From the first day of the New Year to the 15th day, Chinese people go to visit friends and relatives. New year greetings are given to each other, and lucky money is given to children to bring them good luck.

The new year period is the busiest travel time(see Chinese New Year 2011 transportation). If you choose to travel during this period, you need to make full preparations and have your trip arranged as early as possible. See new year travel tips

Most Chinese people will get together with their family members or friends on the Chinese New Year Day. They eat a big dinner and then chatting until late. Children in the countryside will go out to lit the fireworks or firecrac! kers. On the New Year's Eve, most people will keep await until the midnight. After the twelve o'clock in midnight, people will lit the fireworks to celebrate the coming of the new year. The next day was New Year's day. Chinese people visite their friends or relatives on this day. They bring many gifts or goods to see their relatives or friends. This is called Bainian in Chinese. Children will get their lucky money on this day. Elder people will give a red envelop in which there is some money to the children coming to their home.