Chinese New Year Festival Celebrations

Chinese New Year is most important traditional Chinese holiday. Chinese called this day as “Spring Festival” because according to Chinese calendar the spring season starts with lichun the first solar term in a Chinese calendar year. It marks the end of winter season. Chinese year starts with the new moon of the New Year and the celebrations of New Year continues for fifteen days and end on full moon. The fifteen days of celebrations are known as Lantern Festival that is celebrated at night with lantern displays and children carrying lanterns in a parade.

The Chinese calendar is based on the amalgamation of lunar and solar movements. The lunar cycle is completed in almost 29.5 days and in order to design solar calendar the Chinese insert an extra month once every few years (seven years out of a 19 year cycle). This is the similar technique as adding an extra day in leap year. It is the main reason for which the Chinese New Year falls on different dates each year. Chinese celebrates these 15 days with their family members and organized reunion as well as thanksgiving for their beloved. Celebrations are traditionally highlighted with religious ceremony that is organized in the honor of Heaven and Earth, the gods of the household and the family ancestors.

During celebrations and rituals Chinese remembers the glory and sacrifices of those ancestors who are passed away. They remember them with respect because they had laid the foundation of their fortune. They arrange a dinner (communal feast) for their ancestors and celebrate the onset of the New Year as one great community. The communal feast also known as “surrounding the stove or weilu” is symbol of family unity and honors the past and present generations.

Fifteen Days Celebrations

On the first day of Lunar New Year, Chinese says welcome to the gods of heavens and earth. Chinese believes that the use of meat on first day will ensure long and happy lives therefore they tried to consume meat.

On the second day, the Chinese pray to their ancestors as well as all gods for their happy life. On this day they treat dogs with extra kind and feed them well because they believed that second day is the birthday of all dogs.

Third and fourth days of the year are for the sons in laws to pay respect to their parents in law.

The fifth day is popular as Po Woo because on this day the people stay home to say warm welcome to the God of wealth. On this day everyone stay home and no one visits families and friends because it can bring bad luck. From onward 6^th to 10^th days, the Chinese are free to visit their friends and relatives. They also go to temple to pray for good health and fortune.


The 7^th day of the New Year is for farmers to display their products. Farmers make drinks and use seven types of vegetables to celebrate the New Year. This day is also considered as birthday of human beings. Noodles and fish are eaten on this day to promote longevity and success.

On the eighth day the Chinese people enjoy another family reunion dinner and at the midnight they pray to Tian Gong (the God of Heaven).


The ninth day is to make an offer to the Jade Emperor.


On 10^th, 11^th and 12^th days the friends and relatives should be invited for dinner.


After having so much rich food the Chinese spend 13^th day with simple food. People enjoy simple rice congee and mustard greens to cleanse the system.


The 14^th day is for the preparations of Lantern Festival that is to be held on the 15^th night.