Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, is China's most important festival. It is the festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar.
The festival was traditionally a time to honor deities as well as ancestors and now it is also a time to feast and to visit family members.
The celebrations last about two weeks in total, taking place from Chinese New Year's Eve to the Lantern Festival, held on the 15th day of the year. Regional customs and traditions vary widely but share the same theme - ushering out the old year and bringing forth the luck and prosperity of the new one.
Chinese New Year 2022 will fall on Tuesday, February 1st, 2022, beginning a year of the Tiger. China's public holiday will be from January 31 to February 6, 2022.
If you are staying in China during the Chinese New Year, we are glad to share with you this guide on how Chinese people celebrate the Chinese New Year in 2022. May you enjoy a happy Lunar New Year here in China and may the New Year brings you happiness, peace, and prosperity!
1. Cleaning and Decorating Houses with Red Things
People give their houses a thorough cleaning before the Spring Festival, which symbolizes sweeping away the bad luck of the preceding year and making their homes ready to receive good luck.
Red is the main color for the festival, as red is believed to be an auspicious color for the Chinese New Year, denoting prosperity and energy — which ward off evil spirits and negativity. Red lanterns hang in streets; red couplets and New Year pictures are pasted on doors.
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2. Enjoying a Family Reunion Dinner on New Year's Eve
The New Year's Eve reunion dinner is a "must-do" dinner with all family members reuniting. Chinese try very hard to make this family event, often traveling long distances. This is the main reason for the huge travel stress throughout China.
Big families including several generations will come together, wearing new clothes, sit at round tables and enjoy the food and time together.
Dishes with lucky meanings must be included in the dinner such as fish, dumplings, Nian Gao (sticky rice cake), and spring rolls. Many New Year foods are symbolic.
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3. Exchanging Red Envelopes and other Gifts and Staying Up Late
The most common gifts are red envelopes (or red packets). Red envelopes have money in, and are often given to children and (retired) seniors.
The red envelope (money) is called ya sui qian (压岁钱 /yaa sway chyen/), which means 'suppressing Sui [the demon] money'. Those who receive a red envelope are wished another safe and peaceful year.
Other popular New Year gifts are alcohol, tea, fruits, and candies.
This custom is called shousui (守岁/show-sway/‘to keep watch over the year’). In the past, Chinese people used to stay up all night, but now most stay up only until midnight firecrackers and fireworks die down.
People will watch CCTV's New Year Gala, set Off firecrackers and fireworks and eat snacks with families to stay up late at New Year's Eve.
Tips on Giving a Gift
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The gifts should be in the right colors. Red and gold are considered fortunate colors and white and black are taboo colors.
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Don't give the gift with unlucky meaning, such as clock which is related to 'death'.
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Do remember to remove the price tag. A gift with a price tag is a hint to the receiver that the gift is expensive, and that the sender is expecting a gift of an equal price.
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When giving or receiving a gift always use two hands. This is a custom traditionally extended to the giving of things like money (when buying something) and business cards. It is an important part of gift-giving etiquette across the country as it shows respect and appreciation towards the act and the giver.
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Ensure the lucky money is crisp and new. When giving money ensure it is crisp and new. People across China will spend weeks preceding Chinese New Year withdrawing crisp notes from the bank. It is considered a sign of disrespect to give old or torn notes.
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Always start by presenting a gift to the oldest (or most senior) member if giving money to a large group or whole family.
Happy Chinese New Year!
May wealth always come your way.
May it be auspicious and as you wish.
A Charm to Bring Satisfaction and Happiness Year by Year.
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