Chinese Festivals · 中国节日
Chinese New Year
过年 guònián
过年 guònián is the most important traditional festival in China, celebrated by Chinese communities worldwide — a season of reunion dinners, red envelopes, firecrackers, and fresh beginnings that stretches five to nine days depending on the year.
People celebrate by reuniting with family, having big feasts, giving red envelopes (红包 hóngbāo), and setting off firecrackers. Each year is tied to one of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals, shaping the year’s traditions and beliefs — a holiday built around new beginnings, prosperity, and good fortune.
Chinese New Year = Lunar New Year？
Not exactly. 农历 nónglì is often translated as the “Lunar Calendar,” but a more accurate name is the Chinese Lunisolar Calendar, sometimes called the Chinese Agricultural Calendar.
A purely lunar calendar — like the Islamic Hijri calendar — tracks months by moon phases alone. 农历 is different: it’s lunisolar, weaving together the moon’s phases and the solar year, which is why its dates don’t line up with a strictly lunar system.
Korea, Vietnam, and Mongolia all celebrate their own versions of this festival — Seollal, Tết, Tsagaan Sar — so both “Happy Chinese New Year” and “Happy Lunar New Year” make sense depending on who you’re greeting. In China or Taiwan, “Happy Chinese New Year” tends to feel most natural; for a broader mix of guests, “Happy Lunar New Year” is the more inclusive choice.
The Chinese zodiac 生肖 shēngxiào
Each 农历 year is paired with one of 12 animals, cycling in a fixed order — so every 12th year shares the same sign as yours. The animal changes over on 过年 itself, not on January 1st, which is why people born in late January or early February sometimes aren’t sure which animal is theirs — worth double-checking against the exact date.
Rat 牛 niú
Ox 虎 hǔ
Tiger 兔 tù
Rabbit 龙 lóng
Dragon 蛇 shé
Snake 马 mǎ
Horse 羊 yáng
Goat 猴 hóu
Monkey 鸡 jī
Rooster 狗 gǒu
Dog 猪 zhū
Pig
Your own animal repeats every 12 years, so you can always count backward or forward from a year you know — useful for guessing someone’s age range, or just for making small talk during the reunion dinner.
Offending Tai Sui 犯太岁 fàn tàisuì
A「欸，你今年是不是本命年啊？」
B「對啊⋯⋯」
A「那你犯太岁耶，要記得去安太岁喔！」
“Hey, isn’t this your zodiac year?” — “Yeah…” — “Then you’re offending Tai Sui — don’t forget to go get it settled!”
In Taiwanese folk belief, 太岁 tàisuì is a guardian deity assigned to each year — one of 60 rotating generals in a 60-year cycle. 犯太岁 (“offending Tai Sui”) happens when your zodiac sign clashes with that year’s deity — most commonly in your own zodiac year (本命年 běnmìngnián, when your animal comes back around), but also for a few other signs positioned in clashing relationships around the cycle.
Years of 犯太岁 are traditionally considered more accident-prone and unstable — for health, work, relationships, and money — so rather than risk it, many people take a few precautions.
What people do about it
A temple ritual — your name and birth details go on a plaque near that year’s Tai Sui deity, asking for protection through the year.
Red underwear, socks, or a belt, worn continuously rather than just on New Year’s Day — believed to ward off bad luck.
A blessed charm from a temple, usually kept in a wallet or bag for the year.
Postponing big decisions — major investments, risky trips, signing contracts — until the year has passed.
When is 过年 guònián?
New Year taboos 禁忌 jìnjì
Just as important as what you do is what you don’t — many of these customs are about steering clear of anything that sounds, looks, or feels unlucky.
Words to avoid saying
“Death” — and anything that sounds like it, including the number four (四 sì).
“Break” or “broken” — said to invite loss or damage into the year ahead.
“Poor” — nobody wants to talk their way into a lean year.
“Lose” — especially avoided around card games and gambling, both popular during the holiday.
Things to avoid doing
On Day 1 especially — you might sweep away the good fortune that just arrived.
洗头 xǐtóu sounds close to “washing away luck,” so many wash the day before instead.
Cutting tools are thought to “cut off” good fortune — food prep is usually finished in advance.
If it happens anyway, people quickly say 岁岁平安 suìsuì píng’ān (“peace, year after year”) to undo the bad luck.
送钟 sòng zhōng sounds identical to “attending a funeral” — a gift to avoid year-round, not just at New Year.
Both are mourning colors in Chinese tradition — red and other bright colors are worn instead.
Money is meant to flow in during the New Year, not out — debts are best settled beforehand.
What we do during 过年
Family reunion dinner 年夜饭 niányè fàn
Also called 团圆饭 tuányuán fàn, this is the most significant meal in Chinese culture, traditionally held on New Year’s Eve. Every dish carries symbolic meaning — gratitude to ancestors, hopes for prosperity. Some families still cook at home; others celebrate in restaurants or join distant relatives by video call.
Red envelopes 红包 hóngbāo & 压岁钱 yāsuìqián
压岁钱 literally means “money to push away age.” Parents give it to young children hoping they’ll stay forever young; as those children grow up, they give it back to their parents — wishing them long life and health in return.
Staying up late 守岁 shǒusuì
Staying awake through New Year’s Eve to welcome the new year — a symbol of leaving bad luck behind. For elders, it’s a night for reflection; for the young, it’s a wish for their parents’ long, healthy life.
Welcoming the God of Wealth 迎财神 yíng cáishén
Day 5 is believed to be the God of Wealth’s birthday. Preparations begin at midnight on Day 4 — cakes, fruit, meat, and incense — welcomed with drums, firecrackers, and prayers for a prosperous year.
Watching the Spring Gala 看春晚 kàn chūnwǎn
China’s annual New Year’s Eve TV variety show, broadcast by CCTV — one of the most-watched programs in the world, enjoyed by families gathered together for the night.
New Year greetings 吉祥话 jíxiánghuà
A handful of set phrases carry the whole season — say any of these to family, friends, or shopkeepers and you’ll get a smile back.
恭喜发财 gōngxǐ fācái
Wishing you wealth and prosperity — the classic greeting, especially around red envelopes.
新年快乐 xīnnián kuàilè
Happy New Year — simple, warm, and works with anyone.
年年有余 niánnián yǒuyú
May there be abundance every year — often paired with serving fish at the reunion dinner.
步步高升 bùbù gāoshēng
May you rise steadily, step by step — a favorite for coworkers and students.
身体健康 shēntǐ jiànkāng
Wishing you good health — the go-to greeting for elders.
心想事成 xīnxiǎng shìchéng
May all your wishes come true — a versatile, all-purpose blessing.
Food for 过年
Chinese New Year is as much about food as it is about red envelopes and firecrackers. Every dish on the table carries its own meaning — a small wish for good fortune passed down through generations. Here’s a look at some of the classic dishes that make the celebration complete.
Stories related to 过年
The legend explaining why we set off firecrackers, wear red, paste spring couplets, and greet each other with congratulations.
Why we sleep in — or turn in early — on the third day of the New Year.
