View source for Chinese New Year

{{Short description|Traditional Chinese holiday}}
{{About|the festival observed on the traditional Chinese calendar|similar observances in other cultures, including a list of culture-specific articles|Lunar New Year}}
{{Copy edit|date=January 2024}}
{{Use Oxford spelling|date=May 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox holiday
| holiday_name  = Chinese New Year
| image         = {{photomontage
| photo1a = Kung Hei Fat Choi! (6834861529).jpg
| photo2a = HK SKD TKO Lohas Park Chinese New Year couplets red January 2022 Px3 01.jpg
| photo2b = ChineseNewYearBostonLionDance1.jpg
| photo3a = Firecrackers (4393679141).jpg
| photo3b = Red lanterns on display during Chinese New Year in San Francisco.jpg
| photo4a = HK 上環 Sheung Wan 信德中心 商場 Shun Tak Centre mall Chinese New Year red pocket envelopes February 2019 IX2.jpg
| photo4b = Binondo Dragon Dance.jpg
| spacing                   = 1
| color_border              = white
| color                     = white
| size                      = 280
}}
| caption       = '''Clockwise from the top:''' [[Fireworks]] over [[Victoria Harbour]] in [[Hong Kong]]; [[lion dance]] in [[Boston Chinatown]]; red lanterns on display; complex patterns woven at [[dragon dance]] in [[Binondo, Manila]]; [[red envelopes]]; [[firecrackers]] exploding; and [[spring couplet]]
| significance = Commemoration of the beginning of a [[New Year|new year]] on the traditional [[lunisolar calendar|lunisolar]] [[Chinese calendar]]
| nickname      = Spring Festival
| observedby    = [[Chinese people]] and [[Sinophone]] communities<ref>{{cite news |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2712567.stm |title = Asia welcomes lunar New Year |publisher=BBC |date = 1 February 2003 |access-date = 7 November 2008 }}</ref>
| date          = First day of the first Chinese lunisolar month
| date{{LASTYEAR}} = {{Calendar date/infobox|year=last|cite=no}}
| date{{CURRENTYEAR}} = {{Calendar date/infobox|year=current|cite=no}}
| date{{NEXTYEAR}} = {{Calendar date/infobox|year=next|cite=no}}
| type          = Cultural
| frequency     = Annual
| longtype      = [[Culture of China|Cultural]]<br />[[Religion in China|Religious]]<br />([[Chinese folk religion]], [[Han Buddhism|Han Buddhist]], [[Confucianism|Confucian]], [[Taoist]], some [[Christianity in China|Christian]] communities)
| relatedto     = [[Lantern Festival]] and [[#Festivities outside China|similar celebrations in other Asian cultures]]
| celebrations  = [[Lion dance]]s, [[dragon dance]]s, fireworks, family gathering, family meal, visiting friends and relatives, giving [[red envelope]]s, decorating with ''[[chunlian]]'' couplets
| module        = {{Infobox Chinese
| child = yes
| pic = Spring Festival (Chinese characters).svg
| piccap = "Chinese New Year" in Traditional (top) and Simplified (bottom) Chinese characters
| picupright = 0.45
| t = {{linktext|春節}}
| s = {{linktext|春节}}
| l = "Spring Festival"
| p = Chūn jié
| bpmf = ㄔㄨㄣ&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ㄐㄧㄝˊ
| w = Ch'un<sup>1</sup> chieh<sup>2</sup>
| mi = {{IPAc-cmn|ch|un|1|-|j|ie|2}}
| wuu = Tshen tsiq
| j = Ceon1 zit3
| y = Chēun jit
| ci = {{IPAc-yue|c|eon|1|-|z|it|3}}
| poj = Chhun cheh
| tl = Tshun tseh
| order = ts
| altname = Agricultural Calendar New Year
| t2 = 農曆新年
| s2 = 农历新年
| p2 = Nónglì xīnnián
| j2 = Nung4 lik6 san1 nin4
| y2 = Nùhnglihk Sānnìhn
| altname3 = Traditional Chinese New Year
| t3 = 中國傳統新年
| s3 = 中国传统新年
| p3 = Zhōngguó chuántǒng xīnnián
| tp = Chun jié
| tp2 = Nóng-lì sin-nián
| w2 = Nung<sup>2</sup>-li<sup>1</sup> hsin<sup>1</sup>-nien<sup>2</sup>
| mi2 = {{IPAc-cmn|n|ong|2|.|l|i|4|-|x|in|1|.|n|ian|2}}
| bpmf2 = ㄋㄨㄥˊ ㄌㄧˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄋㄧㄢˊ
| tp3 = Jhongguó chuán-tǒng sin-nián
| w3 = Chung<sup>1</sup>-kuo<sup>2</sup> ch'uan<sup>2</sup>-tong<sup>3</sup> hsin<sup>1</sup>-nien<sup>2</sup>
| mi3 = {{IPAc-cmn|zh|ong|1|.|g|uo|2|-|ch|uan|2|.|t|ong|3|-|x|in|1|.|n|ian|2}}
| bpmf3 = ㄓㄨㄥ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄔㄨㄢˊ ㄊㄨㄥˇ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄋㄧㄢˊ
}}
}}


'''Chinese New Year''', or the '''Spring Festival''' (see also [[#Names|§ Names]]), is a festival that celebrates the beginning of a [[New Year|new year]] on the traditional [[lunisolar calendar|lunisolar]] [[Chinese calendar]]. It is one of the most important holidays in [[Chinese culture]], and has been added to the [[Intangible Cultural Heritage]] of [[UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists#Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity|Humanity list]] by the [[UNESCO|United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization]] in 2024. Marking the end of [[winter]] and the beginning of [[Spring (season)|spring]], this festival takes place from [[Chinese New Year's Eve]] (the evening preceding the first day of the year) to the [[Lantern Festival]], held on the 15th day of the year. The first day of the Chinese New Year falls on the [[new moon]] that appears between 21 January and 20 February.{{efn|And in extremely rare cases, 21 February, such as in 2319, which would be the first occurrence since the 1645 calendar reform.<ref name="Aslaksen">{{cite web |first=Helmer |last=Aslaksen |title=The Mathematics of the Chinese Calendar |url=https://www.math.nus.edu.sg/~mathelmr/calendar/cal.pdf |date=July 17, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821170722/https://www.math.nus.edu.sg/~mathelmr/calendar/cal.pdf |archive-date=21 August 2016}}</ref>}}

The Chinese New Year is associated with several myths and customs. The festival was traditionally a time to honor [[deity|deities]] as well as ancestors.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.history.com/topics/chinese-new-year |title = Chinese New Year |website = History.com |date = 4 February 2010 |access-date = 9 February 2013 }}</ref> Throughout China, different regions celebrate the New Year with distinct local customs and traditions.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.ecenglish.com/en/social/blog/brighton/2018/02/16/chinese-new-year-2 |title=The Year of the Dog – Celebrating Chinese New Year 2018 |date = 16 February 2018 |work = EC Brighton |access-date = 13 November 2018 |language = en-US }}</ref> The Chinese New Year's Eve is an occasion for Chinese families to gather for the annual [[reunion dinner]]. Traditionally, every family would thoroughly clean their house, symbolically sweeping away any ill fortune to make way for incoming good luck. Windows and doors may be decorated with red [[Chinese paper cutting|paper-cuts]] and [[couplet (Chinese poetry)|couplets]] representing themes such as [[Fu character|good fortune or happiness]], wealth, and longevity. Other activities include lighting [[firecracker]]s and giving money in [[red envelope]]s.

Chinese New Year is also celebrated worldwide in regions and countries with significant [[Overseas Chinese]] or [[Sinophone]] populations, especially in Southeast Asia, including Singapore,<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.visitsingapore.com/festivals-events-singapore/cultural-festivals/chinese-new-year/ |title = Chinese New Year 2011 |website = VisitSingapore.com |access-date = 2 November 2011}}</ref> Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar,<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.mizzima.com/news-domestic/chinese-new-year-be-celebrated-grand-scale-yangon/ |title = Chinese New Year Celebrated in Grand Scale in Yangon |website = Mizzima.com |access-date = 28 January 2019 }}</ref> the Philippines,<ref>{{cite web |url = http://ph.news.yahoo.com/philippines-adds-chinese-holidays-171626435.html |title = Philippines adds Chinese New Year to holidays |website = Yahoo News Philippines |date = 2 December 2011 |access-date = 29 June 2013 }}</ref> and Thailand. It is also prominent beyond Asia, especially in Australia, Canada, France, Mauritius,<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.tourism-mauritius.mu/en/festivals.html |title = Festivals, Cultural Events and Public Holidays in Mauritius |publisher = Mauritius Tourism Authority |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160211053530/http://www.tourism-mauritius.mu/en/festivals.html |archive-date = 11 February 2016 |url-status=dead |access-date = 28 January 2012 }}</ref> New Zealand, Peru,<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/culture/2016-02/15/content_23498211.htm |title = Peru leads Chinese New Year celebrations in Latin America |website = China Daily |access-date = 18 January 2022 }}</ref> South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States, as well as in many European countries.<ref>{{cite news |last = Crabtree |first = Justina |title = As the Lunar New Year celebrations begin, CNBC looks at Chinatowns across the world |url = https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/16/lunar-new-year-chinatowns-worldwide.html |publisher = CNBC |date = 16 February 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title = Happy Chinese New Year! The year of the Dog has begun |url = https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2018/02/15/when-chinese-new-year/340810002/ |newspaper = USA TODAY |language = en-US }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title = Chinese New Year and its effect on the world economy |url = https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2015/02/18/chinese-new-year-and-its-effect-world-economy/0HgwjHXjCODvwNdJXZdNQI/story.html |website = BostonGlobe.com }}</ref> Chinese New Year has influenced celebrations in other cultures, commonly referred to collectively as [[Lunar New Year]], such as the [[Losar]] of Tibet, the [[Tết]] of Vietnam, the [[Korean New Year|Seollal]] of Korea, the [[Japanese New Year|Shōgatsu]] of Japan and the [[Ryukyu New Year]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Yeung |first1=Jessie |title=Is it Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year? Depends who you ask |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/28/asia/chinese-lunar-new-year-controversy-intl-hnk/index.html |work=CNN |date=29 January 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Roy2005">{{cite book |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=IKqOUfqt4cIC&pg=PA320 |title = Traditional Festivals: A Multicultural Encyclopedia |last = Roy |first = Christian |publisher = ABC-CLIO |year=2005 |isbn = 978-1-57607-089-5 |page=320 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title = Lunar New Year Ceremonies Live On in the Okinawa Islands |url = https://www.nippon.com/en/guide-to-japan/gu900081/lunar-new-year-ceremonies-live-on-in-the-okinawa-islands.html |website = nippon.com |access-date = 30 January 2022 |language = en |date = 28 February 2019 }}</ref>

==Names==
{{See also|Lunar New Year}}
In Chinese, the festival is commonly known as the "Spring Festival" ({{lang-zh|links=no|t = 春節 |s = 春节 |first=t |p = Chūnjié }}),<ref>{{cite book |last1 = Lee |first1 = Jonathan H. X. |last2 = Nadeau |first2 = Kathleen M. |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=9BrfLWdeISoC&pg=PA312 |title = Encyclopedia of Asian American Folklore and Folklife |year = 2011 |publisher= ABC-CLIO |isbn = 978-0-313-35066-5 |page = 312 |language = en }}</ref> as the [[Spring (season)|spring season]] in the [[lunisolar calendar]] traditionally starts with {{transliteration|zh|[[lichun]]}}, the first of the twenty-four [[solar term]]s which the festival celebrates around the time of the Chinese New Year.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://gbtimes.com/chinese-solar-terms-spring |title = There are 6 Chinese solar terms in spring |website = GBTIMES |access-date = 28 January 2020 |archive-date = 8 April 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190408074526/https://gbtimes.com/chinese-solar-terms-spring |url-status = dead }}</ref> The name was first proposed in 1914 by [[Yuan Shikai]], who was at the time the interim [[president of the Republic of China]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Huang |first1=Alice |title=Lunar New Year explainer: what's with all the lions and lanterns? |url=https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3046993/how-did-lunar-new-year-festival-arise-and-whats-all-lions |access-date=12 February 2024 |work=South China Morning Post |date=21 January 2020 |language=en}}</ref> The official usage of the name "Spring Festival" was retained by the government of the [[China|People's Republic of China]], but the government of the Republic of China [[Free area of the Republic of China|based in Taiwan]] has since adopted the name "Traditional Chinese New Year".<ref>{{cite news |script-title=zh:民國政府 曾強廢農曆新年 |url=https://www.chinatimes.com/realtimenews/20160209001014-260409?chdtv |access-date=12 February 2024 |work=[[China Times]] |date=9 February 2016}}</ref>

The festival is also called "Lunar New Year" in English, despite the traditional Chinese calendar being lunisolar and not [[lunar calendar|lunar]]. However, "Chinese New Year" is still a commonly used translation for people of non-Chinese backgrounds.<ref name="Origin CNY"/> Along with the [[Han Chinese]] inside and outside of [[Greater China]], as many as 29 of the 55 ethnic minority groups in China also celebrate the Chinese New Year. Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines celebrate it as an official festival.<ref name="Origin CNY">{{cite web|author1=Haiwang Yuan|title=The Origin of Chinese New Year|url=https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1114&context=dlps_fac_pub|access-date=2 January 2016|pages=3, 6|quotation=...{{nbsp}}it is also called Lunar New Year in Chinese communities all over the world.{{nbsp}}... Chinese outside mainland China still prefer calling it Lunar [New] Year. 'Chinese New Year' is a popular and convenient translation for people of non-Chinese cultural backgrounds. Along with the Han Chinese in and outside China, as many as 29 of the 55 ethnic minority groups in China also celebrate Chinese New Year. Countries like Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia celebrate it as their official festival.}}</ref>

==Dates in Chinese lunisolar calendar==
{{See also|Chinese calendar}}

[[File:Dragon in Chinatown NYC Lunar New Year.jpg|thumb|The largest Chinese New Year parade outside Asia, in [[Chinatown, Manhattan]]]]
[[File:Chinese Paper Cutting.png|thumb|Traditional paper cutting with the character {{zhi|c=春}} ('spring')]]
[[File:Chinese New Year decorations along New Bridge Road, Singapore - 20150215.jpg|thumb|Chinese New Year decorations along [[New Bridge Road]] in Singapore]]
[[File:New Year Scene.jpg|thumb|Chinese New Year eve in [[Meizhou]] on 8 February 2005]]

The Chinese calendar defines the lunisolar month containing the [[winter solstice]] as the eleventh month, meaning that Chinese New Year usually falls on the second [[new moon]] after the winter solstice (rarely the third if an intercalary month occurs{{efn|The next occurrence will be in 2033.<ref name="Aslaksen" />}}).<ref name="CentralWeatherBureau">{{cite web|script-title=zh:中國古代歲首分那幾種?各以何為起點?|trans-title=In ancient China, how to decide the starting point of a year?|publisher=[[Central Weather Bureau]]|url=http://www.cwb.gov.tw/V7/knowledge/encyclopedia/as093.htm|language=zh|access-date=26 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912035905/http://www.cwb.gov.tw/V7/knowledge/encyclopedia/as093.htm|archive-date=12 September 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Aslaksen" /> In more than 96 percent of years, the Chinese New Year is the closest [[new moon]] to the beginning of spring ({{transliteration|zh|[[lichun]]}}) according to the calendar. In the [[Gregorian calendar]], the Chinese New Year occurs on the new moon that falls between January 21 and February 20.<ref name="aslaksen">{{citation | first = Helmer | last = Aslaksen | url = http://www.math.nus.edu.sg/~mathelmr/calendar/cal.pdf | title = The Mathematics of the Chinese Calendar | date = 17 July 2010 | publisher = National University of Singapore |page= 31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140113172359/http://www.math.nus.edu.sg/~mathelmr/calendar/cal.pdf |archive-date=13 January 2014}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
! Gregorian !! Date !! Animal !! Day of the week
|-
| 2024 || 10 Feb || [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]] || Saturday 
|-
| 2025 || 29 Jan|| [[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]] || Wednesday 
|-
| 2026 || 17 Feb|| [[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]] || Tuesday 
|-
| 2027 || 6 Feb || [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]] || Saturday
|-
| 2028 || 26 Jan|| [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]] || Wednesday
|-
| 2029 || 13 Feb|| [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]] || Tuesday
|-
| 2030 || 3 Feb|| [[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]] || Sunday
|-
| 2031 || 23 Jan|| [[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]] || Thursday
|-
| 2032 || 11 Feb || [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]] || Wednesday
|-
| 2033 || 31 Jan || [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]] || Monday
|-
| 2034 || 19 Feb || [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]] || Sunday
|-
| 2035 || 8 Feb || [[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]] || Thursday
|}
=== Chinese Calendar Computation ===
The date of the Chinese New Year is determined based on the traditional [[Chinese calendar]], which follows a lunisolar system. The compilation and implementation of the Chinese calendar adhere to the following rules:  

# Standard Time Reference: Beijing Time is used as the standard time for calculations.
# First Day of Lunisolar Month: Each lunisolar month begins on the [[new moon]] (Shuo Ri, 朔日).
# Eleventh Lunisolar Month: The lunisolar month that contains the Winter Solstice [[Dongzhi (solar term)|(Dongzhi]], 冬至) is designated as the 11th lunisolar month.
# Intercalary Month Rule: If there are 13 lunisolar months in a year, the first month without a major solar term (Zhongqi, 中氣) is designated as the leap month.
# Start of the New Year: The second lunisolar month after the 11th month (excluding leap months) is designated as the first month of the new year.

The Chinese calendar is based on precise astronomical calculations of the sun and the moon's positions, following the standards set by the International [[Celestial reference system|Celestial Reference System]] (ICRS) and the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS).  

The naming of the years follows the [[Sexagenary cycle|Sexagenary Cycle]] (Ganzhi, 干支纪年), where years cycle through 60 combinations of the 10 [[Heavenly Stems]] (Tiangan, 天干) and 12 [[Earthly Branches]] (Dizhi, 地支). For example, the Chinese year from February 2, 1984, to February 19, 1985, was designated as a Jiazi (甲子) year.<ref>{{cite web |title=国家标准《农历的编算和颁行》解读 |url=https://pmo.cas.cn/xwdt2019/kpdt2019/202203/t20220309_6386774.html |website=中国科学院紫金山天文台 |publisher=中国科学院 |date=2022-03-09 |access-date=2025-02-28 |language=zh}}</ref>

==Mythology==
[[File:Chinese New Year's poetry.jpg|thumb|Hand-written Chinese New Year's poetry pasted on the sides of doors leading to people's homes, [[Lijiang City|Lijiang]], Yunnan]]
According to legend, Chinese New Year started with a mythical beast called the [[Nian]] (a beast that lives under the sea or in the mountains) during the annual Spring Festival. The Nian would eat villagers, especially children in the middle of the night.<ref name=chan>{{cite book |author1=Chan Sui Jeung |title=Traditional Chinese Festivals and Local Celebrations |date=2001 |publisher=Wan Li Book Company Limited}}</ref> One year, all the villagers decided to hide from the beast. An older man appeared before the villagers went into hiding and said that he would stay the night and would get revenge on the Nian. The old man put up red papers and set off firecrackers. The day after, the villagers came back to their town and saw that nothing had been destroyed. They assumed that the old man was a deity who came to save them. The villagers then understood that Yanhuang had discovered that the Nian was afraid of the color red and loud noises.<ref name=chan/> The tradition grew as New Year approached, and the villagers would wear red clothes, hang red lanterns, and red spring scrolls on windows and doors, and use firecrackers and drums to frighten away the Nian. From then on, the Nian never came to the village again. The Nian was eventually captured by [[Hongjun Laozu]], an ancient Taoist monk.<ref>{{cite news |title=保庇有狗讚－這些年 年獸去了哪裡？ |url=https://tw.news.yahoo.com/%E9%80%99%E4%BA%9B%E5%B9%B4-%E5%B9%B4%E7%8D%B8%E5%8E%BB%E4%BA%86%E5%93%AA%E8%A3%A1-070903016.html |access-date=1 January 2023 |work=tw.news.yahoo.com |language=zh-Hant-TW}}</ref>

==History==
{{Chinese folk religion}}
Before the new year celebration was established, ancient Chinese gathered and celebrated the end of harvest in autumn. However, this was not the [[Mid-Autumn Festival]], during which Chinese gathered with family to worship the Moon. In the ''[[Classic of Poetry]]'', a poem written during [[Western Zhou]] (1045 BC – 771 BC) by an anonymous farmer, described the traditions of celebrating the 10th-month of the ancient [[Chinese calendar#Solar calendars|solar calendar]], which was in autumn.<ref>{{cite wikisource|title=詩經|chapter=七月|wslanguage=zh|quote=九月肅霜，十月滌場。朋酒斯饗，曰殺羔羊。躋彼公堂，稱彼兕觥。萬壽無疆。}}</ref> According to the poem, during this time people clean millet-stack sites, toast guests with [[mijiu]] (rice wine), kill lambs and cook their meat, go to their masters' home, toast the master, and cheer the prospect of living long together. The 10th-month celebration is believed to be one of the prototypes of Chinese New Year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sohu.com/a/222868770_391422|title=春节起源|website=www.sohu.com}}</ref>
The records of the first Chinese new year celebration can be traced to the [[Warring States period]] (475 – 221 BC). In the {{transliteration|zh|[[Lüshi Chunqiu]]}}, in [[Qin (state)|Qin]] state an exorcism ritual to expel illness, called "Big [[Nuo folk religion|Nuo]]", was recorded as being carried out on the last day of the year.<ref>{{cite wikisource |author=呂不韋 |plainchapter=季冬紀 |title=呂氏春秋 |volume=12 |wslink=呂氏春秋/卷十二 |wslanguage=zh |quote=命有司大儺，旁磔，出土牛，以送寒氣。}}</ref><ref>{{cite wikisource |wslanguage=zh |author=司馬彪 |wslink=後漢書/卷95 |volume=95 |title=後漢書 |plainchapter=禮儀中 |quote=先臘一日，大儺，謂之逐疫。}}</ref> Later, [[Qin's wars of unification|Qin unified China]], and the [[Qin dynasty]] was founded; and the ritual spread. It evolved into the practice of cleaning one's house thoroughly in the days preceding Chinese New Year.

The first mention of celebrating at the start of a new year was recorded during the [[Han dynasty]] (202 BC – 220 AD). In the book {{transliteration|zh|Simin Yueling}} ({{lang|zh|四民月令}}), written by the Eastern Han agronomist Cui Shi (崔寔), a celebration was described: "The starting day of the first month, is called Zheng Ri. I bring my wife and children, to worship ancestors and commemorate my father." Later he wrote: "Children, wife, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren all serve pepper wine to their parents, make their toast, and wish their parents good health. It's a thriving view."<ref>{{cite wikisource |author=崔寔 |title=四民月令 |wslanguage=zh |quote=正月之旦，是謂正日。躬率妻孥，絜祀祖禰...子、婦、孫、曾，各上椒酒於其家長，稱觴舉壽，欣欣如也。}}</ref> The practice of worshipping ancestors on New Year's Eve is maintained by Chinese people to this day.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chinese New Year |website=History.com |date=20 April 2023 |quote=Ritual sacrifices of food and paper icons were offered to gods and ancestors. |url=https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/chinese-new-year}}</ref>

Han Chinese also started the custom of visiting acquaintances' homes and wishing each other a happy new year. In ''[[Book of the Later Han]]'', volume 27, a county officer was recorded as going to his prefect's house with a government secretary, toasting the prefect, and praising the prefect's merit.<ref>{{cite wikisource |trans-title=Book of the Later Han |title=後漢書 |volume=27 |wslink=後漢書/卷27#吳良 |wslanguage=zh |plainchapter=吳良 |quote=歲旦與掾史入賀，門下掾王望舉觴上壽，謅稱太守功德。}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Lunar New Year: Rituals and Legends |url=http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/special/china_general_lunar.htm |website=Asia for Educators, Columbia University |quote=On New Year's Day and for the next several days, people still follow the custom of exchanging visits — with close relatives first, then with distant relatives and friends. Traditionally, the order of these visits also began with the eldest, and the first day was usually devoted to paternal family relatives.}}</ref>

During the [[Jin dynasty (266–420)|Jin dynasty]] (266–420), people started the New Year's Eve tradition of all-night revelry called {{transliteration|zh|shousui}} ({{Lang|zh-hant|守歲}}). It was described in Western Jin general [[Zhou Chu]]'s article {{transliteration|zh|Fengtu Ji}} ({{Lang|zh-hant|風土記}}, 'Notes on Local Conditions'): "At the ending of a year, people gift and wish each other, calling it {{transliteration|zh|Kuisui}} ({{Lang|zh-hant|饋歲}}, 'time for gifts'); people invited others with drinks and food, calling it {{transliteration|zh|Biesui}} ({{Lang|zh-hant|別歲}}, 'sending off the year'); on New Year's Eve, people stayed up all night until sunrise, calling it {{transliteration|zh|Shousui}} ({{Lang|zh-hant|守歲}}, 'guard the year')."<ref>{{cite wikisource |author=周處 |title=風土記 |wslanguage=zh |quote=蜀之風俗，晚歲相與饋問，謂之饋歲。酒食相邀為別歲。至除夕，達旦不眠，謂之守歲。}}</ref> The article used the phrase {{transliteration|zh|chuxi}} ({{Lang|zh|除夕}}) to indicate New Year's Eve—a phrase still used today.

The [[Northern and Southern dynasties]] book {{transliteration|zh|[[Jingchu Suishiji]]}} describes the practice of firing bamboo in the early morning of New Year's Day,<ref>{{cite wikisource |author=宗懍 |title=荊楚歲時記 |wslanguage=zh |quote=正月一日，是三元之日也，謂之端月。鷄鳴而起。先於庭前爆竹，以辟山臊惡鬼。}}</ref> a New Year's tradition of the ancient Chinese. Poet and chancellor of the [[Tang dynasty]], Lai Gu, also described this tradition in his poem ''Early Spring'' ({{lang|zh|早春}}): "{{lang|zh-hant|新曆才將半紙開，小亭猶聚爆竿灰}}", meaning "Another new year just started as a half opening paper, and the family gathered around the dust of exploded bamboo pole."<ref>{{cite wikisource |author=来鵠 |title=萬首唐人絶句 (四庫全書本) |plainchapter=早春 |wslink=萬首唐人絶句 (四庫全書本)/七言卷49#早春 |wslanguage=zh |quote=新曆才將半紙開，小庭猶聚爆竿灰。 偏憎楊柳難鈐轄，又惹東風意緒來。}}</ref> The practice was used by ancient Chinese people to scare away evil spirits, since bamboo would noisily crack and explode from firing.

During the [[Tang dynasty]], people established the custom of sending {{transliteration|zh|bai nian tie}} ({{Lang|zh|拜年帖}}, "New Year's greetings"), New Year's greeting cards. It is said that the custom was started by [[Emperor Taizong of Tang]]. The emperor wrote "{{Lang|zh-hant|普天同慶}}" ("whole nation celebrates together") on gold leaves and sent them to his ministers. Word of the emperor's gesture spread, and later it became the custom of people in general, who used [[Xuan paper]] instead of gold leaves.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chinanews.com/cul/2014/02-07/5808446.shtml|title=古代春节：春秋战国有雏形 "桃梗"是最初的春联|work=新文化报|via=www.chinanews.com|date=2014-02-07}}</ref> Another theory is that {{transliteration|zh|bai nian tie}} was derived from the Han dynasty's name tag, {{transliteration|zh|men zhuang}} ({{Lang|zh-hant|門狀}}, "door opening"). As [[keju|imperial examination]]s became essential and reached their heyday under the Tang dynasty, candidates curried favour to become pupils of respected teachers in order to get recommendation letters. After obtaining good examination marks, a pupil went to the teacher's home with a {{transliteration|zh|men zhuang}} to convey their gratitude. Eventually, {{transliteration|zh|men zhuang}} became a symbol of good luck, and people started sending them to friends on New Year's Day, calling them by a new name, {{transliteration|zh|bai nian tie}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chinanews.com/cul/2011/01-30/2822655.shtml|title=古人拜年常用"拜年帖"|work=半岛晨报|via=www.chinanews.com|date=2011-01-30}}</ref>

[[File:Spring couplets written by Qianlong Emperor of Qing dynasty.png|thumb|Spring couplets written by [[Qianlong Emperor]] of [[Qing dynasty]], now stored in [[The Palace Museum]]]]

The {{transliteration|zh|[[Antithetical couplet|Chunlian]]}} (Spring Couplets) was written by [[Meng Chang]], an emperor of the [[Later Shu]] (935–965 AD), during the [[Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period]]："{{Lang|zh-hant|新年納餘慶，嘉節號長春}}" ("Enjoying past legacies in the new year, the holiday foreseeing the long-lasting spring"). As described by Song dynasty official Zhang Tangying in his book {{transliteration|zh|Shu Tao Wu}}, Volume 2: on the day of New Year's Eve, the emperor ordered the scholar Xin Yinxun to write the couplets on peach wood and hang them on the emperor's bedroom door.<ref>{{cite wikisource |author=張唐英 |title=蜀檮杌 |volume=2 |wslink=蜀檮杌/卷下 |wslanguage=zh |quote=蜀未亡前一年歲除日，昶令學士辛寅遜題桃符板於寢門，以其詞工，昶命筆自題云：「新年納餘慶，嘉節賀長春。」}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Love of Chinese Language Expressed in Couplets |url=http://www.chinatoday.com.cn/english/culture/2016-12/01/content_731752.htm |quote=The earliest known couplet was written at Spring Festival 964 by the King of Later Shu. It said: "The New Year is bathed in forefathers' blessings; the joyous festival promises everlasting youth and wealth."}}</ref> It is believed that placing the [[Antithetical couplet|couplets]] on the door to the home in the days preceding the new year was widespread during the [[Song dynasty]]. The famous [[Northern Song]] politician, litterateur, philosopher, and poet [[Wang Anshi]] recorded the custom in his poem "{{Lang|zh|元日}}" ("New Year's Day").<ref>{{cite web|title=Chinese Couplets History, Categories & Quotable Examples|date=9 March 2019 |url=https://medium.com/@Pandarow/chinese-couplets-history-categories-quotable-examples-du%C3%ACli%C3%A1n-7c2c9702c35c |quote=The famous poet Wang Anshi (1021–1086) in Northern Song Dynasty even created a poem to depict the spectacular scene of pasting Spring Festival couplets, called New Year's Day (《元日》 [yuán rì]).}}</ref>

{{Verse translation|lang=zh-hant|italicsoff=y|
爆竹聲中一歲除，
春風送暖入屠蘇。
千門萬戶曈曈日，
總把新桃換舊符。
|Amid the sound of firecrackers a year has come to an end,
The spring wind has wafted warm breath to the [[Toso|Tusu]] wine.
While the rising sun shines over each and every household,
People get rid of the old couplets and put up the new ones.
|attr1=[[王安石]], 元日
|attr2=[[Wang Anshi]], New Year's Day}}

[[File:鞭炮 "Gunpowder Whip".png|thumb|Chinese firecracker]]

The poem ''Yuan Ri'' ({{Lang|zh|元日}}) also includes the word ''bao zhu'' ({{Lang|zh|爆竹}}, "exploding bamboo"), which is believed to be a reference to firecrackers, instead of the previous tradition of firing bamboo, both of which are called the same in the Chinese language. After [[History of gunpowder|gunpowder was invented in the Tang dynasty]] and widely used under the [[Song dynasty]], people modified the tradition of firing bamboo by filling the bamboo pole with gunpowder, which made for louder explosions. Later under the Song, people discarded the bamboo and started to use paper to wrap the gunpowder in cylinders, in imitation of the bamboo. The firecracker was still called ''bao zhu'' ({{Lang|zh|爆竹}}), thus equating the new and old traditions. It is also recorded that people linked the firecrackers with hemp rope and created the ''bian pao'' ({{Lang|zh|鞭炮}}, "gunpowder whip") in the Song dynasty. Both ''bao zhu'' ({{Lang|zh|爆竹}}) and ''bian pao'' ({{Lang|zh|鞭炮}}) are still used today to celebrate the Chinese New Year and other festive occasions.<ref>{{cite web |last1=周 |first1=廣玲 |title=宋代人怎样过年：大抵与今人相似 |url=http://www.chinanews.com/cul/2011/02-09/2829590.shtml |publisher=Guangzhou Daily |date=9 February 2011}}</ref>

It was also during the [[Song dynasty]] that people started to give money to children in celebration of a new year. The money was called ''sui nian qian'' ({{Lang|zh-hans|随年钱}}, "money based on age"). In the chapter, "Ending of a Year" ({{Lang|zh-hant|歲除}}) in ''Wulin jiushi'' ({{Lang|zh-hant|武林舊事}}), concubines of the emperor prepared a hundred and twenty coins for princes and princesses to wish them longevity.<ref>{{cite wikisource |author=周密 |title=武林舊事 |volume=3 |wslink=武林舊事/卷三 |wslanguage=zh
|quote=后妃諸閣，又各進歲軸兒及珠翠百事、吉利市袋兒、小樣金銀器皿，並隨年金錢一百二十文。}}</ref>

New Year's celebrations continued under the [[Yuan dynasty]], when people also gave ''[[nian gao]]'' ({{Lang|zh|年糕}}, "year cakes") to relatives.<ref>{{cite wikisource |author=熊夢祥 |title=析津志辑佚 |wslanguage=zh |quote=車馬紛紜於街衢、茶坊、酒肆，雜遝交易至十三日，人家以黃米為糍糕，饋遺親戚，歲如常。}}</ref>

The tradition of eating Chinese dumplings ''[[jiaozi]]'' ({{Lang|zh-hant|餃子}}) was established under the [[Ming dynasty]] at the latest. It is described in the book ''Youzhongzhi'' ({{Lang|zh|酌中志}}): "People get up at 5 in the morning of new year's day, burn incense and light firecrackers, throw door latch or wooden bars in the air three times, drink pepper and thuja wine, eat dumplings. Sometimes put one or two silver currency inside dumplings, and whoever gets the money will attain a year of fortune."<ref>{{cite wikisource |author=劉若愚 |title=酌中志 |wslanguage=zh |volume=20 |quote=正月初一五更起，焚香放紙炮，將門閂或木杠於院地上拋擲三度，名曰「跌千金」。飲椒柏酒，吃水點心，即「扁食」也。或暗包銀錢一二於內，得之者以卜一年之吉。}}</ref> Modern Chinese people also put other food that is auspicious into dumplings such as dates, which prophesy a flourishing new year; candy, which predicts sweet days; and ''[[nian gao]]'' ({{Lang|zh|年糕}}, "year cakes"), which foretells a rich life.

In the [[Qing dynasty]], the name ''ya sui qian'' ({{Lang|zh-hant|壓歲錢}}, "New Year's Money)" was money given to children during New Year's. The book ''Qing Jia Lu'' ({{Lang|zh-hant|清嘉錄}}) recorded: "elders give children coins threaded together by a red string, and the money is called ''Ya Sui Qian''."<ref>{{cite book |author=顾禄 |title=清嘉錄 |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/02098926.cn/page/n66/mode/2up |chapter=遞貢望 |quote=長者貽小兒以朱繩綴百錢，謂之壓歲錢；置橘、荔諸果於枕畔、謂之壓歲果子。元旦睡覺時食之，取讖于吉利，為新年休征。}}</ref> The term is still used by Chinese people today. The money was presented in two forms: coins strung on red string or colourful purses filled with coins.<ref name="hebao">{{cite web |title=皇帝也有「壓歲錢」可領內容物曝光 |author=邱建一 |date=24 January 2020 |url=https://www.setn.com/News.aspx?NewsID=678143 |quote=皇帝領到的壓歲錢的內容是這樣的：「賜皇上之荷包，乃黃緞繡五彩加金，繡有歲歲平安四字，內裝金銀錢、金銀錁子、金銀八寶各一個（各五分重），口上插一小金如意，約二吋許。上鏨連年如意四字。」|archive-date=26 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726223705/https://www.setn.com/News.aspx?NewsID=678143 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1928, the ruling [[Kuomintang]] party decreed that the Chinese New Year would fall on 1 January of the Gregorian Calendar, but this was abandoned due to overwhelming opposition. In 1967, during the [[Cultural Revolution]], official Chinese New Year celebrations were banned in China. The State Council of the People's Republic of China announced that the public should "change customs" and have a "revolutionized and fighting Spring Festival." Since people needed to work on Chinese New Year's Eve, they would not need holidays during the Spring Festival. In 1980, the traditional Chinese New Year celebrations were reinstated.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newschinamag.com/magazine/the-new-year-that-wasnt |title=The New Year That Wasn't |last1=Huang |first1=Wei |last2=Xie |first2=Ying |date=January 2012 |website=NewsChina |publisher=NewsChinaMagazine |access-date=24 February 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224083413/http://www.newschinamag.com/magazine/the-new-year-that-wasnt |archive-date=24 February 2015 }}</ref>

===Recognition by the United Nations===
In 2024, Chinese New Year has been added to the [[Intangible Cultural Heritage]] of [[UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists#Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity|Humanity list]] by the [[UNESCO|United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Spring festival, social practices of the Chinese people in celebration of traditional new year |url=https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/spring-festival-social-practices-of-the-chinese-people-in-celebration-of-traditional-new-year-02126 |publisher=[[UNESCO]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204184048/https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/spring-festival-social-practices-of-the-chinese-people-in-celebration-of-traditional-new-year-02126 |archive-date=4 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Spring Festival added to Unesco cultural heritage list |url=https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1782252-20241205.htm |publisher=[[RTHK]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241206015008/https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1782252-20241205.htm |archive-date=6 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Spring Festival Debuts in Greece, Presented by Beijing Municipal Culture and Tourism Bureau |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/investing/markets/markets-news/Newsfile/30613782/unesco-intangible-cultural-heritage-spring-festival-debuts-in-greece-presented-by-beijing-municipal-culture-and-tourism-bureau/ |publisher=[[The Globe and Mail]] |date=26 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250131105744/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/investing/markets/markets-news/Newsfile/30613782/unesco-intangible-cultural-heritage-spring-festival-debuts-in-greece-presented-by-beijing-municipal-culture-and-tourism-bureau/|archive-date=31 January 2025}}</ref>

==Public holiday==
Chinese New Year is observed as a public holiday in some countries and territories with a sizable Chinese population. Since Chinese New Year falls on different days of the week each year, some of these governments choose to adjust working days to create a longer public holiday. In certain countries, a statutory holiday is added on the following workday if the New Year (as a public holiday) falls on a weekend. For example, in 2013, New Year's Eve (9 February) fell on a Saturday and New Year's Day (10 February) on Sunday. The holiday may be referred to by different names depending on the country; common English terms include "Chinese New Year", "Lunar New Year", "New Year Festival", and "Spring Festival".

For New Year celebrations that follow Chinese-inspired calendars but are outside of China and Chinese diaspora (such as Korea's [[Korean New Year|''Seollal'']] and Vietnam's ''[[Tết]]''), see the article on [[Lunar New Year]].

For other countries and regions where Chinese New Year is celebrated but not an official holiday, see the table below.

{{Clear}}
<!-- BEFORE ADDING OTHER COUNTRIES TO THIS TABLE, please verify that 1) the country declares an official public holiday where government facilities are closed and 2) it should not confuse as [[Lunar New Year]]. Also, supply at least one reliable, published source for the addition per [[WP:RS]]. -->
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"
! width=130|Country/region
! width=170|Official name
! Description
! No. of days
|-
| [[Malaysia]] || Tahun Baru Cina || The first 2 days of Chinese New Year.<ref name="US Embassy KL">{{cite web |title=HOLIDAYS |url=https://my.usembassy.gov/ |access-date=29 January 2017 |website=Embassy of the United States: Kuala Lumpur, Mayalsia |publisher=U.S. Department of State}}</ref>|| 2<ref>{{cite web |title=Jadual hari kelepasan am persekutuan 2012 |trans-title=Federal Public Holiday Schedule 2012 |url=http://www.kabinet.gov.my/images/stories/kelepasanam/2012_merged.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130329200907/http://www.kabinet.gov.my/images/stories/kelepasanam/2012_merged.pdf |archive-date=29 March 2013 |access-date=4 March 2015 |publisher=Jabatan Perdana Menteri (Department of the Prime Minister) |location=Putrajaya, Malaysia |language=ms}}</ref><ref name="US Embassy KL"/>
|-
| [[Singapore]] || Chinese New Year || The first 2 days of Chinese New Year.<ref name="Manpower.sg">{{cite web|url=https://www.mom.gov.sg/employment-practices/public-holidays-entitlement-and-pay|title=Public holidays: entitlement and pay|website=Ministry of Manpower Singapore}}</ref> || 2
|-
| Brunei || Tahun Baru Cina || Half-day on [[Chinese New Year's Eve]] and the first day of Chinese New Year.<ref>{{cite web |title=Embassy Holidays |url=http://brunei.usembassy.gov/emb_holidays.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150513191544/http://brunei.usembassy.gov/emb_holidays.html |archive-date=13 May 2015 |access-date=4 March 2015 |website=Embassy of the United States: Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam |publisher=U.S. Department of State }}</ref>|| 1
|-
| Hong Kong || Lunar New Year || The first 3 days of Chinese New Year.<ref>{{cite web |title=General holidays for 2018 |url=https://www.gov.hk/en/about/abouthk/holiday/ |access-date=16 February 2018 |publisher=Hong Kong Government}}</ref> || 3
|-
| Macau || Novo Ano Lunar || The first 3 days of Chinese New Year<ref>{{cite web |title=Public Holidays in 2019 Decree Law No. 60/2000 on Public Holidays |url=https://www.gov.mo/en/public-holidays/year-2019/ |access-date=24 January 2019 |website=Macao SARG Portal |publisher=Macao SAR of the People's Republic of China}}</ref> || 3
|-
| Indonesia || Tahun Baru Imlek (Sin Cia) || The first day of Chinese New Year.<ref>{{cite web |title=National Public Holidays in Indonesia |url=http://indonesia.angloinfo.com/inside/public-holidays/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402090451/http://indonesia.angloinfo.com/inside/public-holidays/ |archive-date=2 April 2015 |access-date=4 March 2015 |website=AngloINFO, the global expat network: INDONESIA |publisher=AngloINFO Limited }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Holiday Schedule |url=http://jakarta.usembassy.gov/holidays.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402111339/http://jakarta.usembassy.gov/holidays.html |archive-date=2 April 2015 |access-date=4 March 2015 |website=Embassy of the United States: Jakarta, Indonesia |publisher=U.S. Department of State }}</ref>|| 1
|-
| [[China]] || Spring Festival (Chūn Jié) || [[Chinese New Year's Eve|The eve]] and first 3 days of Chinese New Year. Extra holiday days are de facto added adjusting the weekend days before and after the three days holiday, resulting in a full week of public holiday known as [[Golden Week (China)|Golden Week]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Zhu Yafei |date=16 October 2006 |title=从数字之外看黄金周的去与留 (Seeing Golden Week from Beyond the Numbers) |url=http://news.cctv.com/china/20061016/100264.shtml |access-date=7 June 2020 |website=news.cctv.com |quote=黄金周的7天连续假期是通过对法定三天假日前、后的周末休息日进行调整而形成的。(The 7 seven-consecutive day Golden Week is formed by adjusting the weekend days before and after the 3 day holiday).}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Chinese New Year – China's Grandest Festival & Longest Public Holiday |url=https://www.travelchinaguide.com/essential/holidays/chinese-new-year.htm#:~:text=Chinese%20New%20Year%2C%20also%20known,the%20Lunar%20New%20Year's%20Eve. |website=TravelChinaGuide}}</ref> During the [[Chunyun|Chunyun holiday travel season]].  || 4 (official holiday days)<br>7 (de facto holiday days)
|-
|[[Myanmar]]
|Chinese New Year
|The first day of Chinese New Year.
|1
|-
| Philippines || Chinese New Year || Half-day on [[Chinese New Year's Eve]] and the first day of Chinese New Year.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Proclamation No. 831, s. 2014 by the President of the Philippines, Declaring the Regular Holidays, Special (Non-Working) Days, and Special Holiday (for all Schools) for the Year 2015 |date=17 July 2014 |publisher=Official Gazette of the Philippines |location=Malacañang Palace, Manila |url=http://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2014/07/17/proclamation-no-831-s-2014/ |access-date=3 May 2017}}</ref>|| 1
|-
|South Korea
|[[Korean New Year]] (Seollal)
|The first 3 days of Chinese New Year.
|3
|-
| Taiwan || [[Taiwanese New Year]] || Chinese New Year's Eve and the first 3 days of Chinese New Year; will be made up on subsequent working days if any of the 4 days fall on Saturday or Sunday. The day before Chinese New Year's Eve is also designated as holiday, but as a bridge holiday, and will be made up on an earlier or later Saturday. Additional bridge holidays may apply, resulting in 9-day or 10-day weekends.<ref>{{cite web |title=紀念日及節日實施辦法 |url=https://law.moj.gov.tw/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?pcode=D0020033 |access-date=8 January 2023 |website=Laws & Regulations Database of The Republic of China (Taiwan)}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=4 February 2015 |title=Before You Go: Useful Information: Public Holidays |url=http://eng.taiwan.net.tw/m1.aspx?sNo=0002064 |access-date=4 March 2015 |website=Taiwan, the heart of Asia |publisher=Tourism Bureau, Republic of China (Taiwan) |quote=Chinese Lunar year: Lunar New Year's Eve; 1st, 2nd, 3rd of the 1st month by lunar calendar |archive-date=26 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226173413/http://eng.taiwan.net.tw/m1.aspx?sNo=0002064 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=2015 Work Calendar (Revised Version) |date=27 October 2014 |url=http://www.dgpa.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=12158&ctNode=1358&mp=10  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923214132/http://www.dgpa.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=12158&ctNode=1358&mp=10 |publisher=Directorate-General of Personnel Administration |archive-date=23 September 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>|| 4 (legally)<br>9–10 (including Saturdays and Sundays)<ref>{{Cite press release |title=AIT Offices to Close for Multiple Holidays in February |date=10 February 2015 |publisher=American Institute in Taiwan |url=http://www.ait.org.tw/en/pressrelease-pr1507.html |access-date=4 March 2015 |archive-date=25 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150225141831/http://www.ait.org.tw/en/pressrelease-pr1507.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
|Thailand||Wan Trut Chin (Chinese New Year's Day)||Observed by [[Thai Chinese]] and parts of the private sector. Usually celebrated for three days, starting on the day before the [[Chinese New Year's Eve]]. Chinese New Year is observed as a public holiday in [[Narathiwat Province|Narathiwat]], [[Pattani Province|Pattani]], [[Yala Province|Yala]], [[Satun Province|Satun]]<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2555/E/024/4.PDF|title=ประกาศสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี เรื่อง กำหนดเวลาทำงานและวันหยุดราชการ (ฉบับที่ ๒๐) พ.ศ. ๒๕๕๕|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209141749/http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2555/E/024/4.PDF|archive-date=9 December 2019}}</ref> and [[Songkhla Province]]s.<ref name="Manpower.sg"/>||1
|-
|Vietnam
|[[Tết|Tết Nguyên Đán]] (Vietnamese New Year)
|The first 3 days of Chinese New Year.
|3
|-
|Japan
|[[Japanese New Year|Shōgatsu]] (Japanese New Year)
|Since 1873, the official Japanese New Year has been celebrated according to the Gregorian calendar, on January 1 of each year, New Year's Day (元日, Ganjitsu).
|4
|-
|[[New York (state)|New York]], United States || rowspan=2|Lunar New Year || rowspan=2|The first days of Lunar New Year ||rowspan=2| 1
|-
|[[California]], United States
|-
|Suriname
|Maan Nieuwjaar
|The first day of Chinese New Year.
|1
|}

==Festivities==
{{Rquote|right|Red couplets and red lanterns are displayed on the door frames and light up the atmosphere. The air is filled with strong Chinese emotions. In stores in Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan, and other cities, products of traditional Chinese style have started to lead fashion trend[s]. Buy yourself a Chinese-style coat, get your kids tiger-head hats and shoes, and decorate your home with some beautiful red Chinese knots, then you will have an authentic Chinese-style Spring Festival.|''[[Xinwen Lianbo]]'', January 2001|quoted by Li Ren, ''Imagining China in the Era of Global Consumerism and Local Consciousness''<ref name="li1">{{cite web|url=http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1057001670|title=Imagining China in the Era of Global Consumerism and Local Consciousness: Media, Mobility, and the Spring Festival|access-date=13 September 2007|publisher=PhD thesis, College of Communications, [[Ohio University]]|year=2003|author=Li Ren}} Edited for grammar.</ref>}}

===Preceding days===
On the eighth day of the lunisolar month prior to Chinese New Year, the [[Laba Festival]], a traditional porridge, [[Laba porridge]] ({{lang-zh|links=no|t=臘八粥|s=腊八粥|hp=làbā zhōu|c=}}), is served in remembrance of an ancient festival, called ''La'', that occurred shortly after the winter solstice.<ref>Bodde, Derk. ''Festivals in Classical China: New Year and other Annual Observances during the Han Dynasty'', [[Princeton University]] Press, 1975, pp. 49 ff.</ref> Pickles such as Laba garlic, which turns green from vinegar, are also made on this day. For those that practice Buddhism, the Laba holiday is also considered [[Bodhi Day]]. ''Layue'' ({{lang-zh|links=no|t=臘月|s=腊月|hp=Làyuè|c=}}) is a term often associated with Chinese New Year as it refers to the sacrifices held in honour of the gods in the twelfth lunisolar month, hence the cured meats of Chinese New Year are known as ''larou'' ({{lang-zh|links=no|t=臘肉|s=腊肉|hp=làròu|c=}}). The porridge was prepared by the women of the household at first light, with the first bowl offered to the family's ancestors and the household deities. Every member of the family was then served a bowl, with leftovers distributed to relatives and friends.{{sfn|Welch|1997|p=5}} It's still served as a special breakfast on this day in some Chinese homes. The concept of the "La month" is similar to [[Advent]] in Christianity. Many families eat vegetarian on Chinese New Year eve, the garlic and preserved meat are eaten on Chinese New Year day.

[[File:Receive the gods in chinese new year 1.jpg|thumb|left|Men gathering to receive the Gods in the Chinese New Year, 1900s]]
On the days immediately before the New Year celebration, Chinese families give their homes a thorough cleaning. There is a Cantonese saying "Wash away the dirt on ''nin ya baat''" ({{lang-zh|links=no|c=年廿八，洗邋遢|hp=nián niàn bā, xǐ lātà|j=nin4 jaa6 baat3, sai2 laap6 taap3 (laat6 taat3)}}), but the practice is not restricted to ''nin ya baat'' (the 28th day of month 12).  It is believed that the cleaning sweeps away the bad luck of the preceding year and prepares their homes for good luck. Brooms and dust pans are put away on the first day so that the newly arrived good luck cannot be swept away. Some people give their homes, doors, and window-frames a new coat of red paint; decorators and paper-hangers experience a year-end rush of business prior to Chinese New Year.{{sfn|Welch|1997|p=9}} Homes are often decorated with paper cutouts of Chinese auspicious phrases and [[couplet (Chinese poetry)|couplets]]. Purchasing new clothing and shoes also symbolize a new start. Any hair cuts need to be completed before the New Year, as cutting hair on New Year is considered bad luck due to the homonymic nature of the word "hair" (fa) and the word for "prosperity". Businesses are expected to pay off all the debts outstanding for the year before the new year eve, extending to debts of gratitude. Thus it is a common practice to send gifts and rice to close business associates, and extended family members.

In many households where Buddhism or Taoism is observed, home altars and statues are cleaned thoroughly, and decorations used to adorn altars over the past year are taken down and burned a week before the new year starts on [[Little New Year]], to be replaced with new decorations. Taoists (and Buddhists to a lesser extent) will also "send gods back to heaven" ({{lang-zh|links=no|c=送神|hp=sòngshén}}), an example would be burning a paper effigy of the [[Kitchen God]], the recorder of family functions. This is done so that the Kitchen God can report to the [[Jade Emperor]] of the family household's transgressions and good deeds. Families often offer sweet foods (such as candy) in order to "bribe" the deities into reporting good things about the family.

Prior to the Reunion Dinner, a prayer of thanksgiving is held to mark the safe passage of the previous year. Confucianists take the opportunity to remember their ancestors, and those who had lived before them are revered. Some people do not give a Buddhist prayer due to the influence of Christianity, with a Christian prayer offered instead.

===Chinese New Year's Eve===
{{main|Chinese New Year's Eve}}
The day before Chinese New Year is usually accompanied with a [[reunion dinner|dinner feast]], consisting of special meats as a main course and an offering for the New Year. This meal is comparable to Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas dinner.

In northern China, it is customary to make [[jiaozi]] or dumplings which are eaten at midnight. Dumplings symbolize wealth because their shape resembles a Chinese [[sycee]]. In the South, it is customary to make a glutinous new year cake ([[niangao]]) and send pieces of it as gifts to relatives and friends in the coming days.{{sfn|Welch|1997|p=36}}

Some families visit local temples hours before midnight to pray for success by lighting the first incense of the year. Today many households hold parties. Traditionally, firecrackers were lit to ward off evil spirits. The household doors are sealed and not reopened until dawn in a ritual called "opening the door of fortune" ({{lang-zh|links=no|hp=kāicáimén|t=開財門|s=开财门|c=}}).{{sfn|Welch|1997|p=30}} The tradition of staying up late on Chinese New Year's Eve is known as ''shousui'' ({{lang-zh|links=no|s=守岁}}). It is still practised and believed to add to parental longevity.

===First day===
The first day, known as the "Spring Festival" ({{lang-zh|links=no|t=春節|s=春节}}) is for the welcoming of the deities of the heavens and Earth on midnight. It is a traditional practice to light fireworks, burn bamboo sticks and firecrackers, and [[lion dance]] troupes, were done commonly as a tradition to ward off evil spirits.

Typical actions such as lighting fires and using knives are considered taboo, thus all consumable food has to be cooked prior. Using the broom, [[profanity|swearing]], and breaking any dinnerware without appeasing the deities are also considered taboo.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chinese New Year customs in Singapore {{!}} Infopedia |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_948__2009-01-02.html |website=eresources.nlb.gov.sg}}</ref>

Normal traditions occurring on the first day involve house gatherings to the families, specifically the elders and families to the oldest and most senior members of their extended families, usually their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents, and trading [[Mandarin oranges]] as a courtesy to symbolize wealth and good luck. Members of the family who are married also give [[red envelopes]] containing cash known as ''lai see'' (Cantonese: {{lang|zh|利事}}) or ''angpow'' ([[Hokkien]] and [[Teochew dialect|Teochew]]), or ''hongbao'' (Mandarin: {{lang|zh-hans|红包}}), a form of a blessing and to suppress both the ageing and challenges that were associated with the coming year, to junior members of the family, mostly children and teenagers. Business managers may also give bonuses in the form of red packets to employees.<ref name="Rituals and Traditional Events in the Modern World 87">{{cite book |last1=Laing |first1=Jennifer |last2=Frost |first2=Warwick |title=Rituals and Traditional Events in the Modern World |date=30 October 2014 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-134-59313-2 |page=87 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-A0hBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA85 |access-date=1 January 2023 |language=en}}</ref> The money can be of any form, specifically numbers ending with 8 (Mandarin: ''ba'' 八), which sounds similar to ''fa'' (Mandarin: {{lang|zh|发}}), meaning prosperity, but packets with denominations of odd or unlucky numbers, or packets without money are usually not allowed due to bad luck. [[Chinese numerology|The number 4 is especially unlucky]], because it is sounded as ''si'' (Mandarin: {{lang|zh|死}}), which means death.<ref>{{cite web |title=10 taboos you should always observe during Chinese New Year |url=https://www.msn.com/en-my/lifestyle/other/10-taboos-you-should-always-observe-during-chinese-new-year/ar-BB1dAd7R |website=www.msn.com}}</ref><ref name="Rituals and Traditional Events in the Modern World 87"/>

While fireworks and firecrackers are traditionally very popular, some regions have banned them due to concerns over fire hazards. For this reason, various city governments (e.g., Kowloon, Beijing, Shanghai for a number of years) have issued bans on fireworks and firecrackers in certain precincts of the city. As a substitute, large-scale fireworks displays have been launched by governments in Hong Kong and Singapore.

=== Second day ===
[[File:Incence at grave.JPG|thumb|upright|[[Incense]] is burned at the graves of ancestors as part of the offering and prayer rituals]]

The second day, entitled "a year's beginning" ({{lang-zh|links=no|t=開年|s=开年|hp=kāinián|c=}}),{{sfn|Welch|1997|p=40}} oversees married daughters visiting their birth parents, relatives and close friends, often renew family ties and relationship. (Traditionally, married daughters didn't have the opportunity to visit their birth families frequently.)

The second day also saw giving offering money and sacrifices to the God of Wealth ({{lang-zh|links=no|s=财神}}) to symbolize a rewarding time after hardship in the preceding year. During the days of imperial China, "beggars and other unemployed people circulate[d] from family to family, carrying a picture [of the God of Wealth] shouting, "''Cai Shen dao''!" [The God of Wealth has come!]."<ref>Kong, Shiu L. ''Chinese Culture and Lore''. HK: University of Toronto Press, 1989, p. 48</ref> Householders would respond with "lucky money" to reward the messengers. Business people of the Cantonese dialect group will hold a 'Hoi Nin' prayer to start their business on the second day of Chinese New Year, blessing their business to thrive in the coming year.

As this day is believed to be [[The Birthday of Che Kung]], a deity worshipped in Hong Kong, worshippers go to [[Che Kung Miu|Che Kung Temple]]s to pray for his blessing. A representative from the government asks [[Che Kung]] about the city's fortune through [[Hong Kong Government Lunar New year kau cim tradition|kau cim]].

===Third day===
The third day is known as "red mouth" ({{lang-zh|links=no|c=赤口|hp=Chìkǒu|s=|t=}}). ''Chikou'' is also called "Chigou's Day" ({{lang-zh|links=no|c=赤狗日|hp=Chìgǒurì|s=|t=}}). ''Chigou'', literally "red dog", is an epithet of "the God of Blazing Wrath" ({{lang-zh|links=no|c=熛怒之神|hp=Biāo nù zhī shén}}). Rural villagers continue the tradition of burning paper offerings over trash fires. It is considered an unlucky day to have guests or go visiting.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.ctps.tp.edu.tw/country/holiday/hldy_b/hldy_b2.htm |title=¬K¸' |publisher=.ctps.tp.edu.tw |access-date=25 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721190459/http://www2.ctps.tp.edu.tw/country/holiday/hldy_b/hldy_b2.htm |archive-date=21 July 2011 }}</ref> Hakka villagers in rural Hong Kong in the 1960s called it the Day of the Poor Devil and believed everyone should stay at home.<ref>Berkowitz and Brandauer, ''Folk Religion in an Urban Setting'', Hong Kong, 1969, p. 49.</ref> This is also considered a propitious day to visit the temple of the God of Wealth and have one's future told.

===Fourth day===
In communities that celebrate Chinese New Year for 15 days, the fourth day marks the beginning of corporate "spring dinners" and the return to normal business operations. In other regions with a longer Chinese New Year holiday, celebrations include welcoming back the gods who were previously sent off on this day.

===Fifth day===
This day is the god of Wealth's birthday. In northern China, people eat [[jiaozi]], or dumplings, on the morning of ''powu'' ({{lang-zh|links=no|c=破五|hp=pòwǔ}}).

It is also common in China that on the 5th day people will shoot off firecrackers to get [[Guan Yu]]'s attention, thus ensuring his favour and good fortune for the new year.

===Sixth day===
On the sixth day, known as Horse's Day, people drive away the Ghost of Poverty by discarding the garbage accumulated during the festival. The methods may vary, but they essentially carry the same meaning—to dispel the Ghost of Poverty. This practice reflects the common desire among the Chinese people to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new year, to rid themselves of past poverty and hardships, and to usher in a prosperous and auspicious life in the New Year.<ref name="yourchineseastrology.com">{{cite web | url=https://www.yourchineseastrology.com/chinese-new-year/
 | title=Chinese New Year | publisher=yourchineseastrology.com}}</ref>

===Seventh day===
{{main|Renri}}
The seventh day, traditionally known as ''[[Renri]]'' (the common person's birthday), is the day when everyone grows one year older. In some [[overseas Chinese]] communities in Southeast Asia, such as Malaysia and Singapore, it is also the day when tossed raw fish salad, [[yusheng]], is eaten for continued wealth and prosperity.

For many Chinese Buddhists, this is another day to avoid meat, the seventh day commemorating the birth of [[Śakra (Buddhism)|Sakra]], lord of the devas in Buddhist cosmology who is analogous to the Jade Emperor.

===Eighth day===
[[File:ChinNewYr-dragon1.jpg|thumb|Chinese New Year's celebrations, on the eighth day, in the [[Metro Vancouver]] suburb of [[Richmond, British Columbia]], Canada]]

Another family dinner is held to celebrate the eve of the birth of the Jade Emperor, the ruler of heaven. People typically return to work by the eighth day. Therefore, store owners will host a lunch or dinner with their employees, expressing gratitude for the work they have done throughout the year.

===Ninth day===
The ninth day is traditionally known as the birthday of the [[Jade Emperor]] of Heaven ({{lang-zh|links=no|c=玉皇|p=Yù Huáng}}) and many people offered prayer in the [[Taoist]] Pantheon as thanks or gratitude.<ref name="lmr">{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://taiwanpedia.culture.tw/en/content?ID=4414|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222074628/http://taiwanpedia.culture.tw/en/content?ID=4414|archive-date=22 February 2014 |title=Jade Emperor |last=Lin Meirong|year=2011|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Taiwan|publisher=Council for Cultural Affairs|access-date=12 September 2012}}</ref> It is commonly known as called ''Ti Kong Dan'' ({{lang-zh|links=no|c=|hp=|s=|t=天公誕|poj=Thiⁿ-kong Tan|first=t}}), ''Ti Kong Si'' ({{lang-zh|links=no|c=|hp=|s=|t=天公生|poj=Thiⁿ-kong Siⁿ/Thiⁿ-kong Seⁿ|first=t}}) or ''Pai Ti Kong'' ({{lang-zh|links=no|c=|hp=|s=|t=拜天公|poj=Pài Thiⁿ-kong|first=t}}), and is especially important to [[Hoklo people|Hokkiens]].<ref name="jlc">{{cite web|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_1498_2009-04-09.html|title=Hokkien community|last=Conceicao|first=Jeanne Louise|year=2009|work=Singapore Infopedia|publisher=National Library Board Singapore|access-date=12 September 2012}}</ref>

A prominent requisite offering is [[sugarcane]].<ref name="jlc"/> Legends holds that the Hokkien were spared from a massacre by Japanese pirates by hiding in a sugarcane plantation between the eighth and ninth days of the Chinese New Year, coinciding with the Jade Emperor's birthday.<ref name="jlc"/> "Sugarcane" ({{lang-zh|links=no|c=|hp=|s=|t=甘蔗|poj=kam-chià|first=t}}) is a near homonym to "thank you" ({{lang-zh|links=no|c=|hp=|s=|t=感謝|poj=kám-siā|first=t}}) in the Hokkien dialect.<ref name="jlc"/>

===Tenth day===
The nation celebrates the Jade Emperor's birthday on this day.

===Fifteenth day===
{{main|Lantern Festival}}
The fifteenth day of the new year is celebrated as the Lantern Festival, also known as the Yuanxiao Festival ({{lang-zh|links=no|t=元宵節|s=元宵节|hp=Yuán xiāo jié|c=}}), the Shangyuan Festival ({{lang-zh|links=no|t=上元節|s=上元节|hp=Shàng yuán jié|c=}}), and Chap Goh Meh ({{lang-zh|links=no|c=十五暝|poj=Cha̍p-gō͘-mê|l=the fifteen night|s=|t=}} in [[Hokkien]]). Rice dumplings, or ''[[tangyuan (food)|tangyuan]]'' ({{lang-zh|links=no|s=汤圆|t=湯圓|p=tang yuán|c=}}), a sweet [[glutinous rice]] ball brewed in a soup, are eaten this day. Candles are lit outside houses as a way to guide wayward spirits home. Families may walk the streets carrying lanterns, which sometimes have riddles attached to or written on them as a tradition.<ref>{{Cite web |title=This Mid-Autumn Festival, learn all about the ancient Chinese tradition of writing riddles on lanterns – and solve some yourself |url=https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/lifestyle/features/article/3056469/mid-autumn-festival-learn-all-about-ancient-chinese |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=Young Post|date=23 September 2018 }}</ref>

In China and Malaysia, this day is celebrated by individuals seeking a romantic partner, akin to [[Valentine's Day]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/3/1/nation/5769183&sec=nation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100302200635/http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2010%2F3%2F1%2Fnation%2F5769183&sec=nation |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 March 2010 |title=Thousands throw oranges to mark Chap Goh Meh |publisher=Thestar.com.my |date=1 March 2010 |access-date=25 August 2010 }}</ref> Nowadays, single women write their contact number on mandarin oranges and throw them into a river or a lake, after which single men collect the oranges and eat them. The taste serves as an indication of their potential love life: a sweet taste represents good fortune, while a sour taste represents a less favorable outcome.

This day often marks the end of the Chinese New Year festivities.

==Traditional food==
[[File:Guangdong Nian cake.jpg|thumb|One version of [[niangao]], New Year rice cake]]
A [[reunion dinner]] is held on New Year's Eve, during which family members gather for a celebration.<ref name="History.com Chinese New Year Traditions">{{cite web |title=Chinese New Year Traditions |url=https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/chinese-new-year-traditions |website=History.com |date=19 March 2021 |access-date=31 December 2022 |language=en}}</ref> The venue will usually be in or near the home of the most senior member of the family. The New Year's Eve dinner is very large and sumptuous and traditionally includes dishes of meat (namely, pork and chicken) and fish. Most reunion dinners also feature a [[communal bowl|communal]] [[hot pot]] as it is believed to signify the coming together of the family members for the meal. Reunion dinners (particularly in the Southern regions) may prominently feature specialty meats (e.g. wax-cured meats like duck and [[Chinese sausage]]) and seafood (e.g. [[lobster]] and [[abalone]]) that are usually reserved for special occasions. In most areas, fish ({{lang-zh|links=no|s=鱼|t=魚|p=yú|first=|c=}}) is included, but not eaten completely (and the remainder is stored overnight), as the Chinese phrase "may there be ''surpluses'' every year" ({{lang-zh|links=no|t=年年有餘|s=年年有余|p=niánnián yǒu yú|first=|c=}}) sounds the same as "let there be fish every year." Eight individual dishes are served to reflect the belief of good fortune associated with the number. If in the previous year a death was experienced in the family, seven dishes are served.

Other traditional foods consist of noodles, fruits, dumplings,<ref>{{cite web |title=Chinese New Year Food |url=https://lammuseum.wfu.edu/education/teachers/chinese-new-year/chinese-new-year-food/ |website=Timothy S. Y. Lam Museum of Anthropology |access-date=31 December 2022 |language=en}}</ref> spring rolls,<ref name="Rituals and Traditional Events in the Modern World 85"/> and Tangyuan<ref name="History.com Chinese New Year Traditions"/> which are also known as sweet rice balls. Each dish served during Chinese New Year represents something special. The noodles used to make longevity noodles are usually very thin, long wheat noodles. These noodles are longer than normal noodles that are usually fried and served on a plate, or boiled and served in a bowl with its broth. The noodles symbolize the wish for a long life. The fruits that are typically selected would be oranges, tangerines, and [[pomelo]]s as they are round and "golden" in color, symbolizing fullness and wealth. The pronunciations of these Chinese words are said to harbor luck and prosperity, such as the Chinese pronunciation for orange (橙 chéng), which sounds the same as the Chinese for 'success' (成). Pomelos, which are believed to bring constant prosperity, also have pronunciations that symbolize good luck. The Chinese word for pomelos (柚 yòu) sounds similar to 'to have' (有 yǒu), disregarding its tone, however, it sounds exactly like 'again' (又 yòu). Certain Chinese characters can represent luck as well, such as the Chinese word for tangerine (桔 jú), which contains the Chinese character for luck (吉 jí). Additionally, dumplings and spring rolls symbolize wealth, whereas sweet rice balls symbolize family togetherness.

[[Red envelope|Red envelopes]] may be distributed during the reunion dinner to immediate family. These packets contain money in an amount that reflects good luck and honorability. Several foods are consumed to usher in wealth, happiness, and good fortune. Several of the [[Chinese cuisine|Chinese food]] names are homophones for words that also mean good things.

Many families in China still follow the tradition of eating only vegetarian food on the first day of the New Year, as it is believed that doing so will bring good luck into their lives for the whole year.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chan |first1=Yannie |title=Why do Chinese families stick to a vegetarian diet on Lunar New Year? |url=https://theloophk.com/why-do-chinese-families-stick-to-a-vegetarian-diet-on-lunar-new-year/ |access-date=31 December 2022 |work=The Loop HK |date=26 January 2021}}</ref>

Like many other New Year dishes, certain ingredients that have names that relate to long life, prosperity, or wealth also take special precedence over others.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="width:10%;"| Food item
! style="width:5%;"| Simplified Chinese
! style="width:5%;"| Traditional Chinese
! style="width:5%;"| Hanyu Pinyin
! style="width:50%;"| Description
|-
| [[Buddha's delight]] 
|罗汉斋
|羅漢齋
|Luóhàn zhāi|| An elaborate [[Buddhist cuisine|vegetarian dish]] served by Chinese families on the eve and the first day of the New Year. A type of black hair-like [[algae]], pronounced "[[Fat choy (vegetable)|fat choy]]" in Cantonese, is also featured in the dish for its name, which sounds like "prosperity". [[Hakka (language)|Hakka]]s usually serve ''kiu nyuk'' ({{lang-zh|links=no|c=扣肉|p=kòuròu|s=|t=}}) and ''[[yong tau foo|ngiong teu fu]]''.
|-
| Chicken 
|鸡
|雞
|Jī|| Boiled chicken is served because it is figured that any family, no matter how humble their circumstances, can afford a chicken for Chinese New Year.
|-
|Apples
|苹果
|蘋果
|Píngguǒ
|Apples symbolize peace because the word for apple ("ping") is a homonym of the word for peace.
|-
| Fish 
|鱼
|魚
|Yú|| Is usually eaten or merely displayed on the eve of Chinese New Year. The pronunciation of fish makes it a homophone for "surpluses" ({{lang-zh|links=no|s=余|t=餘|p=yú|first=|c=}}).
|-
| [[Garlic]] 
| colspan="2" |蒜
|Suàn|| Is usually served in a dish with rondelles of Chinese sausage or Chinese cured meat during Chinese New Year. The pronunciation of Garlic makes it a homophone for "calculating (money)" ({{lang-zh|links=no|s=|t=|p=suàn|first=|c=算}}). The Chinese cured meat is so chosen because it is traditionally the primary method for storing meat over the winter, and the meat rondelles resemble coins.
|-
| [[Jau gok]] 
| colspan="2" |油角
|Yóu jiǎo|| The main Chinese New Year dumpling for Cantonese families. It is believed to resemble a [[sycee]] or ''yuánbǎo'', the old Chinese gold and silver [[ingot]]s, and to represent prosperity for the coming year.
|-
| [[Jiaozi]] 
|饺子
|餃子
|Jiǎozi|| The common dumpling eaten in [[Northern and southern China|northern China]], also believed to resemble [[sycee]]. At the reunion dinner, Chinese people add various foods into Jiaozi fillings to represent good fortune: coins, Niangao, dried dates, candy, etc.
|-
| [[Mandarin orange]]s 
| colspan="2" |桔子
|Júzi|| Oranges, particularly [[mandarin orange]]s, are a common fruit during Chinese New Year. They are particularly associated with the festival in [[Northern and southern China|southern China]], where its name is a [[homophone]] of the word for "luck" in [[Chinese dialects|dialects]] such as [[Teochew dialect|Teochew]] (in which {{lang|zh|{{linktext|橘}}}}, ''jú'', and {{lang|zh|{{linktext|吉}}}}, ''jí'', are both pronounced ''gik'').<ref>Thianchai Iamworamet. ''Chinese-Thai Dictionary''. Bangkok: Ramsar, 1998. page 73, 272. (เธียรชัย เอี่ยมวรเมธ. ''พจนานุกรม จีน-ไทย''. กรุงเทพฯ : รวมสาส์น, 2541. หน้า 73, 272.) {{ISBN|978-974-246-307-6}}</ref>
|-
| [[Melon seed]]/Guazi 
| colspan="2" |瓜子
|Guāzi|| Other variations include sunflower, pumpkin and other seeds. It symbolizes fertility and having many children.
|-
| [[Nian gao|Niangao]] 
| colspan="2" |年糕
|Niángāo|| Most popular in eastern China ([[Jiangsu]], Zhejiang and Shanghai) because its pronunciation is a homophone for "a more prosperous year (年高 lit. year high)". Niangao is also popular in the Philippines, where there is a large Chinese population and is known as ''tikoy'' ({{lang-zh|links=no|c=甜粿}}, from [[Min Nan]]) there. Known as Chinese New Year pudding, niangao is made up of glutinous rice flour, wheat starch, salt, water, and sugar. The color of the sugar used determines the color of the pudding (white or brown).
|-
| [[Chinese noodles|Noodles]] 
|面条
|麵條
|Miàntiáo|| Families may serve uncut noodles (making them as long as they can<ref>{{cite web|last=Butler |first=Stephanie |url=http://www.history.com/news/hungry-history/symbolic-foods-of-chinese-new-year |title=Symbolic Foods Of Chinese New Year – Hungry History |publisher=History.com |date=30 January 2014 |access-date=11 February 2019}}</ref>), which represent longevity and long life, though this practice is not limited to the new year.
|-
| Sweets 
| colspan="2" |糖果
|Tángguǒ|| Sweets and similar dried fruit goods are stored in a red or black [[Chinese candy box]].
|-
| [[Rougan]] (Yok Gon) 
|肉干
|肉乾
|Ròugān|| Chinese salty-sweet dried meat, akin to jerky, which is trimmed of the fat, sliced, marinated, and then smoked for later consumption or as a gift.
|-
| [[Taro cake]]s
|芋头糕
|芋頭糕
|Yùtougāo|| Made from the vegetable [[taro]], the cakes are cut into squares and often fried.
|-
| [[Turnip cake]]s
|萝卜糕
|蘿蔔糕
|Luóbogāo|| A dish made of shredded radish and rice flour, usually fried and cut into small squares.
|-
| [[Yusheng]] or Yee sang 
|鱼生
|魚生
|Yúshēng|| Raw fish salad. Eating this salad is said to bring good luck. This dish is usually eaten on the seventh day of the New Year, but may also be eaten throughout the period.
|-
|Five Xinpan
|五辛盘
|五辛盤
|Wǔ xīnpán
|Five Xin include onion, garlic, pepper, ginger, and mustard. As an ancient traditional folk culture, it has existed since the Jin dynasty. It symbolizes health. In a positive economic growth dynasty, like Song, The Five Xinpan would not only have five spicy vegetables but would also include Chinese bacon and other vegetables. Moreover, it was offered to the family's ancestors to express respect and seek a blessing.<ref>{{Cite book|title=過一個歡樂的宋朝新年|last=李|first=開周|publisher=華藝數位股份有限公司|year=2016|isbn=9789571365213|location=臺北市|pages=95–98}}</ref>
|-
|[[Laba congee|Laba porridge]]
|腊八粥
|臘八粥
|Làbā zhōu
|This dish is eaten on [[Laba Festival]], the eighth day of the twelfth month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar. The congees are made of mixed walnut, pine nuts, mushrooms, and persimmon. The congees are for commemorating the sacrifices of ancestors and celebrating the harvest.<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://archive.org/details/06044547.cn|title=武林舊事·卷一~卷三|last=（宋）周密|others=浙江大学图书馆}}</ref>
|}

==Practices==

===Red envelopes===
[[File:DihuaMarketRat.jpg|thumb|Red packets for sale in a market in [[Taipei]], Taiwan, before the [[Rat (zodiac)|Year of the Rat]]]]
[[File:Chinese New Year market.jpg|thumb|Shoppers at a New Year market in [[Chinatown, Singapore|Chinatown]], Singapore]]

Traditionally, [[red envelope]]s or red packets 
({{lang-zh|first=t|t=紅包|s=红包}}; [[Mandarin Chinese|Mandarin]] {{lang-zh|p=hóngbāo}}; [[Hokkien]] {{lang-zh|poj=âng-pau}}; [[Hakka (language)|Hakka]] [[Pha̍k-fa-sṳ]]: ''fùng-pâu''), alternatively known as ''lai see'' particularly in [[Cantonese]] speaking areas ({{lang-zh|t=利是 / 利市 / 利事|cy=laih sih|p=lìshì|first=j}}), are passed out during the Chinese New Year's celebrations, from married couples or the elderly to unmarried juniors or children. During this period, red packets are also known as ''yasuiqian'' ({{lang-zh|labels=no|t=壓歲錢|s=压岁钱|p=yāsuìqián|first=t}}), which was evolved from a homophonous phrase ''yasuiqian'' ({{lang-zh|labels=no|t=壓祟錢|s=压祟钱|p=yāsuìqián|first=t}}), literally meaning "money to suppress evil spirits".<ref name="Flanagan">{{cite book|last=Flanagan |first=Alice K. |title=Chinese New Year |year=2004 |publisher=Compass Point Books|isbn=9780756504793 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ak4XbIVSovcC&q=chinese+new+year+gifts&pg=PT20 |access-date=4 November 2008}}</ref> According to legend, a demon named Sui would pat a child on the head three times on New Year's Eve, causing the child to have a fever. In response, parents wrapped coins in red paper and placed them next to their children's pillows. When Sui approached, the flash of the coin scared him away. Since then, on every New Year's Eve, parents have wrapped coins in red paper to protect their children.<ref>{{cite web|title=Red Pockets|url=https://chinesenewyear.net/red-pockets/|access-date=30 October 2021|website=Chinese New Year}}</ref>

Red packets almost always contain money, usually varying from a couple of dollars to several hundred. Chinese superstitions favour amounts that begin with even numbers, such as [[Chinese numerology#Eight|8]] (八, {{lang-zh|links=no|p=bā}}), a homophone for "wealth", and [[Chinese numerology#Six|6]] (六, {{lang-zh|links=no|p=liù}}), a homophone for "smooth"—but not the number 4 (四, {{lang-zh|links=no|p=sì}}), which is a homophone of "death", and is, as such, [[Tetraphobia|considered unlucky in Asian culture]]. Odd numbers are also avoided, as they are associated with cash given during funerals (帛金, {{lang-zh|links=no|p=báijīn}}).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/this-numbers-game-is-crazy----for-8s/article734176/|title=This numbers game is crazy – for 8s|work=The Globe and Mail|access-date=24 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3082515|title=How much money should you put in red envelope...|website=Taiwan News|date=26 January 2017|access-date=24 January 2020}}</ref> It is also customary for bills placed inside a red envelope to be new.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/life/whats-the-significance-of-lunar-new-year-red-envelopes/|title=What's the significance of Lunar New Year red envelopes?|date=25 January 2017|website=The Seattle Times|language=en-US|access-date=24 January 2020}}</ref>

The act of asking for red packets ([[Mandarin Chinese|Mandarin]]: 討紅包; ''tǎo hóngbāo'', [[Cantonese]]: 逗利是; ''dauh laih sih'') wouldn't be turned down by a married person as it would mean that he or she would be "out of luck" in the new year. Red packets are generally given by married couples to the younger non-married members of the family.<ref name="Rituals and Traditional Events in the Modern World 85"/> It is customary and polite for children to wish elders a happy new year and a year of happiness, health, and good fortune before accepting the red envelope.<ref name="Rituals and Traditional Events in the Modern World 85"/> Red envelopes are then kept under the pillow and slept on for seven nights after Chinese New Year before opening because that symbolizes good luck and fortune.

In the mid-2010s, Chinese [[messaging app]]s such as [[WeChat]] popularized the distribution of red envelopes in a virtual format via [[mobile payment]]s, usually within [[group chat]]s.<ref name="fastco-redpacket">{{cite web|title=How Social Cash Made WeChat The App For Everything|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/3065255/china-wechat-tencent-red-envelopes-and-social-money|website=Fast Company|date=2 January 2017|access-date=4 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103135948/https://www.fastcompany.com/3065255/china-wechat-tencent-red-envelopes-and-social-money|archive-date=3 January 2017|url-status=live |last1=Chao |first1=Eveline }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Young|first1=Doug|title=Red envelope wars in China, Xiaomi eyes US|url=http://www.scmp.com/comment/blogs/article/1715981/red-envelope-wars-china-xiaomi-eyes-us|access-date=18 February 2015|agency=South China Morning Post|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150218160037/http://www.scmp.com/comment/blogs/article/1715981/red-envelope-wars-china-xiaomi-eyes-us|archive-date=18 February 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2017, it was estimated that over 100 billion of these virtual red envelopes would be sent over the New Year holiday.<ref name="bbc-virtual">{{cite news|title=Why this Chinese New Year will be a digital money fest|work=BBC News|date=27 January 2017|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-38746298|access-date=29 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170128112533/http://www.bbc.com/news/business-38746298|archive-date=28 January 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.caixinglobal.com/2017-01-13/tencent-alibaba-send-lunar-new-year-revelers-money-hunting-101043798.html|title=Tencent, Alibaba Send Lunar New Year Revelers Money-Hunting|date=13 January 2017|website=Caixin Global|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829072212/https://www.caixinglobal.com/2017-01-13/tencent-alibaba-send-lunar-new-year-revelers-money-hunting-101043798.html|archive-date=29 August 2018|access-date=29 August 2018}}</ref>

====Mythology====
In ancient times, there was a monster named ''sui'' ({{lang|zh|祟}}) which comes out on New Year's Eve and touches the heads of sleeping children. The child will be frightened by the touch and wake up and have a fever. The fever eventually will cause the child to have intellectual disabilities. Hence, families will light up their homes and stay awake, leading to a tradition of ''shou sui'' ({{lang|zh|守祟}}), to guard against ''sui'' harming their children.

A folklore tale of ''sui'' is about an elderly couple with a precious son. On the night of New Year's Eve, since they were afraid that ''sui'' would come, they took out eight pieces of copper coins to play with their son in order to keep him awake. Their son was very sleepy, however, so they let him go to sleep after placing a red paper bag containing the copper coins under the child's pillow. The two older children also stayed with him for the whole night. Suddenly, the doors and windows were blown open by a strange wind, and even the candlelight was extinguished. It turned out to be a ''sui''. When the ''sui'' was going to reach out and touch the child's head, the pillow suddenly brightened with the golden light, and the ''sui'' was scared away, so the exorcism effect of "red paper wrapped copper money" spread in the past China<ref>{{Cite book|title=紅包|last=超宏|first=陳|publisher=商務書局。|year=2014|location=香港}}</ref> (see also [[Chinese numismatic charm]]s). The money is then called ''ya sui qian'' ({{lang|zh-hant|壓歲錢}}), the money to suppress ''sui''.

Another tale recounts a village terrorized by a huge demon that none could defeat; numerous warriors and statesmen had attempted to no avail. A young orphan, wielding a magical sword passed down from his ancestors, confronted and battled the demon, ultimately slaying it. With the demon vanquished, peace returned to the village, and in gratitude, the elders bestowed upon the courageous young man a red envelope filled with money as a token of appreciation for his valor and for freeing the village from the demon's menace.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Zhang|first1=Qian|last2=Li|first2=Jun|last3=Wang|first3=Shanyong|last4=Zhou|first4=Yu|date=2019|title=Understanding the User's Economical and Psychological Intentions to Snatch Electronic Red Envelopes: An Experimental Study|journal=IEEE Access|volume=7|pages=5749–5759|doi=10.1109/ACCESS.2018.2888576|issn=2169-3536|doi-access=free|bibcode=2019IEEEA...7.5749Z }}</ref>

===Gift exchange===
[[File:Candy Box.jpg|thumb|[[Chinese candy box]]]]
In addition to red envelopes, typically given from older individuals to younger ones, small gifts such as food or sweets are exchanged between friends or relatives from different households during Chinese New Year. These gifts are often brought when visiting friends or relatives at their homes. Common gifts include fruits (especially oranges, but never pears), cakes, biscuits, chocolates, and candies. It is customary for gifts to be wrapped in red or golden paper, symbolizing good luck.

Certain items should not be given, as they are considered [[taboo]]. Taboo gifts include:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chinese-lessons.com/cantonese/culture1NewYears.htm#gift |title=Chinese Culture: New Years – Cantonese Culture Notes and Phrases |publisher=chinese-lessons.com |access-date=4 November 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://randomwire.com/green-hat-a-no-no/ |title=Green Hat a No-No |date=3 December 2009 |author=David}}</ref>
* items associated with [[funerals]] (i.e. handkerchiefs, towels, [[chrysanthemums]], items coloured white and black)
* items that show that time is running out (i.e. clocks and watches)
* sharp objects that symbolize cutting a tie (i.e. scissors and knives)
* items that symbolize that you want to walk away from a relationship (examples: shoes and sandals)
* mirrors
* [[homonyms]] for unpleasant topics (examples: "clock" sounds like "the funeral ritual" or "the end of life", green hats because "wear a green hat" sounds like "[[cuckold]]", "handkerchief" sounds like "goodbye", "pear" sounds like "separate", "umbrella" sounds like "disperse", and "shoe" sounds like a "rough" year)

===Markets===
Markets or village fairs are set up as the New Year is approaching. These usually open-air markets feature new year related products such as flowers, toys, clothing, and even fireworks and firecrackers. It is convenient for people to buy gifts for their new year visits as well as their home decorations. In some places, the practice of shopping for the perfect [[Prunus mume|plum tree]] is not dissimilar to the Western tradition of buying a [[Christmas tree]].

===Fireworks===
{{See also|Fireworks bans in China}}
[[File:Chinesenewyearfireworkman.jpg|thumb|A Chinese man setting off fireworks during Chinese New Year in Shanghai]]
Bamboo stems filled with gunpowder that was burnt to create small explosions were once used in ancient China to drive away evil spirits. In modern times, this method has eventually evolved into the use of [[firecrackers]] during the festive season. Firecrackers are usually strung on a long fused string so it can be hung down. Each firecracker is rolled up in red papers, as red is auspicious, with gunpowder in its core. Once ignited, the firecracker lets out a loud popping noise and, as they are usually strung together by the hundreds, the firecrackers are known for their deafening explosions that are thought to scare away evil spirits. The burning of firecrackers also signifies a joyful time of year and has become an integral aspect of Chinese New Year celebrations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/sip_749_2005-01-11.html |title=Firecrackers |publisher=Infopedia.nlb.gov.sg |date=15 April 1999 |access-date=2 November 2011}}</ref> Since the 2000s, firecrackers have been banned in various countries and towns.

===Music===
"''Happy New Year!''" ({{lang-zh|links=no|c=新年好呀|hp=Xīn Nián Hǎo Ya}}) is a popular children's song for the New Year holiday.<ref name="eChineseLearning">{{cite web |url=http://resources.echineselearning.com/kids/kids-chinese-496.html |title=新年好 (xīnniánhǎo) Happy New Year |publisher=eChineseLearning.com |access-date=20 December 2012 |archive-date=5 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150105011021/http://resources.echineselearning.com/kids/kids-chinese-496.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The melody is similar to the American [[Western music (North America)|folk song]], ''[[Oh My Darling, Clementine]]''. Another popular Chinese New Year song is [[Gong Xi Gong Xi]] ({{lang-zh|links=no|c=恭喜恭喜！|hp=Gongxi Gongxi!}})
.

=== Movies ===
{{main|Chinese New Year film}}
Watching [[Chinese New Year film]]s is an expression of Chinese cultural identity. During the New Year holidays, the stage boss gathers the most popular actors whom from various troupes let them perform [[Repertoire|repertories]] from [[Qing dynasty]]. Nowadays many people celebrate the new year by watching these movies.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Lee |first1=Jen Sookfong |title=Chinese New Year: A Celebration for Everyone |date=3 October 2017 |publisher=Orca Book Publishers |isbn=978-1-4598-1127-0 |page=40 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8PcoDwAAQBAJ&dq=chinese+new+year+movies&pg=PA40 |access-date=31 December 2022 |language=en}}</ref> In mainland China, the [[CMG New Year's Gala|New Year's Gala]] is broadcast by every TV station, featuring traditional performances and a message by the president.

[[Cinema of Hong Kong|Hong Kong filmmakers]] also release Chinese New Year films, mostly comedies, at this time of year.

===Clothing===
[[File:Red girls (121513100).jpg|thumb|right|Girls dressed in red ([[Chinese people in New York City|NYC]])]]
The color red is commonly worn throughout Chinese New Year; traditional beliefs held that red could scare away evil spirits.<ref name="Rituals and Traditional Events in the Modern World 85">{{cite book |last1=Laing |first1=Jennifer |last2=Frost |first2=Warwick |title=Rituals and Traditional Events in the Modern World |date=30 October 2014 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-134-59313-2 |page=85 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-A0hBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA85 |access-date=1 January 2023 |language=en}}</ref> The wearing of new clothes is another clothing custom during the festival;<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ong |first1=Siew Chey |title=China Condensed: 5000 Years of History & Culture |date=2005 |publisher=Marshall Cavendish |isbn=978-981-261-067-6 |page=182 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bt7q8hfiZ4gC&pg=PA182 |access-date=1 January 2023 |language=en}}</ref> the new clothes symbolize a new beginning in the year.<ref name="Rituals and Traditional Events in the Modern World 85"/>

===Family portrait===
In some places, the taking of a [[Portrait photography|family portrait]] is an important ceremony after the relatives are gathered.<ref>{{cite news |title=就地过年｜定格幸福：来张特殊的春节"全家福" |url=https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_11287320 |access-date=1 January 2023 |work=[[澎湃新闻]] |quote=春节来临，不少家庭喜欢趁团聚拍一张全家福，记录时光、记录美好，是一件很有仪式感的事。}}</ref> The photo is taken at the hall of the house or taken in front of the house. The most senior male head of the family sits in the center.

===Symbolism===
{{see also|Fu character}}
[[File:FuDao.jpg|thumb|right|An inverted character ''fu'' is a sign of arriving blessings]]

As with all cultures, Chinese New Year traditions incorporate elements that are symbolic of deeper meaning. One common example of Chinese New Year symbolism is the red [[diamond]]-shaped ''[[fu character]]s'' ({{lang-zh|links=no|c=福|p=fú|cy=fūk|l=blessings, happiness}}), which are displayed on the entrances of Chinese homes. This sign is usually seen hanging upside down, since the Chinese word for "upside down" (倒; ''dào''), is [[homophone|homophonous]] or nearly homophonous with the word for "arrive" (到; ''dào'') in all [[varieties of Chinese]]. Therefore, it symbolizes the arrival of luck, happiness, and prosperity. Other characters may include (壽; ''shòu''), (萬; ''wàn''), (寶; ''bǎo''), (財; ''cái'') or a combination like ([[:zh:招財進寶 (成語)|招財進寶]]; ''zhāo cái jìn bǎo'').

For [[Cantonese]]-speaking people, if the ''fu'' sign is hung upside down, the implied ''dao'' (upside down) sounds like the Cantonese word for "pour", producing "pour the luck [away]", which would usually symbolize bad luck; this is why the ''fu'' character is not usually hung upside-down in Cantonese communities.

Red is the predominant color used in New Year celebrations. Red is the emblem of joy, and this color also symbolizes virtue, truth and sincerity. On the Chinese opera stage, a painted red face usually denotes a sacred or loyal personage and sometimes a great emperor. Candies, cakes, decorations and many things associated with the New Year and its ceremonies are coloured red. The sound of the Chinese word for "red" ({{lang-zh|p=hóng|cy=húng}}) is in [[Standard Chinese|Mandarin]] homophonous with the word for "prosperous". Therefore, red is an auspicious color and has an auspicious sound.
According to Chinese tradition, the year of the pig is a generally unlucky year for the public, which is why you need to reevaluate most of your decisions before you reach a conclusion. However, this only helps you get even more control over your life as you learn to stay ahead of everything by being cautious.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://askastrology.com/year-of-the-pig/|title=Year of the Pig &#124; 2019 Chinese Horoscope &#124; Ask Astrology Blog|date=16 October 2018}}</ref>

===Nianhua===
[[File:ChineseNewYearBoston01.jpg|thumb|upright|Chinese New Year festival in [[Chinatown, Boston]]]]

Nianhua can be a form of Chinese coloured woodblock printing, for decoration during Chinese New Year.<ref name="Wood">{{cite web |url=http://jds.cass.cn/Item/5606.aspx |title=The Boxer Rebellion, 1900: A Selection of Books, Prints and Photographs |last=Wood |first=Frances |publisher=British Library |access-date=28 June 2010 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303191900/http://jds.cass.cn/Item/5606.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> Nianhua uses a range of subjects to express and invite positive prospects as the new year begins. The most popular representatives of these prospects take inspiration from nature, religion, folklore, etc., and are portrayed in flashy and lively ways.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Holm |first=David |date=2006-01-01 |title=The Cult of Happiness: Nianhua, Art, and History in Rural North China. James A. Flath |url=https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.2307/20066170 |journal=The China Journal |volume=55 |pages=230–231 |doi=10.2307/20066170 |jstor=20066170 |issn=1324-9347|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

===Leisure===
During Chinese New Year day, working at most establishments stops and a favourite past time is playing [[Mahjong]] with family or buddies.

===Flowers===
The following are popular floral decorations for the New Year and are available at new year markets.
:{| class="wikitable"
!Floral Decor ||Meaning
|-
|[[Plum Blossom]] || symbolizes luck
|-
|[[Kumquat]] || symbolizes prosperity
|-
|[[Calamondin]] || symbolizes luck
|-
|[[Narcissus (genus)|Narcissus]] || symbolizes prosperity
|-
|[[Bamboo]] || a plant used for any time of year, its sturdiness represents strength
|-
|[[Sunflower]] || means to have a good year
|-
|[[Eggplant]] ||a plant to heal all of your sicknesses
|-
|[[Sandersonia|Chom Mon Plant]] || a plant which gives you tranquility
|-
|[[Orchid]]
|represents fertility and abundance, as well as good taste, beauty, luxury and innocence
|-
|[[Phalaenopsis]] || symbolizes wealth, good luck, prosperity, and the flourishing of family and career
|}

Each flower has a symbolic meaning, and many Chinese people believe that it may usher in the values that it represents.<ref>{{Cite web |title=10 Lucky Flowers & Plants For Chinese New Year |url=https://thehkhub.com/chinese-new-year-flowers-plants-and-trees/ |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=thehkhub.com |language=en-GB}}</ref> In general, except those in lucky colour like red and yellow, [[chrysanthemum]] should not be put at home during the new year, because it is normally used for [[ancestral veneration]].<ref>{{cite web|title=清明節掃墓為什麼用菊花？清明節掃墓用什麼顏色菊花好|url=https://kknews.cc/culture/299y2m9.html|url-status=live|access-date=22 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210822094825/https://kknews.cc/culture/299y2m9.html |archive-date=22 August 2021 }}</ref>

===Icons and ornaments===
:{| class="wikitable"
! style="width:150px;"|Icons || Meaning || Illustrations
|-
| '''[[Paper lantern|Lantern]]s''' || These lanterns that differ from those of [[Mid-Autumn Festival]] in general. They will be red in color and tend to be oval in shape. These are the traditional Chinese paper lanterns. Those lanterns, used on the fifteenth day of the Chinese New Year for the Lantern Festival, are bright, colorful, and in many different sizes and shapes.
| [[File:Red lanterns.JPG|110px|center]]
|-
| '''[[Decorative arts|Decoration]]''' || Decorations generally convey a New Year greeting. They are not advertisements. [[Fai Chun|Faichun, also known as Huichun]]—[[Chinese calligraphy]] of auspicious [[Chinese idiom]]s on typically red posters—are hung on doorways and walls. Other decorations include a [[New year picture]], [[Chinese knot]]s, [[Sycee]] and [[Chinese Paper Cutting|papercutting]] and [[couplet (Chinese poetry)|couplets]]. || [[File:Decoration2.jpg|110px|center]] [[File:絨布八仙橫綵.jpg|110px|center]]
|-
| '''[[Dragon dance]]''' and '''[[Lion dance]]''' || [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]] and lion dances are common during Chinese New Year. It is believed that the loud beats of the drum and the deafening sounds of the cymbals together with the face of the [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]] or lion dancing aggressively can evict bad or evil spirits. Lion dances are also popular for opening of businesses in Hong Kong and Macau. || [[File:Seattle ID night market - lion dance 06.jpg|110px]] [[File:Dança do dragão.jpg|110px|center]]
|-
| '''[[Sanxing (deities)|Fu Lu Shou]]''' || ''[[New Year picture|Nianhua]]'' of the Fu Lu Shou. || [[File:Fortune.JPG|110px|center]]
|-
| '''[[Red envelope]]''' || Typically given to children, elderly and [[Dragon Dance|Dragon/Lion Dance performers]] while saying <small>[[traditional characters|t]]</small> {{lang|zh-hant|{{linktext|恭喜發財}}}} {{nowrap|<small>[[jyutping|j]]</small> ''gung1 hei2 faat3 coi4''}}, {{nowrap|<small>[[simplified characters|s]]</small> {{lang|zh-hans|{{linktext|恭喜发财}}}}}} {{nowrap|<small>[[pinyin|p]]</small> ''gōng xǐ fā cái''}}. || [[File:Laisee.jpg|110px|center]]
|-
|Shrubs || [[Citrus]] trees are typically used for decoration. || 
[[File:20230118 143700 Citrus tankan for Chinese New Year decoration.jpg|110px|center]]
|}

===Spring travel===
{{Main|Chunyun}}
[[File:2009年春运时期的北京西站候车大厅.jpg|right|thumb|Scene of the 2009 Chunyun period inside [[Beijing West railway station]]]]

Traditionally, families gather together during the Chinese New Year. In modern China, migrant workers in China travel home to have [[reunion dinner]]s with their families on Chinese New Year's Eve. Owing to a large number of interprovincial travellers, special arrangements were made by [[Passenger rail transport in China|railways]], buses and airlines starting from 15 days before the New Year's Day. This 40-day period is called [[chunyun]], and is known as the world's largest annual migration.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7813267.stm China's holiday rush begins early], BBC</ref> More interurban trips are taken in China in this period than the total population of China.

==Festivities outside China==
{{See also|Lunar New Year}}
Chinese New Year is also celebrated annually in many countries which houses significant Chinese populations. These include countries throughout Asia, Oceania, and North America. Sydney,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/chinese-new-year-parade-doomed-as-baird-governments-new-route-too-narrow-for-floats-20150815-gizrzr.html |title=Chinese New Year parade doomed as Baird government's new route 'too narrow' for floats |publisher=Smh.com.au |date=15 August 2015 |access-date=11 February 2019}}</ref> London,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2009/01/22/cny_planning_feature.shtml |title=London&nbsp;– Chinese New Year&nbsp;– "The largest celebrations outside of Asia" |publisher=BBC |date=22 January 2009 |access-date=2 November 2011}}</ref> and San Francisco<ref>{{cite web |last = Kim |first = Ryan |title = Year of the Tiger off to roaring start at parade |publisher = San Francisco Chronicle |date = 28 February 2010 |url = http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/02/28/MNOE1C8D01.DTL |access-date = 1 March 2010}}</ref> claim to host the largest New Year celebration outside of Asia and South America. The largest Chinese New Year Celebration in the Southern Hemisphere is held in Australia.

===East Asia===

====Korea====
{{See also|Korean New Year}}
Seollal ({{Korean|hangul=설날|rr=Seollal|mr=Sŏllal}}) is a Korean traditional festival and national holiday commemorating the first day of the lunisolar calendar. It is one of the most important traditional holidays for ethnic Koreans, being celebrated in both North Korea and South Korea as well as Korean diaspora all around the world.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=설|url=http://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Contents/Index?contents_id=E0028997 |access-date=2023-01-22 |website=[[Encyclopedia of Korean Culture]]}}</ref> During this time, many Koreans would visit their family, perform [[Jesa|ancestral rites]], wear the {{transliteration|ko|[[hanbok]]}} ({{Korean|hangul=한복|hanja=韓服|labels=no}}) / {{transliteration|ko|[[Chosŏn-ot]]}} ({{Korean|hangul=조선옷|hanja=朝鮮옷|labels=no}}), eat traditional food and play traditional folk games. One of the most well known practices in the current day is receiving money from their elders after performing a formal [[Bowing|bow]], a tradition likely adopted from [[Confucianism|Confucian]] customs.{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}

====Japan====
{{see also|Japanese New Year|Ryukyu New Year}}
The {{nihongo|'''Japanese New Year'''|正月|Shōgatsu}} is an annual [[festival]] that takes place in [[Japan]]. Since 1873, the official Japanese New Year has been celebrated according to the [[Gregorian calendar]], on January 1 of each year, {{nihongo|[[New Year's Day]]|元日|Ganjitsu}}. Prior to 1872, traditional events of the Japanese New Year were celebrated on the first day of the year on the modern [[Tenpō calendar]], the last official lunisolar calendar. Prior to the [[Meiji period]], the date of the Japanese New Year had been based on Japanese versions of lunisolar calendar (the last of which was the [[Tenpō calendar]]) and, prior to [[Jōkyō calendar]], the Chinese version. However, in 1873, five years after the [[Meiji Restoration]], [[Japan]] adopted the [[Gregorian calendar]] and the first day of January became the official and cultural New Year's Day in Japan.

====Taiwan====
{{see also|Chinese New Year in Taiwan}}
In Taiwan, the most common terms for the Chinese New Year are {{lang-zh|t=農曆新年|p=Nónglì Xīnnián|l=Agricultural Calendar New Year}} and {{lang-zh|t=過年|p=Guònián|l=passing year}}. Unlike in China, where {{lang-zh|s=春节|p=Chūn Jié|l=Spring Festival}} is the standard and official term, people in Taiwan typically do not use '''Spring Festival''' in daily conversations. Instead, they emphasize the connection to the traditional Chinese calendar by calling it 農曆新年, or simply refer to it as 過年, which is more casual and widely used among families and friends.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://oftaiwan.org/2018/02/14/happy-lunar-new-year-happy-chinese-new-year-whats-the-difference-and-why-it-matters/|title=Happy Lunar New Year! Happy Chinese New Year! — What's the Difference and Why It Matters|work=OFTAIWAN|access-date=7 January 2025|date=February 14, 2018|last=Tsai|first=Eric}}</ref>

Taiwanese '''Guonian''' differs from Chinese '''Spring Festival''' in several cultural practices, traditions, and customs, despite both celebrations being based on the traditional Chinese calendar. In Taiwan, Chinese New Year (農曆新年) emphasizes honoring ancestors through elaborate rituals, including offering food and incense at home altars. Taiwanese families often prioritize local delicacies, such as [[pineapple cake]]s and [[Kuih]]s, symbolizing prosperity and good fortune. While large fireworks displays are popular in some places, Taiwan tends to focus more on temple visits, lantern-lighting ceremonies, and family reunions.

In Taiwan, businesses traditionally re-open on the sixth day of the Chinese New Year, accompanied by firecrackers. In the morning of the ninth day (traditionally anytime between midnight and 7&nbsp;am), Taiwanese households set up an altar table with three layers: one top (containing offertories of six vegetables ({{lang-zh|links=no|t=六齋|hp=liù zhāi}}; those being noodles, fruits, cakes, [[tangyuan (food)|tangyuan]], vegetable bowls, and unripe [[betel]]), all decorated with paper lanterns) and two lower levels (five sacrifices and wines) to honour the deities below the Jade Emperor.<ref name="lmr"/> The household then kneels three times and [[kowtow]]s nine times to pay obeisance and wish him a long life.<ref name="lmr"/> Incense, tea, fruit, vegetarian food or roast pig, and gold paper are served as customary protocol for paying respect to an honored person. In [[Taiwan]] in the 2000s, some employers also gave red packets as a bonus to [[maid]]s, nurses or [[domestic worker]]s from Southeast Asian countries, although whether this is appropriate is controversial.<ref>{{cite web
 |title        = Ofw chinese new year things to remember
 |publisher    = South East Asia Group [an agency introducing foreign workers to work in Taiwan]
 |url          = http://www.sea.com.tw/word/%B9L%A6~%AA%60%B7N%A8%C6%B6%B5-%B5%E1%A4%E5.pdf
 |archive-url  = https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20160317045230/http://www.sea.com.tw/word/%B9L%A6~%AA%60%B7N%A8%C6%B6%B5-%B5%E1%A4%E5.pdf
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-date = 17 March 2016
|access-date   = 29 January 2012
|df           = dmy-all
}}</ref><ref>
{{cite web
|script-title=zh:家庭外傭過年習俗應注意事項
|publisher=South East Asia Group
|url=http://seacomtw.pixnet.net/blog/post/41810763
|language=zh, vi, id, th, en
|format=JPEG
|date=23 January 2012
}}
</ref>

In Taiwan, spring travel is a significant event known as the Spring Festival travel rush. The primary mode of transportation in western Taiwan is oriented in a north–south direction, facilitating long-distance travel between the urbanized north and rural hometowns in the south. However, transportation in eastern Taiwan and between Taiwan and its outlying islands is less convenient. Cross-strait flights between Taiwan and China commenced in 2003 as part of the Three Links initiative, primarily catering to "Taiwanese businessmen" returning to Taiwan for the new year.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2012/01/07/2003522653 |date=7 January 2012 |title=Ministry warns of heavy Lunar New Year holiday traffic |author=Shan, Shelley |newspaper=[[Taipei Times]] }}
{{cite news |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2012/01/25/2003523974 |date=25 January 2012 |title=Despite rain, millions hit the road |author=Lee, I-chia |newspaper=Taipei Times }}
{{cite news |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2012/01/29/2003524165 |date=29 January 2012 |title=Early start beats tolls and congestion as the holiday ends |author=Lee, I-chia |quote=... total traffic volume on Friday was 2.7&nbsp; million vehicles, about 1.7 times the average daily traffic volume of about 1.6&nbsp; million. "We estimate the total traffic volume [yesterday] was between 2.1&nbsp; million and 2.3&nbsp; million vehicles," Chen said. "Northbound traffic volume was much higher than southbound and peak hours were between 3&nbsp; pm and 6&nbsp; pm." |newspaper=Taipei Times}}</ref>

===Southeast Asia===
Chinese New Year is a national public holiday in many Southeast Asian countries and considered to be one of the most important holidays of the year.

====Malaysia====
[[File:Kek Lok Si during Chinese New Year 2025.jpg|alt=Temple at night illuminated with light from decorations|thumb|Malaysia's largest [[Buddhist temple]] {{En dash}} [[Kek Lok Si]] in [[George Town, Penang|George Town]] {{En dash}} illuminated in preparation for Chinese New Year in 2025.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lo |first=Tern Chern |date=25 Jan 2025 |title=Kek Lok Si Temple in George Town shines for Chinese New Year |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2025/01/25/kek-lok-si-temple-in-george-town-shines-for-chinese-new-year |access-date=25 Jan 2025 |work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]]}}</ref>]]
Chinese New Year's Eve is typically a half-day holiday in [[Malaysia]], while Chinese New Year is a two-day public holiday. [[George Town, Penang|George Town]], a [[Penangite Chinese|Chinese]]-majority city, is known for its lively Chinese New Year celebrations that last until the [[Lantern Festival]] on the fifteenth day. [[Kek Lok Si]], the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia, is typically lit up throughout the festivities.<ref name="Lo-2024">{{Cite news |last=Lo |first=Tern Chern |date=4 Feb 2024 |title=Kek Lok Si Temple lights up for Chinese New Year |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/02/04/kek-lok-si-temple-lights-up-for-chinese-new-year |access-date=4 Feb 2024 |work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]]}}</ref> [[Chief Minister of Penang|Penang's Chief Minister]] customarily hosts an "open house" for the public, while various other events take place across the city, including at the Chinese clan houses and the [[Snake Temple]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Trisha |first=N. |date=31 Jan 2024 |title=Penang gears up for a month of Chinese New Year festivities |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/01/31/penang-gears-up-for-a-month-of-chinese-new-year-festivities |access-date=4 Feb 2024 |work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Wang |first=Yi |date=30 Jan 2023 |title=Discover cultural treasures in Chinese New Year celebration at Malaysia's Penang |url=https://english.news.cn/20230130/75812590d34047fa893c1783d5de2ac7/c.html |access-date=4 Feb 2024 |work=[[Xinhua News Agency]]}}</ref> [[Hoklo people|Hokkien]] households celebrate the Jade Emperor's Birthday, known colloquially as the "Hokkien New Year", on the ninth day with offerings.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chong |first=Kah Yuan |date=24 Feb 2018 |title=Penang Chinese usher in Hokkien New Year with grand offerings |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2018/02/24/homage-to-jade-emperor-penang-chinese-usher-in-hokkien-new-year-with-grand-offerings/ |access-date=4 Feb 2024 |work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]]}}</ref> Traditionally during the Lantern Festival, single females throw oranges at seafront locations like the [[Esplanade, Penang|Esplanade]] with the hope of finding their partners.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Edmund Lee |date=1 Feb 2023 |title=Penang expects grander Chap Goh Meh celebration |url=https://www.buletinmutiara.com/penang-expects-grander-chap-goh-meh-celebration/ |access-date=4 Feb 2024 |work=Buletin Mutiara}}</ref>

====Singapore====
{{See also|Chinese New Year customs in Singapore}}
[[File:2016 Singapur, Downtown Core, River Hongbao 2016 (43).jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|Decorations on the occasion of Chinese New Year – River Hongbao 2016, [[Singapore]]|left]]

In [[Singapore]], Chinese New Year is officially a two-day public holiday. Chinese New Year is accompanied by various festive activities. One of the main highlights is the Chinatown celebrations. In 2010, this included a Festive Street Bazaar, nightly staged shows at [[Kreta Ayer]] Square and a [[lion dance]] competition.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.visitsingapore.com/festivals-events-singapore/cultural-festivals/chinese-new-year/ |title=Singapore in spring: Chinatown Chinese New Year Celebrations 2010 |publisher=VisitSingapore.com |access-date=2 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420205657/http://webarchiveproject.org/31667/ |archive-date=20 April 2016 }}</ref> The [[Chingay Parade]] also features prominently in the celebrations. It is an annual street parade in Singapore, well known for its colourful floats and wide variety of cultural performances.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visitsingapore.com/festivals-events-singapore/annual-highlights/chingay-parade-singapore/ |title=Chingay Parade Singapore 2011 |publisher=VisitSingapore.com |access-date=2 November 2011}}</ref> The highlights of the Parade for 2011 include a Fire Party, multi-ethnic performances and an unprecedented travelling dance competition.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chingay.org.sg/2011/highlights.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100731152301/http://www.chingay.org.sg/2011/highlights.asp |title=Chinggay Parade 2011 Highlights |url-status=dead |archive-date=31 July 2010 |access-date=29 January 2017 }}</ref>

====Indonesia====
[[File:Red Lanterns Pekanbaru.jpg|thumb|right|Lanterns hung around Senapelan street, the [[Pekanbaru]] Chinatown in [[Riau]], Indonesia]]

In [[Indonesia]], the Chinese New Year is officially named ''Tahun Baru Imlek'' ({{lang-zh|c=陰曆新年|poj=im-le̍k sin-nî}}), with ''"Imlek"'' deriving from the [[Hokkien]] word for "Lunar Calendar" ({{lang-zh|c=陰曆|poj=im-le̍k }}).<ref name="Hari">{{Cite news|url=http://setkab.go.id/hari-hari-penting-di-indonesia/|title=Hari-Hari Penting Di Indonesia|access-date=23 March 2018|language=id-ID|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008060749/http://setkab.go.id/hari-hari-penting-di-indonesia/|archive-date=8 October 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="kepustakaan-presiden">{{cite web|url=http://kepustakaan-presiden.pnri.go.id/uploaded_files/pdf/government_regulation/normal/Keppres_19_2002_Megawati.pdf|title=Keputusan Presiden Republik Indonesia. Nomor 19 Tahun 2002. Tentang. Hari Tahun Baru Imlek.|trans-title=Decree of the President of the Republic of Indonesia. Number 19 of 2002. About. Chinese New Year's Day|website=kepustakaan-presiden.pnri.go.id|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171118164102/http://kepustakaan-presiden.pnri.go.id/uploaded_files/pdf/government_regulation/normal/Keppres_19_2002_Megawati.pdf|archive-date=18 November 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> It is known locally in [[Hokkien language|Hokkien]] as ''Sin Cia'' ({{lang-zh|c=新正|poj=sin-chiaⁿ}}).<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.insideindonesia.org/feature-editions/the-politics-of-imlek |title= The politics of Imlek |date=2009|access-date=28 July 2013 |author= Chang-Yau Hoon |work= Inside Indonesia }}</ref> It was celebrated as one of the official national religious holiday by [[Chinese Indonesians]] since 18 June 1946 to 1 January 1953 through government regulation signed by President [[Sukarno]] on 18 June 1946.<ref name="ngada.org">{{cite web|url=http://ngada.org/pp2um-1946.htm|title=Penetapan Pemerintah 1946 No 2/Um::Aturan Hari Raya|website=ngada.org|access-date=23 March 2018}}</ref> It was unofficially celebrated by ethnic Chinese from 1953 to 1967 based on government regulation signed by Vice-president [[Mohammad Hatta|Muhammad Hatta]] on 5 February 1953 which annulled the previous regulation, among others, the Chinese New Year as a national religious holiday.<ref name="Aswin Weblog-2012">{{Cite news|url=https://aswinsh.wordpress.com/2012/05/24/keputusan-presiden-republik-indonesia-no-24-tahun-1953-tentang-hari-hari-libur/|title=Keputusan Presiden Republik Indoniesia No. 24 Tahun 1953 Tentang Hari-Hari Libur|trans-title=Decree of the President of the Republic of Indonesia No. 24 of 1953 concerning Holidays|date=24 May 2012|work=Aswin Weblog|access-date=23 March 2018|language=id-ID}}</ref>

Effectively from 6 December 1967,<ref name="Instruksi-1967">{{cite wikisource |title=Instruksi Presiden Republik Indonesia Nomor 14 Tahun 1967|wslanguage=id}}</ref> until 1998, the spiritual practice to celebrate the Chinese New Year by Chinese families was restricted specifically only inside of the Chinese house. This restriction was made by the [[New Order (Indonesia)|New Order]] government through a Presidential Instruction No. 14 of 1967 signed by President [[Suharto]]. This restriction was ended when the regime changed and President Suharto was [[Fall of Suharto|overthrown]]. The celebration was conducted unofficially by Chinese community from 1999 to 2000.

On 17 January 2000, President [[Abdurrahman Wahid]] issued Presidential Decree No. 6 of 2000 to annul the previous instruction.<ref>{{cite wikisource |title=Keputusan Presiden Republik Indonesia Nomor 6 Tahun 2000|wslanguage=id}}</ref> On 19 January 2001, the [[Ministry of Religious Affairs (Indonesia)|Ministry of Religious Affairs]] issued Minsterial Decree No.13 of 2001 on Imlek Day as a National Holiday to set ''Hari Tahun Baru Imlek'' as a "facultative holiday" for Chinese community.<ref name="hukumonline">{{cite web|url=http://www.hukumonline.com/berita/baca/hol1743%099/ketika-penggugat-dan-tergugat-|title=Keputusan Menteri Agama No. 13 dan 14 Tahun 2001 – Imlek Sebagai Hari Libur Fakultatif .|website=www.hukumonline.com|access-date=24 March 2018}}</ref> Through the Presidential Decree it was officially declared as a 1 (one) day of public holiday as of 9 April 2002 by President [[Megawati Sukarnoputri|Megawati]].<ref name="kepustakaan-presiden" />

[[File:Liong.jpg|thumb|[[Dragon Dance|''Liong'']] attraction during Chinese New Year in [[Jakarta]], Indonesia]]
[[File:Lunar new year in kepulauan meranti regency Indonesia.jpg|thumb|''Cian cui'' ({{lang-zh|c=濺水|poj=chiān-chúi}}) is an Indonesian tradition during the Chinese New Year which involves splashing others with water. Photograph taken in [[Selatpanjang]], [[Riau]], Indonesia.]]

In Indonesia, the first day of the Chinese New Year is recognized as a national holiday.<ref>{{Cite web |title=KEPPRES No. 8 Tahun 2024 |url=https://peraturan.bpk.go.id/Details/276688/keppres-no-8-tahun-2024 |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=Database Peraturan {{!}} JDIH BPK}}</ref> The remaining 14 days are usually only celebrated by ethnic Chinese families.<ref name="Pemerintah-2017">{{Cite news|url=https://kemenag.go.id/berita/read/353594/pemerintah-tetapkan-hari-libur-nasional-dan-cuti-bersama-tahun-2017|title=Pemerintah Tetapkan Hari Libur Nasional dan Cuti Bersama Tahun 2017|access-date=23 March 2018|language=en}}</ref> In Indonesia, the Chinese Year follows the [[Confucius]] year or ''Kǒngzǐlì'' ({{lang-zh|links=no|孔子历}}) or ''Kongzili'' in [[Indonesian language|Indonesian]].

Cities with significant Chinese populations [[Chinatowns in Asia#Indonesia|in Indonesia]] such as [[Jakarta]], [[Medan]], [[Batam]], [[Surabaya]], [[Semarang]], [[Surakarta]], [[Singkawang]], [[Pangkal Pinang]], [[Binjai]], [[Bagansiapiapi]], [[Tanjungbalai (city)|Tanjungbalai]], [[Pematangsiantar]], [[Selat Panjang]], [[Pekanbaru]], [[Tanjung Pinang]], [[Ketapang]], [[Pontianak]], [[Sungailiat (subdistrict)|Sungailiat]], [[Tanjung Pandan]], [[Manggar]], [[Toboali]], [[Muntok]], [[Lubuk Pakam]], [[Bandung]], [[Rantau Prapat]], [[Tebing Tinggi]], [[Sibolga]], [[Dumai]], [[Panipahan]], Bagan Batu, [[Tanjung Balai Karimun]], [[Jambi]], [[Palembang]], [[Bengkayang Regency|Bengkayang]], [[Manado]], and [[Tangerang]] always celebrate the new year with parades and [[fireworks]]. [[Shopping mall]]s typically decorate their interior and exterior with lanterns and various Chinese ornaments. [[Lion dance]]s are very common throughout the city, usually around residential areas, temples and shopping centres. Usually, [[Buddhist]]s, [[Confucian]]s and [[Taoist]]s will burn incense made out of [[aloeswood]] in front of their houses as prayers. [[Chinese temple architecture|Chinese temples]] are generally open for [[24-hour clock|24 hours]] on the first day, distributing [[red envelopes]] and sometimes rice, fruits or sugar to the poor around.

====Philippines====
[[File:Chinese_New_Year_in_Binondo,_Manila_(2020).jpg|alt=Chinese_New_Year_in_Binondo,_Manila_(2020)|thumb|A busy street in [[Binondo|Manila Chinatown]] celebrating the 2020 Chinese New Year]]
[[File:Costumes dancers Banawe Chinatown 29 January 2025 Chinese Lunar New Year 農曆新年 Philippines12.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|Folk dancers celebrating the 2025 Chinese New Year at Banawe Chinatown in [[Quezon City]]|left]]

In the [[Philippines]], Chinese New Year ([[Philippine Hokkien]] {{lang-zh|links=no|t=|poj=Lán-nâng Nî-tau|l=|c=咱人年兜|s=|p=}}) is considered as one of the important festivals for [[Chinese Filipino]]s, and its celebration has also extended to the majority non-Chinese [[Filipino people|Filipino]]s, especially since in 2012, Chinese New Year was included as a public regular non-working [[Public holidays in the Philippines|holiday in the Philippines]]. During this time of year, the selling or giving of [[Tikoy]], especially by [[Chinese Filipino]]s, is widely known and practised in the country. Celebrations are centered primarily in Binondo in Manila, the oldest ever Chinatown in the world, with other celebrations in key cities.
[[File:Red Lantern Festival in Cebu.jpg|thumb|Red lanterns from a celebration in [[Cebu City|Cebu]]. ]]
In 2024, [[Manila]] celebrates the [[Lunar New Year|Spring Festival]] of the [[w:en:Wood (wuxing)|Wooden]] [[w:en:Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]], including the 430th anniversary of Manila [[Chinatown]] featuring the "Manila Chinatown Solidarity Float Parade" along [[Manila Central Post Office]] in Lawton, [[Ermita]] and [[Jones Bridge]] led by Ambassador [[Huang Xilian]] with Mr. & Ms. Chinatown Philippines 2023 winners. It was preceded by [[Chinese New Year's Eve]], with the "First [[incense offering]]" at [[Binondo Church]], a [[Taoism]] prayer ritual with [[Joss sticks]], including [[Veneration of the dead|Chinese ancestor worship]] at [[Martyr Saints of China]] altars in [[Binondo]] Chinese Parish Church. A midnight 2-minute [[Fireworks|pyro-musical fireworks]] was witnessed by 1.5 million at the [[Binondo–Intramuros Bridge|Chinese-Filipino Friendship Bridge]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Calusin |first=Diann |date=February 11, 2024 |title=Crowd of 1.5 million seen at Chinese New Year festivity in Binondo |url=https://mb.com.ph/2024/2/11/crowd-of-1-5-million-seen-at-chinese-new-year-festivity-in-binondo#google_vignette |website=[[Manila Bulletin]]}}</ref> In [[Cebu City|Cebu]], a festival called the Red Lantern Festival is held.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-20 |title=Cebu City to celebrate Chinese new year with a Red Lantern Festival at Plaza Sugbo |url=https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/485439/cebu-city-to-celebrate-chinese-new-year-with-a-red-lantern-festival-at-plaza-sugbo |access-date=2024-02-12 |website=INQUIRER.net |language=en}}</ref>

====Thailand====
[[File:2016 Bangkok, Dystrykt Samphanthawong, Ulica Yaowarat (14).jpg|thumb|left|Greeting banners of various companies in the Chinese New Year 2016, [[Yaowarat]]]] 
Chinese New Year festivities occur throughout the country, especially in provinces where many people of Chinese descent live such as [[Nakhon Sawan Province|Nakhon Sawan]], [[Suphanburi Province|Suphan Buri]], and [[Phuket]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tourismthailand.org/Events-and-Festivals/Nakhon-Sawan-Chinese-New-Year-Festival--4464|title=Nakhon Sawan Chinese New Year Festival|work=[[Tourism Authority of Thailand|TAT]]|access-date=10 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190110183429/https://www.tourismthailand.org/Events-and-Festivals/Nakhon-Sawan-Chinese-New-Year-Festival--4464|archive-date=10 January 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.phuket.com/festival/chinese-new-year.htm|title=Chinese New Year in Phuket|work=PHUKET.COM|access-date=10 January 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tourismthailand.org/Events-and-Festivals/Suphanburi-Chinese-New-Year-Festival--5488|title=Suphanburi Chinese New Year Festival|access-date=10 January 2019|work=TAT|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190110183408/https://www.tourismthailand.org/Events-and-Festivals/Suphanburi-Chinese-New-Year-Festival--5488|archive-date=10 January 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Observed by [[Thai Chinese]] and parts of the private sector, the festival is usually celebrated for three days, starting on the day before Chinese New Year's Eve. Chinese New Year is observed as a public holiday in the provinces of [[Narathiwat Province|Narathiwat]], [[Pattani Province|Pattani]], [[Yala Province|Yala]], [[Satun Province|Satun]]<ref name=":0" /> and [[Songkhla Province|Songkhla]].<ref name=":เพิ่มเติม">{{cite web|url=http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2560/E/043/9.PDF|title=ประกาศสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี เรื่อง กำหนดเวลาทำงานและวันหยุดราชการ (ฉบับที่ ๒๑) พ.ศ. ๒๕๕๖|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209141744/http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2560/E/043/9.PDF|archive-date=9 December 2019}}</ref> For the year 2021 (one year only) the government declared Chinese New Year a government holiday. It applied mostly to civil servants. Financial institutions and private businesses were allowed to decide whether or not to observe it.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/2020/12/29/chinese-new-year-is-among-new-govt-holidays-for-2021/|title=CHINESE NEW YEAR IS AMONG NEW GOV'T HOLIDAYS FOR 2021|work=Khao Sod|date=29 December 2020|access-date=11 February 2021}}</ref>

Divided into 3 days, the first day is the ''Wan chai'' ({{langx|th|วันจ่าย}}; pay day), meaning the day that people go out to shop for offerings, the second day is the ''Wan wai'' ({{langx|th|วันไหว้}}; worship day), is a day of worshiping the gods and ancestral spirits, which is divided into three periods: dawn, late morning and afternoon, the third day is a ''Wan tieow'' ({{langx|th|วันเที่ยว}}; holiday), is a holiday where everyone will leave the house to travel or to bless relatives or respectable people, often wearing red clothes which is believed to bring auspiciousness to life.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hilight.kapook.com/view/80448|work=Kapook.com|language=th|date=7 January 2013|access-date=11 January 2019|title=วันตรุษจีน 2561 กับ 7 คำถามยอดฮิตที่คนอยากรู้|trans-title= Chinese New Year 2018 with 7 popular questions that people want to know}}</ref>

In the capital Bangkok, there are large celebrations in [[Bangkok's Chinatown|Chinatown]], [[Yaowarat Road]], where the main road is closed and turns into a [[pedestrian street]], with a member of [[Chakri dynasty|royal family]] in attendance each year to open the ceremony, such as [[Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Gateway to the Chinese new year|work=[[The Nation (Thailand)|The Nation]]|date=16 February 2018|access-date=10 January 2019|url=https://www.nationthailand.com/detail/national/30339074|first=Tanachai|last=Pramarnpanich|archive-date=10 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190110074056/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30339074|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/princess-sirindhorn-open-chinese-new-year-festival-china-town-bangkok-today/|date=19 February 2015|access-date=10 January 2019|work=[[Thai PBS|TPBS]]|title=Princess Sirindhorn to open Chinese New Year Festival in China Town Bangkok today|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190110073744/http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/princess-sirindhorn-open-chinese-new-year-festival-china-town-bangkok-today/|archive-date=10 January 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/princess-sirindhorn-opens-chinese-new-year-celebration-china-town/|title=Princess Sirindhorn opens Chinese New Year Celebration at China Town|date=31 January 2014|access-date=10 January 2019|work=TPBS|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190110073800/http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/princess-sirindhorn-opens-chinese-new-year-celebration-china-town/|archive-date=10 January 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>


===Australia and New Zealand===
[[File:Chinese-new-year-melbourne.JPG|thumb|upright|Melbourne: Chinese New Year in Chinatown]]
With one of the largest Chinese populations outside of Asia, Sydney also boasts the largest Chinese New Year celebrations outside of Asia, attracting over 600,000 attendees to the festivities in Chinatown annually. The events span over three weeks and include a launch celebration, outdoor markets, evening street food stalls, Chinese opera performances, dragon boat races, a film festival, and multiple parades featuring participants from Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese communities. The main parade, which sees over 100,000 spectators and involves more than 3,500 performers, is a notable highlight of the celebrations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sydneychinesenewyear.com/events/chinese-new-year-twilight-parade/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121213123248/http://www.sydneychinesenewyear.com/events/chinese-new-year-twilight-parade/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=13 December 2012 |title=2013 Sydney Chinese New Year Twilight Parade |publisher=sydneychinesenewyear.com |date=17 February 2013 |access-date=22 February 2013}}</ref> The festival also attracts international media coverage, reaching millions of viewers in Asia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/cny/ |title=City of Sydney Official Chinese New Year Website |publisher=Cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au |date=1 January 2011 |access-date=2 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110831104305/http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/CNY/ |archive-date=31 August 2011}}</ref> The festival in Sydney is organized in partnership with a different Chinese province each year. In addition to Sydney, other state capital cities in Australia also celebrate Chinese New Year due to the large number of Chinese residents in these cities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chinesenewyear.net.au/australia/|title=Chinese New Year in Australia|website=www.chinesenewyear.net.au|access-date=5 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106010354/http://www.chinesenewyear.net.au/australia/|archive-date=6 January 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> The cities include: Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne Box Hill and Perth. The common activities are lion dance, dragon dance, New Year market, and food festival. In the Melbourne suburb of [[Footscray, Victoria]] a Lunar New Year celebration initially focusing on the [[Tết|Vietnamese New Year]] has expanded into a celebration of the Chinese New Year as well as the [[Songkran|April New Year]] celebrations of the Thais, Cambodians, Laotians and other [[Asian Australians|Asian Australian]] communities who celebrate the New Year in either January/February or April.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/Page/Page.aspx?Page_Id=12309 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170107020959/http://www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/Page/Page.aspx?Page_Id=12309 |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 January 2017 |title=East Meets West Lunar New Year Festival |access-date=11 February 2019}}</ref>

In New Zealand, [[Auckland]] hosts the Auckland Lantern Festival for 4 days. Meanwhile, [[Wellington]] hosts a two-day weekend festival for Chinese New Year,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chinesenewyear.co.nz/?page_id=2 |title=Chinese New Year Festival, Wellington New Zealand |publisher=Chinesenewyear.co.nz |access-date=7 November 2008}}</ref> and a one-day festival is held in [[Dunedin]], centred on the city's [[Dunedin Chinese Garden|Chinese gardens]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/tourists-flock-year-rooster|title=Tourists flock for Year of the Rooster |publisher=www.odt.co.nz |date=28 January 2017 |access-date=21 December 2017}}</ref>

===North America===
[[File:China new year wiki.oggtheora.ogv|thumb|Chinese New Year in [[Washington, DC]]]]
Many cities in [[North America]] sponsor official parades for the Chinese New Year. Among the cities with such parades are [[Chinese people in New York City|New York City]] ([[Chinatown, Manhattan|Manhattan]]; [[Chinatown, Flushing|Flushing]], [[Chinatowns in Queens|Queens]]; and [[Chinatowns in Brooklyn|Brooklyn]]), [[Chinatown, San Francisco|San Francisco]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chineseparade.com/ |title=Southwest Airlines Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco |publisher=Chineseparade.com |access-date=2 November 2011}}</ref> [[Chinatown, Los Angeles|Los Angeles]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lagoldendragonparade.com/ |title=The Golden Dragon Parade |publisher=Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles |year=2014 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130901183423/http://www.lagoldendragonparade.com/ |archive-date=1 September 2013}}</ref> [[Boston]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://521436066492055280.weebly.com/events.html |title=Welcome to Chinatown, Boston |publisher=Chinatown Main Street |access-date=23 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150113074633/http://521436066492055280.weebly.com/events.html |archive-date=13 January 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Chicago,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://chicagochinatown.org/events/ | title = Chicago Chinatown Chamber of Commerce Events | publisher = Chicago Chinatown Chamber of Commerce | year = 2016 | access-date = 27 January 2016 | archive-date = 28 January 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160128155217/http://chicagochinatown.org/events/ | url-status = dead }}</ref> [[Mexico City]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Realizarán desfile en DF por Año Nuevo chino|url=http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/480146.html|publisher=El Universal|access-date=12 March 2015|archive-date=17 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150317171551/http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/480146.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Toronto]], and [[Vancouver]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.seechinatown.com/parade/parade.htm |title=Chinese New Year Parade in Vancouver |publisher=Seechinatown.com |access-date=2 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112131617/http://www.seechinatown.com/parade/parade.htm |archive-date=12 January 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> However, even smaller cities that are historically connected to Chinese immigration, such as [[Butte, Montana]],<ref>{{cite web|last=Rhein |first=Jamie |url=http://www.gadling.com/2007/02/16/a-chinese-new-year-parade-in-butte-montana-sure/ |title=A Chinese New Year Parade in Butte, Montana? Sure |publisher=Gadling.com |date=16 February 2007 |access-date=2 November 2011}}</ref> have recently hosted parades.

====New York City====
{{main|Chinese people in New York City}}
[[File: Celebrating Chinese New Year on 8th Avenue Sunset Park, Brooklyn.jpg|thumb|[[Lion dance]] in [[Fuzhou Town, Brooklyn]]]]
Multiple groups in [[Chinese people in New York City|New York City]] cooperate to sponsor a week-long Chinese New Year celebration. The festivities include cultural festival, and special exhibits.<ref name=CBSNewYork>{{cite news | url = http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2015/02/17/fireworks-fly-on-hudson-river-for-chinese-lunar-new-year/ | title = Fireworks Fly on Hudson River For Chinese Lunar New Year | date = 17 February 2015 | publisher = CBSNewYork}}</ref> One of the key celebrations is the Chinese New Year parade<ref>{{cite web | url=https://rove.me/to/new-york/chinese-new-year | title=Chinese New Year| date=7 November 2022}}</ref> with floats and fireworks taking place along the streets in [[Chinatown, Manhattan]], the largest Chinese New Year parade outside Asia.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://betterchinatown.com/lny-parade/ | title=LNY PARADE| date=10 January 2020}}</ref> In June 2015, New York City Mayor [[Bill de Blasio]] declared that the Lunar New Year would be made a public school holiday,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Harris|first1=Elizabeth A.|last2=Grynbaum|first2=Michael M.|title=Mayor de Blasio to Make Lunar New Year a School Holiday|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/23/nyregion/mayor-de-blasio-to-make-lunar-new-year-a-school-holiday.html?_r=0|access-date=13 September 2015|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=22 June 2015}}</ref> in September 2023, [[New York State]] made Lunar New Year a mandatory public school holiday.<ref name=LunarNewYearSchoolHoliday>{{cite web|url=https://www.lohud.com/story/news/2023/09/11/ny-makes-asian-lunar-new-year-a-school-holiday-when-is-it-in-2024/70822181007/#:~:text=The%20one%2Dday%20holiday%20—%20which,signed%20the%20legislation%20into%20law.|title=NY makes Asian Lunar New Year a public school holiday. When is it in 2024?|author=David Robinson|publisher=USA TODAY Network|date=September 11, 2023|access-date=February 24, 2024}}</ref>

====California====
[[File:Lion Costume, 1953.jpg|thumb|Lion costume for New Year parade, Los Angeles, 1953]]

Signed into law in 2022, and effective 2023, California declared Lunar New Year a state government holiday.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.calhr.ca.gov/employees/pages/state-holidays.aspx|title=State Holidays|website=www.calhr.ca.gov}}</ref> Many communities throughout all of California celebrate with large celebrations taking place in both the [[San Francisco Bay Area|Bay Area]] and [[Greater Los Angeles]] as well as in [[Fresno]], [[Sacramento, California|Sacramento]], [[San Diego]], [[Santa Rosa, California|Santa Rosa]], and [[Stockton, California|Stockton]].

====San Francisco====
The [[San Francisco Chinese New Year Festival and Parade]] is the oldest and one of the largest events of its kind outside of Asia, and one of the largest Asian cultural events in North America.

The festival incorporates Grant and Kearny Streets into its street festival and parade route, respectively. The use of these streets traces its lineage back to early parades beginning the custom in San Francisco. In 1849, with the discovery of gold and the ensuing [[California Gold Rush]], over 50,000 people had come to San Francisco to seek their fortune or just a better way of life. Among those were many Chinese, who had come to work in the gold mines and on the railroad. By the 1860s, the residents of [[Chinatown, San Francisco|San Francisco's Chinatown]] were eager to share their culture with their fellow San Francisco residents who may have been unfamiliar with (or hostile towards) it. The organizers chose to showcase their culture by using a favourite American tradition – the [[parade]]. They invited a variety of other groups from the city to participate, and they marched down what today are [[Grant Avenue]] and [[Kearny Street]] carrying colourful flags, banners, lanterns, drums, and firecrackers to drive away evil spirits.

In San Francisco, over 100 units participate in the annual Chinese New Year Parade held since 1958.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chineseparade.com/ |title=Chinese New Year festival & Parade |publisher=chineseparade.com |date=1 February 2013 |access-date=22 February 2013}}</ref> The parade is attended by some 500,000 people along with another 3 million TV viewers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hiddensf.com/390-best-sf-bay-area-events.html |title=Best San Francisco Bay Area Events, Weekends & Festivals 2013 |publisher=hiddensf.com |date=1 February 2013 |access-date=22 February 2013}}</ref>

==== Greater Los Angeles ====
The Golden Dragon Parade has happened annually in [[Chinatown, Los Angeles|Chinatown Los Angeles]] since 1899, one of the oldest and largest Chinese New Year parades outside of Asia. Beginning in the 1970s, famous Asian American actors have held the title of Grand Marshall of the parade, the first being [[Bruce Lee]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitcalifornia.com/event/golden-dragon-parade/|title=Welcome to the Visit California Homepage|website=www.visitcalifornia.com|date=6 October 2014 }}</ref>

Around Southern California many communities also put on festivals and parades that can last multiple days, with some of the largest occurring in the [[Chinese enclaves in the San Gabriel Valley|San Gabriel Valley]], home to the largest Chinese community outside of Asia and often called the first suburban Chinatown, and [[Little Saigon, Orange County|Little Saigon]] where many Vietnamese and Chinese live. [[Monterey Park, California|Monterey Park]] puts on the largest of such festivals, occupying 5 blocks in the city and attracting over 100,000 individuals.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lunarnewyears.com/|title=Lunar New Year|website=Lunar New Year}}</ref> Neighboring [[Alhambra, California|Alhambra]] also has hosted a large festival since 1993 with many performances and street vendors.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.alhambralunarnewyear.com/gallery/|title=Gallery|accessdate=5 February 2023}}</ref> [[San Gabriel, California|San Gabriel]] hosts an annual Chinese Gala at the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse in addition to its street festival.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sangabrielcity.com/lunarnewyear|title=2023 Lunar New Year Festival &#124; San Gabriel, CA – Official Website|website=www.sangabrielcity.com|access-date=23 January 2023|archive-date=23 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230123222756/https://www.sangabrielcity.com/lunarnewyear|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [[Little Saigon, Orange County|Little Saigon]] area has hosted Tet celebrates since 1982 for its Chinese and Vietnamese community.<ref name="HENRIQUEZ-2023">{{Cite web|url=http://voiceofoc.org/2023/01/tet-parades-across-oc-gear-up-for-year-of-the-cat-festivities/|title=Tet Parades Across OC Gear Up for Year of the Cat Festivities|first=CRYSTAL|last=HENRIQUEZ|date=20 January 2023|website=Voice of OC}}</ref> Originally held at Garden Grove Park, with parades in both [[Garden Grove, California|Garden Grove]] and [[Westminster, California|Westminster]], starting in 2014 a larger celebration is also held at the Orange County Fair and Events Center in [[Costa Mesa, California|Costa Mesa]] which attracts over 50,000 visitors.<ref name="HENRIQUEZ-2023"/> Neighboring [[Fountain Valley, California|Fountain Valley]] also hosts an annual Chinese New Year carnival in [[Mile Square Regional Park]] with many food vendors and a ferris wheel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://enjoyorangecounty.com/oc-tet-festival/|title=OC Tet Festival at Mile Square Park 2023 &#124; Enjoy OC|date=11 January 2023}}</ref>

Many people also celebrate by going to temples across Southern California, and the largest temple celebration is held at [[Hsi Lai Temple]] in [[Hacienda Heights]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hsilai.org/en/news/2022/01012022.php|title=Fo Guang Shan Hsi Lai Temple 1/1/2022 News: New Year Festival at Hsi Lai Temple|website=www.hsilai.org}}</ref> Most major shopping malls will also decorate for Chinese New Year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.southcoastplaza.com/lunar-new-year/|title=Lunar New Year – South Coast Plaza|website=www.southcoastplaza.com}}</ref>

[[Disneyland California Adventure]] in [[Anaheim]] celebrates Chinese New Year by decorating certain areas of the park in Chinese displays, serving speciality East Asian foods and allowing for character photos with Mulan, Mushu, Raya, Tigger and Mickey and Minnie Mouse in Chinese Costumes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://disneyland.disney.go.com/events-tours/lunar-new-year/|title=Lunar New Year|work=Disneyland|access-date=2023-02-05}}</ref>

Some other communities that hold Chinese New Year Celebrations include [[Eastvale, California|Eastvale]], [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]], [[Irvine, California|Irvine]], [[Palos Verdes]], [[Pasadena]], [[Rancho Cucamonga, California|Rancho Cucamonga]], [[Riverside, California|Riverside]], [[Rosemead]], [[San Marino, California|San Marino]], [[San Pedro, California|San Pedro]], [[Santa Monica]], [[Temple City]], [[Tustin]], and [[West Covina]].

===Europe===
====United Kingdom====
[[File:Chinatown london.jpg|thumb|right|London: Chinatown with Chinese New Year decoration]]
In [[London]], celebrations take place in Chinatown, Leicester Square, and Trafalgar Square. Festivities include a parade, cultural feast, fireworks, concerts, and performances.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chinatownlondon.org/news/chinese-new-year-2013--year-of-the-snake-starts-in-style/48/380 |title=Chinese New Year 2013 – Year of the Snake starts in style |publisher=chinatownlondon.org |date=4 February 2013 |access-date=22 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130212022626/http://www.chinatownlondon.org/news/chinese-new-year-2013--year-of-the-snake-starts-in-style/48/380 |archive-date=12 February 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The celebration attracts between 300,000 and 500,000 people yearly according to the organisers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.londonnet.co.uk/news/2013/feb/londons-chinese-new-year-more-chinese-ever.html |title=London's Chinese New Year is More Chinese than Ever Before |publisher=londonnet.co.uk |date=8 February 2013 |access-date=22 February 2013}}</ref>

====France====
In Paris, celebrations have been held since the 1980s in several districts during one month with many performances<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sortiraparis.com/loisirs/guides/47124-le-nouvel-an-chinois-a-paris-2013 |title=Le Nouvel An Chinois à Paris 2013 |publisher=sortiraparis.com |date=9 February 2013 |access-date=22 February 2013}}</ref> and the main of the three parades with 40 groups and 4,000 performers is attended alone by more than 200,000 people in the [[Chinatown, Paris|13th arrondissement]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mairie13.paris.fr/mairie13/jsp/site/Portal.jsp?page_id=711 |title=Le Nouvel An Chinois |publisher=mairie13.paris.fr |date=2 February 2013 |access-date=22 February 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127072439/http://www.mairie13.paris.fr/mairie13/jsp/site/Portal.jsp?page_id=711 |archive-date=27 January 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mairie13.paris.fr/mairie13/jsp/site/Portal.jsp?document_id=16758&portlet_id=2953&comment=1&current_page_id=711 |title=Le grand défilé du Nouvel An Chinois |publisher=mairie13.paris.fr |date=2 February 2013 |access-date=22 February 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201120911/http://www.mairie13.paris.fr/mairie13/jsp/site/Portal.jsp?document_id=16758&portlet_id=2953&comment=1&current_page_id=711 |archive-date=1 February 2014 }}</ref>

====Netherlands====
Official celebrations were held in [[The Hague]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://denhaag.com/en/calendar/chinese-new-year-festival|title=Chinese New Year Festival &#124; DenHaag.com|website=denhaag.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chineesnieuwjaar-denhaag.nl/2019/12/27/chinees-nieuwjaarfeest-den-haag-2020/|title=Chinees Nieuwjaarfeest Den Haag 2020|date=27 December 2019|website=Stichting Chinese Culturele Evenementen Nederland}}</ref> [[Amsterdam]], and [[Rotterdam]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.immaterieelerfgoed.nl/nl/page/2153/chinees-nieuwjaar-in-amsterdam-binnenstad|title=Chinees Nieuwjaar in Amsterdam (binnenstad)|website=Immaterieel Erfgoed}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nu.nl/uit/5716095/chinees-nieuwjaar-stelt-steeds-meer-voor-in-nederland.html|title='Chinees Nieuwjaar stelt steeds meer voor in Nederland'|date=31 January 2019|website=NU}}</ref>

====Hungary====
[[File:春节 2024 – Year of the Dragon.jpg|thumb|Chinese New Year at Kőbánya, 2024]]
In Budapest, celebrations have been held since 2017 in Kőbánya district with many performances and parades.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kitárul a budapesti kínai negyed |url=https://hirado.hu/kultura-eletmod/cikk/2020/01/25/kitarul-a-budapesti-kinai-negyed |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=Híradó |language=hu}}</ref>

===India and Pakistan===
[[File: Chinese New Year 2014 in Kolkata - United Friends Group.jpg|thumb|right|Chinese New Year 2014 Celebration in Kolkata]]
Many celebrate the festival in [[Chinatown, Kolkata]], India, where a significant [[Chinese community in India|community of people of Chinese origin]] exists. In Kolkata, Chinese New Year is celebrated with lion and dragon dance.

In Pakistan, the Chinese New Year is also celebrated among the sizeable [[Chinese people in Pakistan|Chinese expatriate community]] that lives in the country. During the festival, the Chinese embassy in [[Islamabad]] arranges various cultural events in which Pakistani arts and cultural organizations and members of the civil society also participate.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/507469/chinese-new-year-celebrating-spring-and-all-it-brings/|title=Chinese New Year: Celebrating spring and all it brings|work=[[The Express Tribune]]|date=15 February 2013|access-date=18 February 2013|first=Myra|last=Iqbal}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/505545/chinese-new-year-pakistan-in-photo-show/|title=Chinese new year : Pakistan in photo show|work=The Express Tribune|date=12 February 2013|access-date=18 February 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=|first=|title=CELEBRATING THE CHINESE NEW YEAR WITH THE PAKISTAN-CHINA INSTITUTE – – Youlin Magazine|url=http://www.youlinmagazine.com/article-detail.php?pageid=article&articleid=ODU=#.USEQdh3e5CB|website=Youlin Magazine}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://english.cntv.cn/program/asiatoday/20130215/104087.shtml|title=Chinese New Year celebrated in Islamabad|work=CCTV English|date=15 February 2013|access-date=18 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130220031721/http://english.cntv.cn/program/asiatoday/20130215/104087.shtml|archive-date=20 February 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Mauritius ===
[[Culture of Mauritius|Chinese culture in Mauritius]] is an important component of the multiculturalism in [[Mauritius]].<ref name="mfa.gov.cn">{{Cite web |title=Relishing a different Spring Festival in Mauritius ( An Essay written by Chinese Ambassador in Mauritius) |url=https://www.mfa.gov.cn/ce/cemu//eng/sgxw/t1640736.htm |access-date=2022-04-22 |website=www.mfa.gov.cn}}</ref> Despite the small size of the [[Mauritians of Chinese origin|Sino-Mauritian]] community (estimated to be only about 3% of the total population),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chinese Spring Festival in Mauritius in 2023 |url=https://www.officeholidays.com/holidays/chinese-new-year |access-date=2022-04-21 |website=Office Holidays |language=en}}</ref> Chinese New Year (also known as Chinese Spring Festival) is a time where Chinese culture is celebrated on the island<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chinese New Year Mauritius: A cultural celebration |url=https://www.airmauritius.com/plan/travel-inspirations/chinese-new-year-mauritius-a-cultural-celebration |access-date=2022-04-22 |website=www.airmauritius.com}}</ref> and is a public holiday in [[Mauritius]].<ref name="govmu.org">{{Cite web |title=Republic of Mauritius- Festivals |url=http://www.govmu.org/English/ExploreMauritius/Culture/Pages/Culture/Festivals.aspx |access-date=2022-04-21 |website=www.govmu.org |archive-date=22 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220422020911/http://www.govmu.org/English/ExploreMauritius/Culture/Pages/Culture/Festivals.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> Mauritius is also the only country in Africa which lists the Chinese Spring Festival as a statutory public holiday.<ref name="mfa.gov.cn" /> During this period of the year, there is a joyful and festive atmosphere throughout the entire country.<ref name="mfa.gov.cn" />

Sino-Mauritians are very attached to Chinese traditions.<ref name="administrator-2021">{{Cite web |last=administrator |title=How is the Chinese New Year celebrated in Mauritius? {{!}} World Marks |date=18 February 2021 |url=https://worldmark.world/how-is-the-chinese-new-year-celebrated-in-mauritius/ |access-date=2022-04-22 |language=en-US}}</ref> The Chinese Spring Festival is the biggest celebration for the Sino-Mauritians on the island.<ref name="administrator-2021" /> The dates of the celebration follows the Chinese lunisolar calendar instead of the Gregorian calendar.<ref name="administrator-2021" /> During the week prior to the New Year's Day, spring cleaning in homes is performed.The festival starts on Chinese New Year's Eve by lighting on firecrackers to ward off evil spirits.<ref name="Richards-2012">{{Cite book |last=Richards |first=Alexandra |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/795856647 |title=Mauritius, Rodrigues, Réunion. |date=2012 |publisher=Bradt Travel Guides |isbn=978-1-84162-410-5 |edition=Ed. 8 |location=Chalfont St. Peter |oclc=795856647}}</ref>{{Rp|page=71}} Traditionalist visit pagodas to offer offerings and prayers on the New Year's Eve.<ref name="Richards-2012" />{{Rp|page=71}}Following Chinese customs, there is a big family dinner on the New Year's Eve.<ref name="administrator-2021" /><ref name="Turenne-2016">{{Cite web |last=Turenne |first=Christine |date=2016-02-08 |title=Nouvel an chinois: la force des symboles |url=https://www.lexpress.mu/article/275466/nouvel-chinois-force-symboles |access-date=2022-04-22 |website=lexpress.mu |language=fr}}</ref> While the family dinner was traditionally celebrated at the house of the oldest family parents, going to restaurants for New Year's Eve is getting more popular; some restaurants may also have special dinners across the island to foster the family reunions of Sino-Mauritians.<ref name="administrator-2021" /> After the New year's Eve dinner, youths often go to nightclubs.<ref name="administrator-2021" /> On the day of the Chinese New Year, it is customary for Sino-Mauritian to share [[Nian gao|niangao]] to their relatives and friends and to light firecrackers to ward off evil spirits.<ref name="govmu.org" /><ref name="administrator-2021" /> Red envelopes are also given. Some families would also visit pagoda on New Year to honour their ancestors.<ref name="administrator-2021" /> Some families observe a vegetarian diet on the New Year.<ref name="Turenne-2016" /> The main celebration events typically take place in the Chinatown area in Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius.<ref name="govmu.org" /><ref name="airmauritius">{{Cite web |title=A Taste of Chinese New Year in Mauritius |url=https://www.airmauritius.com/plan/travel-inspirations/a-taste-of-chinese-new-year-in-mauritius |access-date=2022-04-22 |website=www.airmauritius.com}}</ref> The [[Dragon dance]] and the Southern [[Lion dance]] is also customary on that day.<ref name="administrator-2021" /><ref name="Turenne-2016" /> The colour red is predominantly used to decorate the streets and houses. Chinese items (e.g. Chinese lanterns) are also used as decorations.<ref name="airmauritius" />

==Greetings==
The Chinese New Year is often accompanied by loud, enthusiastic greetings, often referred to as {{lang|zh-hant|吉祥話}} ({{transliteration|zh|jíxiánghuà}}) in Mandarin or {{lang|zh-hant|吉利說話}} (Kat Lei Seut Wa) in Cantonese, loosely translated as ''auspicious words or phrases''. New Year couplets printed in gold letters on bright red paper, referred to as ''chunlian'' ({{lang|zh-hant|春聯}}) or ''[[fai chun]]'' ({{lang|zh-hant|揮春}}), is another way of expressing auspicious new year wishes. They probably predate the [[Ming dynasty]] (1368–1644), but did not become widespread until then.{{sfn|Welch|1997|p=20}} Today, they are ubiquitous with Chinese New Year.

Some of the most common greetings include:
*'''Xin nian kuai le''' / '''San nin fai lok''': {{lang-zh|links=no|s=新年快乐|t=新年快樂|p=Xīnniánkuàilè|poj= Sin-nî khòai-lo̍k|j=san1 nin4 faai3 lok6}}; [[Hakka]]: Sin Ngen Kai Lok; [[Taishanese]]: Slin Nen Fai Lok. A more contemporary greeting reflective of Western influences, it literally translates from the greeting "Happy new year" more common in the west. It is written in English as "xin nian kuai le".<ref name="Friedman 2019">{{cite web |last1=Friedman |first1=Sophie |title=Top 10 things to know about Chinese New Year |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/destinations/asia/china/celebrate-chinese-new-year/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190205120701/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/destinations/asia/china/celebrate-chinese-new-year/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 February 2019 |website=nationalgeographic.com |date=4 February 2019 |access-date=5 February 2019 |quote=In Mandarin, they'll say gong xi fa cai ({{lang|zh-hans|恭喜发财}}), wishing you a prosperous New Year. In Cantonese, it's gong hey fat choi. Still, if you wish someone xin nian kuai le ({{lang|zh-hans|新年快乐}}), literally 'happy new year,' that's perfectly welcome, too.}}</ref> In northern parts of China, traditionally people say {{lang-zh|links=no|s=过年好|t=過年好|p=Guònián Hǎo}} instead of {{lang-zh|links=no|s=新年快乐|t=新年快樂}} ({{transliteration|zh|Xīnniánkuàile}}), to differentiate it from the international new year. And {{lang|zh-hant|過年好}} ({{transliteration|zh|Guònián Hǎo}}) can be used from the first day to the fifth day of Chinese New Year. However, {{lang|zh-hant|過年好}} ({{transliteration|zh|Guònián Hǎo}}) is considered very short and therefore somewhat discourteous.<br />[[File:Kung Hei Fat Choi at Lee Theatre Plaza.jpg|thumb|''Gong Hei Fat Choi'' at Lee Theatre Plaza, Hong Kong]]
*'''Gong xi fa cai''' / '''Gong hei fat choi''': {{lang-zh|links=no|s=恭喜发财|t=恭喜發財|p=Gōngxǐfācái}}; [[Hokkien]]: Kiong hee huat chai ([[Pe̍h-ōe-jī|POJ]]: Kiong-hí hoat-châi); [[Jyutping|Cantonese]]: Gung1 hei2 faat3 coi4; [[Hakka (language)|Hakka]]: Gung hee fatt choi, which ''loosely'' translates to "Congratulations and be prosperous". It is spelled varyingly in English, such as "Gung hay fat choy",<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rabinovitz |first1=Jonathan |title=Bettors Try to Ride the Tiger; Chinese Hope Good Luck Accompanies the New Year |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/01/29/nyregion/bettors-try-to-ride-the-tiger-chinese-hope-good-luck-accompanies-the-new-year.html |access-date=5 February 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=29 January 1998 |quote=When they arrived at Foxwoods, casino employees greeted them with 'Gung hay fat choy,' the Cantonese phrase that translates roughly as 'Happy New Year.'}}</ref> "gong hey fat choi",<ref name="Friedman 2019"/> or "Kung Hei Fat Choy".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Magida |first1=Lenore |title=What's Doing in Hong Kong |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/12/18/travel/whats-doing-in-hong-kong.html |access-date=5 February 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=18 December 1994 |quote=In such an environment, it seems fitting that the traditional New Year's greeting is, in Cantonese, 'Kung Hei Fat Choy' – which means 'Wishing You Success and Prosperity.'}}</ref> It is often mistakenly assumed to be synonymous with "Happy New Year". The saying is now commonly heard in English speaking communities for greetings during Chinese New Year in parts of the world where there is a sizeable Chinese-speaking community, including [[overseas Chinese]] communities that have been resident for several generations, relatively recent immigrants from [[Greater China]], and those who are transit migrants (particularly students).

Numerous other greetings exist, some of which may be exclaimed out loud to no one in particular in specific situations. For example, as breaking objects during the new year is considered inauspicious, one may then say {{lang|zh-hant|歲歲平安}} (''Suìsuì-píng'ān'') immediately, which means "everlasting peace year after year". ''Suì'' ({{lang|zh-hant|歲}}), meaning "age" is homophonous with {{lang|zh-hant|碎}} (suì) (meaning "shatter"), in the demonstration of the Chinese love for wordplay in auspicious phrases. Similarly, {{lang|zh-hant|年年有餘}} (''niánnián yǒu yú''), a wish for surpluses and bountiful harvests every year, plays on the word ''yú'' that can also refer to {{lang|zh-hant|魚}} (yú meaning fish), making it a catch phrase for fish-based Chinese new year dishes and for paintings or graphics of fish that are hung on walls or presented as gifts.

The most common auspicious greetings and sayings consist of four characters, such as the following:
* {{lang|zh-hant|金玉滿堂}}, {{transliteration|zh|Jīnyùmǎntáng}}&nbsp;– "May your wealth [gold and jade] come to fill a hall"
* {{lang|zh-hant|大展鴻圖}}, {{transliteration|zh|Dàzhǎnhóngtú}}&nbsp;– "May you realize your ambitions"
* {{lang|zh-hant|迎春接福}}, {{transliteration|zh|Yíngchúnjiēfú}}&nbsp;– "Greet the New Year and encounter happiness"
* {{lang|zh-hant|萬事如意}}, {{transliteration|zh|Wànshìrúyì}}&nbsp;– "May all your wishes be fulfilled"
* {{lang|zh-hant|吉慶有餘}}, {{transliteration|zh|Jíqìngyǒuyú}}&nbsp;– "May your happiness be without limit"
* {{lang|zh-hant|竹報平安}}, {{transliteration|zh|Zhúbàopíng'ān}}&nbsp;– "May you hear [in a letter] that all is well"
* {{lang|zh-hant|一本萬利}}, {{transliteration|zh|Yīběnwànlì}}&nbsp;– "May a small investment bring ten-thousandfold profits"
* {{lang|zh-hant|福壽雙全}}, {{transliteration|zh|Fúshòushuāngquán}}&nbsp;– "May your happiness and longevity be complete"
* {{lang|zh-hant|招財進寶}}, {{transliteration|zh|Zhāocáijìnbǎo}}&nbsp;– "When wealth is acquired, precious objects follow"{{sfn|Welch|1997|p=22}}

These greetings or phrases may also be used just before children receive their red packets, when gifts are exchanged, when visiting temples, or even when tossing the shredded ingredients of [[yusheng]] particularly popular in Malaysia and Singapore. Children and their parents can also pray in the temple, in hopes of getting good blessings for the new year to come.

Children and teenagers sometimes jokingly use the phrase "{{lang|zh-Hant|恭喜發財，紅包拿來}}" ({{lang-zh|links=no|p=gōngxǐfācái, hóngbāo nálái}}; Cantonese: {{lang|yue-Hant|恭喜發財,利是逗來}}; {{lang-zh|links=no|j=gung<sup>1</sup>hei<sup>2</sup> faat<sup>3</sup>coi<sup>4</sup>, lei<sup>6</sup> si<sup>6</sup> dau<sup>6</sup> loi<sup>4</sup>}}), roughly translated as "Congratulations and be prosperous, now give me a red envelope!". In [[Hakka]] the saying is more commonly said as 'Gung hee fatt choi, hung bao diu loi' which would be written as {{lang|zh-Hant|恭喜發財，紅包逗來}} – a mixture of the Cantonese and Mandarin variants of the saying.

Back in the 1960s, children in Hong Kong used to say {{lang|yue-Hant|恭喜發財，利是逗來，斗零唔愛}} (Cantonese, "Gung Hei Fat Choy, Lai Si Tau Loi, Tau Ling M Ngoi"), which was recorded in the pop song "[[Kowloon Hong Kong]]" by [[The Reynettes]] in 1966. Later in the 1970s, children in Hong Kong used the saying: {{lang|yue-Hant|恭喜發財，利是逗來，伍毫嫌少，壹蚊唔愛}}, roughly translated as "Congratulations and be prosperous, now give me a red envelope, fifty cents is too little, don't want a dollar either." It basically meant that they disliked small change – coins which were called "hard substance" (Cantonese: {{lang|yue-Hant|硬嘢}}). Instead, they wanted "soft substance" (Cantonese: {{lang|yue-Hant|軟嘢}}), which was either a ten dollar or a twenty dollar note.

==See also==
{{Portal|Asia|China|Holidays}}
* [[The Birthday of Che Kung]]
* Other celebrations of Lunar New Year in China:
** [[Losar|Tibetan New Year]] (''Losar'')
** [[Tsagaan Sar|Mongolian New Year]] (''Tsagaan Sar'')
* Celebrations of Lunar New Year in other parts of Asia:
** [[Buryats|Buryat]] New Year (''Sagaalgan'')
** [[Korean New Year]] (''Seollal'')
** [[Japanese New Year]] (''Shōgatsu'')
** [[Tsagaan Sar|Mongolian New Year]] (''Tsagaan Sar'')
** [[Vietnamese New Year]] (''Tết Nguyên Đán'')
* Similar Asian Lunisolar New Year celebrations that occur in April:
** [[Thingyan|Burmese New Year]] (''Thingyan'')
** [[Cambodian New Year]] (''Chaul Chnam Thmey'')
** [[Songkran (Lao)|Lao New Year]] (''Pii Mai'')
** [[Sinhalese New Year|Sri Lankan New Year]] (''Aluth Avuruddu'')
** [[Songkran (Thailand)|Thai New Year]] (''Songkran'')
* Chinese New Year Gregorian Holiday in Malaysia
** Malaysia Chinese New Year (''Tahun Baru Cina'')
** Indonesian Chinese New Year (''Imlek'')
* [[Lunar New Year fireworks display in Hong Kong]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
* {{cite book|last=Welch|first= Patricia Bjaaland |year=1997|title= Chinese New Year|url=https://archive.org/details/chinesenewyear00welc|url-access=registration|publisher= [[Oxford University Press]]|isbn= 978-0-19-587730-4 }}

== External links ==
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