Chinese New Year Explained: Traditions, Superstitions, and How to Celebrate

Discover the customs, foods, and cultural significance of Chinese New Year—plus how you can join in the celebrations.

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While much of the world marks January 1st with fireworks and countdowns, Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival (春节, Chūnjié) arrives later and is all about family, renewal and ushering in good fortune for the year ahead.

Chinese New Year follows the lunar calendar, meaning the exact date shifts each year but always falls between late January and mid-February. This year, 2025, it was celebrated on January 29. It marks the transition from one zodiac sign to the next, with each year being represented by an animal in the Chinese zodiac cycle.

Chinese New Year is also widely celebrated across Asia, including Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam. Millions of people travel home—leading to the world’s largest annual human migration, known as Chunyun (春运), where families reunite for a grand celebration.

For those new to the holiday, Chinese New Year might seem like a colorful spectacle of lanterns, dragons, and fireworks, but there’s much more to it. In this guide, we’ll cover:

• The history and cultural significance of Chinese New Year

• How it’s celebrated in China and other parts of the world

• The traditions, superstitions, and symbolic meanings behind key rituals

• How you can take part in or respectfully observe the celebrations

Whether you’re a traveler looking to experience it firsthand or simply curious about one of the world’s biggest celebrations, this article will give you a beginner-friendly introduction to the festival that shapes millions of lives every year.

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When Is Chinese New Year?

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Chinese New Year follows the lunar calendar, this means the date changes each year, falling between January 21st and February 20th. The holiday officially begins on the first new moon of the lunar calendar and lasts for 15 days, culminating in the Lantern Festival.

For example, in 2025, Chinese New Year was celebrated on January 29th, marking the start of a new zodiac cycle.

Each Chinese New Year is associated with one of 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac (生肖, shēngxiào), rotating on a 12-year cycle. These zodiac animals are believed to influence personality traits, luck, and even major life events for those born under them.

For instance:

• 2024 was the Year of the Dragon (龙, lóng)—symbolizing power, ambition, and success.

• 2025 will be the Year of the Snake (蛇, shé)—representing wisdom, mystery, and transformation.

People born in the year of a particular zodiac sign are said to inherit its characteristics. However, your zodiac year (本命年, běnmìngnián) is also considered an unlucky year, so those born under the upcoming zodiac sign are advised to take extra precautions!

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Key Traditions and Customs

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The New Year’s Eve reunion dinner is the most important meal of the year. Families, no matter how far apart, make every effort to gather for this feast, symbolizing unity and togetherness.

Key Dishes & Symbolism:

• Dumplings (饺子, Jiǎozi) – Resemble ancient Chinese gold ingots, symbolizing wealth.

• Fish (鱼, Yú) – Represents abundance and prosperity, as "fish" sounds like "surplus" in Chinese (年年有余, nián nián yǒu yú).

• Glutinous Rice Cakes (年糕, Niángāo) – A play on words meaning "higher year after year," symbolizing progress and growth.

Red Envelopes (红包, Hóngbāo) – Giving Prosperity

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A beloved tradition, red envelopes (hóngbāo) filled with money are gifted to children and unmarried adults by elders. The red color symbolizes luck and protection from evil spirits.

Modern Twist:
Today, digital hóngbāo are hugely popular, sent through WeChat Pay or Alipay, making it easy for families to send blessings no matter where they are.

Fireworks and Lion Dances – Chasing Away Evil

• Firecrackers: A loud and vibrant tradition meant to scare away bad spirits and misfortune.

• Lion & Dragon Dances: These energetic performances, accompanied by drums and cymbals, are believed to bring luck and prosperity to businesses and communities.

Cleaning Before the New Year – Out with the Old, In with the New

In the days leading up to Chinese New Year, families thoroughly clean their homes to sweep away bad luck from the past year. However, cleaning on New Year’s Day is avoided, as it’s believed to sweep away newly arrived good fortune.

Festive Decorations – Welcoming Good Luck

Homes, businesses, and streets turn red and gold, colors representing luck, happiness, and success.

Common Decorations & Their Meanings:

• Red Lanterns (红灯笼, Hóng dēnglóng) – Wards off bad luck and symbolizes brightness for the year ahead.

• Upside-down 福 (Fú) Characters – The word 福 (fú) means "fortune," and when placed upside down, it signifies "luck has arrived" (福到了, fú dào le).

• Spring Couplets (春联, Chūnlián) – Pairs of poetic lines written on red paper, expressing good wishes for the new year.

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Do’s and Don’ts During Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year is a time of celebration, renewal, and positive energy, but like any tradition, there are important cultural taboos to be aware of. Observing these customs is believed to bring luck, prosperity, and harmony in the year ahead.

✅ Do’s: Welcoming Good Fortune

1. Wear Red for Luck
Red symbolizes good fortune and joy. Wearing red clothing or accessories during the New Year period is believed to attract prosperity and drive away negativity.

2. Greet Others with Festive Wishes
Use common New Year greetings to spread good fortune and happiness:

• 新年快乐! (Xīnnián kuàilè!) – "Happy New Year!"

• 恭喜发财! (Gōngxǐ fācái!) – "Wishing you prosperity!"

• 万事如意! (Wànshì rúyì!) – "May all things go as you wish!"

3. Give and Receive Red Envelopes with Both Hands
When receiving hóngbāo (红包, red envelopes), always use both hands as a sign of respect. Likewise, when giving hóngbāo, express your good wishes for the recipient’s success and happiness.

❌ Don’ts: Avoiding Bad Luck

1. Don’t Give Unlucky Gifts
Certain gifts are considered taboo due to their symbolic meanings:

• Clocks or Watches (钟, zhōng) – Sounds like "end" or "death" in Chinese, making it a bad omen.

• Sharp Objects (scissors, knives, needles) – Symbolizes "cutting ties" and can bring misfortune to relationships.

• White or Black Gifts – These colors are associated with funerals and mourning.

2. Don’t Say Negative Words
Words related to death, bad luck, or financial loss are strictly avoided during New Year celebrations. Some examples include:

• 死 (sǐ) – "Death"

• 穷 (qióng) – "Poor"

• 破 (pò) – "Broken"

• 输 (shū) – "Lose"

3. Don’t Sweep or Take Out Trash on New Year’s Day
Sweeping the floor or throwing out trash on the first day of the New Year is believed to sweep away newly arrived luck and prosperity. Cleaning should be done before New Year’s Eve to remove bad luck from the past year.

4. Don’t Lend or Borrow Money
Financial exchanges on the first day of the New Year set a precedent for the entire year. Borrowing or lending money on this day is believed to attract debt and financial struggles in the year ahead.

By following these do’s and don’ts, you can fully embrace the spirit of Chinese New Year and celebrate with good luck, happiness, and prosperity!

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How You Can Celebrate – Even If You’re Not in China

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Many major cities with Chinese communities host parades, lion dances, and firework shows to ring in the New Year. Some top spots include:

• San Francisco & New York City – Large-scale CNY parades with traditional performances.

• London Chinatown – One of the biggest celebrations outside of Asia.

• Sydney & Melbourne – Dragon boat races, street food festivals, and more.
  Check your local event listings to find a CNY festival near you!

🥢 Try Traditional Chinese New Year Foods

Food plays a huge role in the Spring Festival, and you can join in by:

• Visiting a Chinese restaurant and ordering dumplings (饺子, jiǎozi), which symbolize wealth.

• Cooking at home – Try making sweet rice cakes (年糕, niángāo) for prosperity or a whole fish (鱼, yú) for abundance.

• Hosting a hot pot dinner – A fun and interactive way to celebrate with friends or family.

🧧 Give a Red Envelope for Good Luck

If you have younger siblings, nieces, nephews, or friends, you can embrace the hóngbāo (红包) tradition by gifting a small red envelope with money inside.

• Even $5 or $10 is a meaningful gesture symbolizing prosperity.

• If you prefer digital gifts, try sending a virtual hóngbāo via WeChat Pay (popular in China).

🗣️ Learn & Share Festive Greetings

Surprise your Chinese friends or colleagues by wishing them a Happy New Year in Mandarin or Cantonese:

• 新年快乐 (Xīnnián kuàilè) – "Happy New Year!" (Mandarin)

• 恭喜发财 (Gōngxǐ fācái) – "Wishing you prosperity!"

• 过年好 (Guònián hǎo) – "Good fortune in the New Year!"

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Conclusion: A Celebration of Renewal and Family

Chinese New Year is more than just a festival—it’s a time of renewal, reflection, and connection. Whether celebrated through a grand family reunion or a simple meal shared with loved ones, the Spring Festival is rooted in the idea of starting fresh and welcoming good fortune into the year ahead.

As the new year unfolds, take a moment to embrace the themes of prosperity, happiness, and togetherness that define Chinese New Year. Whether it’s through food, traditions, or learning about the zodiac, celebrating in even the smallest way can bring a sense of renewal and joy—no matter where you are in the world.

Wishing you a Happy New Year! 🏮🎊 新年快乐 (Xīnnián kuàilè)!