Food plays a delicious and symbolic role during Chinese New Year. Think dumplings shaped like ancient money to bring wealth, or long noodles slurped to wish for a long life.
These tasty traditions are a huge part of the entire chinese new year period, a fifteen-day festival marking the start of the new lunar year. It’s a time filled with meaningful customs, from spring cleaning your home to handing out lucky red money packets. Each one is practiced to welcome prosperity and good fortune for the year ahead.
The most significant part of the New Year festivities is returning to be with family, with many making the sometimes long journey back to their parent’s home. For example this map shows in real time the huge migration that takes place in China during this period. On Chinese New Year’s Eve families will hold a reunion dinner filled with traditional platters and snacks.
For some of us at Suite who have either married or been born into families that celebrate Chinese New Year, it is a particularly fun and special time. We gather with our nearest and dearest, we share food and honour those who have come before us.
This year Callum, our Suite CTO, and his family made their annual visit to his wife’s parent’s home. His in-laws, who hail from Malaysia, celebrate many of the traditional aspects of Chinese New Year, including giving ang pows to the children, wearing red (it’s a bright, happy colour, and brings good luck), and displaying and eating fruit like oranges, which is said to bring wealth. Callum’s Chinese New Year highlights are the food (especially secret family recipes) and red packets for the kids. He also enjoys it when younger generations bless their elders during this time as ‘there is always something nice to say, and this is a great time to tell family you appreciate them.’
For me, it’s not Chinese New Year without my mum’s special treats – pineapple tarts, peanut cookies, love letters and kuih bahulu (small Chinese sponge cakes). Throughout my childhood for the roughly two weeks before New Years our house would turn into a mini factory where my mum would churn out dozens of biscuits, cakes and snacks to give to family and friends. I would try to help but couldn’t quite get the pastry right or the peanut cookies round enough. Also there was no way I was going to go near the hot waffle-like iron that cooked the circular love letters and that gave them their distinctive pattern, especially as they then needed to be rolled around a small wooden rod fresh off the iron (this all used to be done over hot coals – ouch!).
Another tradition in my family is having steam boat for our reunion dinner on New Year’s Eve. It’s basically a continuously boiling pot of ingredients like meat, veg, fish balls and tofu and accompanied by rice or noodles, and chilli or soy sauce for dipping. The only things I miss at Chinese New Year is the family living faraway and the bright decorations that I remember from trips back to Singapore where my mum grew up. The mood and decorations make it feel a lot more happy and golden there, and it’s nice to think that almost everyone is spending time with family and feeling hopeful for the new year.
If you’d like to know more about Chinese New Year, I’ve included a selection of links below. They explain a bit more about Chinese New Year and the Year of the Goat, as well as sayings that you can use to wish those around you luck and prosperity. There are even some business predictions for the new year!
Chinese New Year 2015: When is it and how is it celebrated
It’s Chinese New Year: A financial astrologer predicts 2015
41 Lucky English Greetings Celebrating the Year of the Ram
Chinese New Year Peanut Cookies Recipe
Gong Xi Fa Cai: Your Guide to the Chinese New Year Period
What is Chinese New Year?
Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is one of the most significant holidays in Chinese culture. It’s a time for families to gather, honor ancestors, and welcome a new year of luck and prosperity. The celebration is rich with centuries of stories and traditions that have been passed down through generations, each carrying a special meaning. It’s a vibrant period filled with specific foods, decorations, and rituals that are all designed to bring good fortune for the year ahead.
Unlike the New Year celebrated on January 1st, Chinese New Year follows a different calendar, which means the date changes each year. The festivities traditionally last for 15 days, from the new moon to the full moon, culminating in the Lantern Festival. It’s a time of renewal, and its influence is felt not just in China but across the globe, impacting everything from family life to international business operations.
The Story Behind the Celebration
The origins of Chinese New Year are rooted in ancient myths and agricultural traditions. Over thousands of years, these early customs evolved into the complex and colorful festival celebrated today. The stories behind the holiday explain why certain traditions, like the use of the color red and loud noises, are so central to the festivities. These legends provide a fascinating glimpse into the cultural values that have shaped the celebration through various historical dynasties.
The Myth of the Nian
According to legend, the celebration started as a way to fight off a mythical beast called the Nian. This creature would emerge on the eve of the new year to terrorize villages and eat people, especially children. The villagers lived in fear until an old man revealed the Nian’s weaknesses: it was afraid of the color red, loud noises, and fire. Following his advice, villagers decorated their homes with red paper, lit lanterns, and set off firecrackers to scare the beast away. The Nian never returned, and these practices became cherished traditions to ensure a safe and prosperous new year.
How Traditions Evolved Through Dynasties
Beyond the myth of the Nian, the festival’s roots can be traced to ancient harvest celebrations and rituals. Early forms of the celebration were tied to the agricultural cycle, marking the end of winter and the beginning of spring planting. It was also a time for ceremonies to honor deities and ancestors. Over the centuries, as different dynasties ruled China, these customs merged and evolved, gradually forming the rich tapestry of traditions that characterize the modern Chinese New Year celebration.
When is Chinese New Year?
One of the first things people notice about Chinese New Year is that its date is never the same from one year to the next. While the Gregorian calendar used by most of the world is based on the Earth’s orbit around the sun, the date for Chinese New Year is set by a different system. This traditional Chinese calendar is a major reason why the holiday is so deeply connected to the cycles of nature, the seasons, and long-held cultural traditions.
Why the Date Changes Every Year
The date of Chinese New Year is determined by the lunar-solar calendar, which tracks time based on the cycles of both the moon and the sun. The new year begins with the second new moon after the winter solstice. Because of this, the first day of the Chinese New Year always falls somewhere between January 21st and February 20th on the Gregorian calendar. This system ensures that the holiday remains in the spring season, which is why it’s also called the Spring Festival.
Upcoming Dates and Zodiac Animals
Each year in the Chinese calendar is also associated with one of the 12 zodiac animals, which rotate in a cycle. It’s believed that people born in a particular year share some of the traits of that year’s animal. Knowing the upcoming dates and their corresponding zodiac animals can be helpful for planning, both personally and professionally.
Here are the dates for the next few Chinese New Years:
- 2025: January 29 (Year of the Snake)
- 2026: February 17 (Year of the Horse)
- 2027: February 6 (Year of the Goat)
A Guide to Chinese New Year Traditions
Chinese New Year is defined by its many traditions, which are all about leaving behind the troubles of the past year and welcoming health, happiness, and good fortune. From cleaning the house to sharing special meals, each custom has a purpose. These practices are observed by families for weeks surrounding the new year and create a festive atmosphere that is both deeply personal and widely communal. Understanding these traditions offers insight into the values of family, respect, and optimism that are central to the holiday.
Pre-Holiday Preparations
Preparations for the new year begin well before the holiday itself. One of the most important rituals is a thorough house cleaning. Families clean their homes from top to bottom to sweep away any bad luck that may have accumulated over the past year. This act of cleaning symbolizes making space for good luck to enter in the new year. Once the house is clean, brooms are put away, as sweeping on New Year’s Day itself is considered taboo because it could sweep away the newly arrived good fortune.
A Day-by-Day Look at the 15-Day Festival
The Chinese New Year celebration spans 15 days, with each day holding its own unique significance and traditions. While some customs are practiced throughout the festival, certain days are reserved for specific activities, such as visiting family, honoring deities, or celebrating the birth of humanity. This day-by-day structure guides families through the festive period, from the excitement of New Year’s Eve to the beautiful conclusion at the Lantern Festival.
New Year’s Eve: The Reunion Dinner and Shousui
The most important event of the entire festival is the reunion dinner on New Year’s Eve. Generations of family members travel, sometimes across the world, to gather and share a feast. The meal is filled with dishes that symbolize luck, wealth, and longevity, such as fish, dumplings, and spring rolls. After dinner, many families stay up late for a tradition called Shousui, which means “to keep watch over the year.” This practice is believed to help parents live a longer life.
Day 1: Welcoming the New Year with Taboos
The first day of the new year is for welcoming deities and honoring elders. Families visit the most senior members of their extended family, offering blessings and well wishes. It’s also a day with many taboos—for example, you shouldn’t wash your hair, use scissors, or argue, as these actions are thought to bring bad luck. Traditionally, everyone is considered to have turned one year older on this day, making it a collective birthday celebration.
Day 2: Married Daughters Visit Home
The second day of the new year is traditionally when married daughters visit their birth parents, relatives, and close friends. This tradition was particularly important in ancient China, where a married woman became part of her husband’s family and would rarely see her own. This day provides a special opportunity for her to reconnect with her family of origin, bringing her husband and children with her to share in the new year’s festivities.
Day 7: Renri, the Birthday of Humanity
The seventh day of the festival is known as Renri, which is considered the birthday of all human beings. According to Chinese mythology, the mother goddess Nüwa created different animals on different days, and she created humans on the seventh day. To celebrate, people eat special dishes, with the most traditional being a colorful raw fish salad called yusheng for prosperity and a type of porridge with seven vegetables for good health.
Day 15: The Lantern Festival Finale
The 15th and final day of the celebration is the Lantern Festival. It marks the first full moon of the new lunar year and is a beautiful, vibrant conclusion to the holiday period. Families and communities celebrate by lighting and watching colorful lanterns, often decorated with riddles. People also eat tangyuan, which are sweet glutinous rice balls that symbolize family togetherness and harmony. The festival ends the new year celebrations on a high note of hope and community.
The Rules of Giving Red Envelopes (Hongbao)
A beloved tradition of Chinese New Year is the giving of red envelopes, or hongbao. These envelopes are filled with money and are typically given by married family members and elders to younger, unmarried relatives, especially children. The significance of the red envelope is not the money inside, but the red paper itself, which symbolizes good luck and is believed to ward off evil spirits. The act of giving and receiving hongbao is a gesture of goodwill and a blessing for the new year.
How the Chinese New Year Period Impacts Business
For businesses that work with partners or suppliers in China, the Chinese New Year period is a critical time to plan for. The entire country slows down significantly as people travel home for the extended holiday. This shutdown affects everything from manufacturing and shipping to communication and customer service. Understanding the scale of this holiday and its impact on business operations is essential for avoiding disruptions and maintaining a smooth workflow. Proper planning can make all the difference in managing this unique period.
Understanding the Holiday Shutdown
During Chinese New Year, most businesses in China, including factories and corporate offices, shut down completely. While the official public holiday is about a week long, many factories close for two weeks or even longer to allow employees enough time to travel to their hometowns and back. This extended closure means that production halts, and no new orders are processed or shipped. Businesses that rely on Chinese manufacturing must account for this shutdown in their production schedules and inventory management.
Navigating the World’s Largest Human Migration
The holiday period triggers the world’s largest annual human migration, known as Chunyun. Hundreds of millions of people travel across the country to be with their families for the reunion dinner. This massive movement of people puts immense strain on China’s transportation infrastructure, causing significant delays for not just people but also for goods. Ports and logistics networks become heavily congested before the holiday and can take weeks to return to normal afterward, affecting global supply chains.
Managing Post-Holiday Business Challenges
The challenges don’t end when the holiday is over. The return to work can be slow and staggered, leading to further delays and potential issues. Not all workers return to their factory jobs immediately after the holiday, and some may not return at all, leading to staffing shortages. This can impact production capacity and even quality control as new workers are trained. Businesses need a solid plan to manage this transitional period and get operations back on track smoothly.
Preparing for Potential Production Issues
To prepare for the post-holiday ramp-up, clear communication with your suppliers is key. Before the shutdown, confirm production timelines and get realistic estimates for when operations will be back to full capacity. It’s also wise to build in a buffer for your inventory to cover potential delays. Having a centralized system where you can manage all your documents, like purchase orders and supplier agreements, makes it easier to track everything when business resumes. This organization helps you quickly address any discrepancies and ensures everyone is working from the most current information.
Chinese New Year on the World Stage
Chinese New Year is not just a national holiday; it’s a global phenomenon. Celebrated by Chinese communities all over the world, its vibrant traditions of dragon dances, lantern festivals, and family feasts have become a familiar sight in cities from Sydney to San Francisco. Its growing international presence reflects its cultural significance and its recognition as a major global event. The holiday’s universal themes of renewal and family resonate with people from all backgrounds.
A Celebration for Over a Billion People
More than a billion people celebrate Chinese New Year, making it one of the most widely observed holidays in the world. It is the most important festival in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, and is also a public holiday in many countries with large Chinese populations, such as Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. In recent years, the celebration has become more mainstream in Western countries, with major cities hosting parades and cultural events that attract huge crowds.
Lunar New Year in Other Cultures
While it’s often called Chinese New Year, the holiday is more broadly known as the Lunar New Year and is celebrated in other Asian cultures as well. In Vietnam, it’s called Tết Nguyên Đán, or Tết, and is the most important festival of the year. In South Korea, they celebrate Seollal, a three-day holiday filled with family rituals and traditional food. Though the customs may vary, these holidays share the common themes of family reunion, honoring ancestors, and welcoming the spring.
UNESCO Recognition
In a testament to its global cultural importance, Chinese New Year was officially added to the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2024. This recognition highlights the festival’s value as a living tradition that fosters social cohesion and cultural identity for communities worldwide. It acknowledges the holiday’s rich history and its role in promoting cultural diversity and dialogue on an international stage, ensuring its traditions will be preserved for future generations to enjoy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it called Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year? You’ll often hear both terms, and they are related but not exactly the same. Lunar New Year is a broader term for the festival that marks the first new moon of the lunisolar calendar. Many cultures celebrate it, including in Vietnam where it’s called Tết and in South Korea where it’s known as Seollal. Chinese New Year refers specifically to the Chinese celebration of this event, with its own unique traditions and stories.
Why is food such a big part of the celebration? During Chinese New Year, food is more than just a meal; it’s a way of sharing hopes for the year ahead. Many dishes are chosen because their names sound like words for luck and prosperity, or because their shapes resemble things like money or gold bars. For example, families eat fish because the word for fish sounds like the word for “surplus,” expressing a wish for abundance. It’s a delicious way to bring good fortune to the table.
My business works with partners in China. What’s the most important thing I should do to prepare? The single most important thing you can do is communicate early. Don’t wait until the last minute. Reach out to your partners well in advance to confirm their holiday schedule, as many factories and offices close for two weeks or more. Understanding their timeline allows you to adjust your own production schedules and manage inventory to avoid any disruptions.
The festival is 15 days long. Does everything really shut down for that entire time? While the full celebration lasts for 15 days, the official public holiday in China is typically about a week long. However, many businesses, especially factories, will close for two weeks or even longer. This gives employees enough time to make the long journey home to be with their families and then travel back again. It’s best to assume key operations will be paused for at least two weeks.
What are some simple ways to wish a colleague a happy new year? A simple and sincere greeting is always appreciated. You can say “Happy New Year” or “Wishing you and your family a prosperous new year.” The gesture itself is what matters most. It shows that you’re acknowledging a time that is important to them, which is a thoughtful way to connect with your colleagues.
Key Takeaways
- Focus on family and fresh starts: The 15-day celebration is rooted in traditions that clear out the old and welcome the new, with the family reunion dinner on New Year’s Eve being the most important event.
- Plan your operations around the holiday shutdown: The extended break for Chinese New Year affects global supply chains, so it’s essential to confirm schedules with your suppliers and manage inventory to cover the pause in production and shipping.
- Appreciate its global context: The holiday is celebrated by communities worldwide and is also known as Lunar New Year in other cultures, each with its own unique customs that share themes of renewal and family.
