Dumplings
jiǎoziDumplings resemble old silver and gold ingots. Many families wrap them together, making the preparation part of the reunion itself.
Spring Festival · 春节
Chinese New Year
China’s most important traditional festival is a season of homecoming, family reunion, hopeful greetings, and welcoming a new zodiac year.
Next Chinese New Year · 2027
6 February 2027
103days to go
二零二七年 正月初一
Year of the GoatExplore the zodiac ↗
Chinese New Year family traditions
Chinese New Year’s Eve
reunion dinner.
For many families, Chinese New Year begins with a reunion dinner on New Year’s Eve. Homes are cleaned and decorated, festive couplets express good wishes, and relatives exchange greetings and visits.
Customs differ across China and throughout Chinese communities worldwide. Common activities include family meals, visiting relatives, and welcoming the new traditional year.
Plan ahead
Upcoming Chinese New Year dates
Each date marks the first day of the first traditional month in the Chinese calendar.
| Year | Starts | Traditional year ends | Zodiac | Element | Polarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Goat | Fire | Yin | ||
| 2028 | Monkey | Earth | Yang | ||
| 2029 | Rooster | Earth | Yin | ||
| 2030 | Dog | Metal | Yang | ||
| 2031 | Pig | Metal | Yin | ||
| 2032 | Rat | Water | Yang |
Spring Festival and Lantern Festival
Chinese New Year celebration dates.
Dates provide a guide, not a uniform schedule. Public holidays and family customs vary by region and household.
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Final preparations 备年
Shopping, cleaning, decorating, and preparing the home during the final week.
New Year’s Eve 除夕
A reunion dinner, family time, and staying up to welcome the year.
Spring Festival 春节
The first day of the traditional year, with greetings, visits, and red envelopes.
Lantern Festival 元宵节
Lanterns, riddles, performances, and sweet rice balls on traditional day 15.
Chinese New Year food
Traditional Chinese New Year foods.
Festival dishes express reunion, abundance, longevity, and hope. Ingredients and meanings vary by region and family.
Fish
yúIn Mandarin, fish (yú) sounds like surplus (yú). A whole fish is a wish for abundance and often appears as a shared New Year’s Eve dish.
Nian gao
niángāoRice cake echoes “higher year.” Its name expresses hopes for progress, success, and growth in the year ahead.
Spring rolls
chūnjuǎnGolden spring rolls celebrate the arrival of spring. Their color and shape are often associated with prosperity.
Longevity noodles
chángshòumiànLong, uncut noodles symbolize a long life. Recipes and toppings vary widely by region and household.
Tangyuan
tāngyuánSweet glutinous rice balls are especially associated with Lantern Festival, family togetherness, and a sweet year ahead.
Red envelopes · 红包
Chinese New Year red envelopes.
Red envelopes are gifts of care and blessing. Parents and elders often give them to children, while adults may also offer them to parents, relatives, friends, or colleagues as a sign of gratitude.
The money is secondary to the message. A sincere wish matters more than an amount, and customs differ between households and communities. Digital red envelopes now allow the same gesture to travel across distance through messaging and payment apps.
Chinese New Year customs
Chinese New Year traditions.
These customs are widespread examples, not rules followed in exactly the same way by every household.
Preparing the home
Many households clean, shop for festival food, and decorate with red couplets, paper cuttings, or other auspicious designs.
Reunion dinner
The New Year’s Eve meal brings relatives together. Dishes and their meanings vary by region, from dumplings to fish and rice cakes.
Greetings and gifts
People visit family and friends, offer good wishes, and may give red envelopes, especially to children and younger relatives.
Lantern Festival
Lantern displays, riddles, performances, and sweet rice balls bring the traditional festive period to a celebratory close.
New Year greetings
Chinese New Year greetings.
Read common Chinese New Year greetings in Mandarin and Cantonese, with pronunciation guides and English meanings.
新年快乐Xīnnián kuàilè · Mandarin
Happy New Year
恭喜发财Gōngxǐ fācái · Mandarin
Wishing you prosperity
恭喜發財gung1 hei2 faat3 coi4 · Jyutping, Cantonese
Wishing you prosperity
Chinese New Year FAQ
Chinese New Year frequently asked questions.
What is Chinese New Year called in China?
It is commonly called Spring Festival (春节, Chūnjié) in China. It marks the beginning of the traditional year and is the country’s most important traditional festival.
When is Chinese New Year?
Chinese New Year falls on the first day of the first traditional month. In the Gregorian calendar, it generally occurs between 21 January and 20 February.
Why does the Chinese New Year date change?
The Chinese calendar and Gregorian calendar organize months differently. The festival keeps its fixed place in the Chinese calendar, so its Gregorian date changes each year.
How long does Chinese New Year last?
The festive season extends beyond the first day. Many celebrations culminate with Lantern Festival on day 15, while the length of public holidays and family observances varies by place and household.