Much like the celebration of the New Year in the Western world, Chinese New Year is all about the hopeful spirit of renewal. The holiday’s traditions, symbols and rituals are all meant to wipe the slate clean and prepare for prosperity, good luck and happiness in the new year. Simply put, every Chinese New Year is a new beginning. During Chinese New Year, people have a long list of things to do. From one week preceding the festival to the 15th day after, many Chinese New Year customs are widely observed for thousands of years. The family reunion dinner, eating dumplings, and setting off firework are the must-dos that you might know. What else interesting do the Chinese do? Through traditions like multi-course Lunar New Year dinners, Chinese American parents teach their children the importance of family time. For the children of Chinese immigrants, Lunar New Year is a way of feeling rooted to the traditions and culture of their or their parent’s homeland. Significance of Chinese New Year. The Chinese New Year is far more than a holiday represented by sticky desserts, red and gold decorations, and dragon dances for Chinese Americans. It is a lovely season for family members from all over the world to reunite over a hearty meal, trade ang paos, play traditional Chinese games, and ring in the new In 1931, the San Francisco Chinese Chamber of Commerce organized a Chinese New Year Parade. Leaders realized that Orientalist portrayals of Asian culture would attract business to Chinatown. As a result, the event featured new additions specifically aimed at an outsider audience, such as Chinese American women serving guests as “Chinese maids.” The Lunar New Year feast is one of the highlights, with Chinese families traditionally holding a grand reunion dinner on New Year’s Eve. Similar to turkeys for Thanksgiving in the U.S., certain dishes like fish (symbolizing surplus), rice cakes (symbolizing progress), eight-treasure rice pudding (symbolizing wealth from all directions), and For Chinese people, Lunar New Year is the Spring Festival, Related: 25 Unique Traditions Around the World. 1 of 25. Spain Each summer, From sharing food with family to visiting temples and more, here are common Chinese New Year traditions you need to remember for a prosperous year The new year signifies a year of fresh begi The Year of the Snake begins on Jan. 29. It’s the first time Lunar New Year is a legislatively recognized (though unpaid) holiday in Washington state. Here's what to know about it. Pre-Chinese New Year Preparations and Activities (Jan. 7–Feb. 12, 2025) Jan. 7, 2025: Laba Festival. Some Chinese start to celebrate and prepare for Chinese New Year as early as day 8 of the 12 th month of the lunar calendar. This is a festival called Laba ( 腊八 Làbā /laa-baa/ '12th lunar month' + '8'), in the traditional sense, which Traditions . Aside from New Year’s Eve, there are other important days of the 15-day Chinese New Year Festival, including:. JIE CAI CENG: Welcoming the Gods of Wealth and Prosperity In Chinese culture, showering or bathing on New Year’s Day, particularly during the Lunar New Year, is often avoided. The belief is tied to the idea of washing away good luck, a concept deeply rooted in ancient customs. Conversely, in America, traditions are less tied to superstition and more focused on symbolic new beginnings. Chinese New Year is one of China's traditional festivals with a history of over 1000 years. Throughout its evolution, it has developed many customs. Most of the traditions we see today have been passed down from the past. Read the top 15 Chinese New Year Traditional activities below: Chinese New Year traditions 1. House Cleaning The best Chinese New Year traditions to celebrate the Lunar New Year of the Snake in 2025. Try these good luck traditions of foods, colors and open windows. As an Asian-American, the Chinese Chinese New Year, with its deep-rooted traditions and symbols, is a festival that encapsulates the essence of Chinese culture and its values of family, prosperity, and renewal. As it continues to be celebrated across the globe, it serves as a reminder of the enduring strength and vibrancy of cultural traditions in connecting people and communities. The Chinese New Year is one of the most well-known cultural celebrations of the new year, and it occurs over 15 days between Jan. 21 and Feb. 20 annually, according to Britannica. Unlike the American New Year, the Chinese New Year is celebrated continually for 15 days after New Year’s Day, when the first full moon of the year occurs. In preparation for such an extensive celebration, all houses are cleaned to sweep away bad spirits and decorated to reflect the commemoration of the new year. Babies born on New Year's Day are considered lucky throughout their lives. More New Year's superstitions can be found here, opens a new window. Source: Beliefnet. The Meaning of New Year's Traditions. Lee, Jolie. New Year's Traditions Explained. USA Today.Network. Lunar New Year, also widely regarded as Chinese New Year since the late 19th century when it gained global recognition through Chinese immigrant communities, is a centuries-old tradition rooted in
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