The first day of the Chinese New Year falls on the new moon that appears between 21 January and 20 February.a Chinese New Year dates vary slightly between years, but it usually comes during the period from January 21st to February 20th in Gregorian calendar. The Chinese New Year of 2026 falls on February 17th (Tuesday), and will last to February 21th.
For other countries and regions where the Chinese New Year is celebrated but not as an official holiday, see the table below. In certain countries, a statutory holiday is added on the following workday if the New Year (as a public holiday) falls on a weekend. Chinese New Year is observed as a public holiday in some countries and territories, outside of China, with a sizable Chinese population. The poem Yuan Ri (元日) also includes the word bao zhu (爆竹, «exploding bamboo»), which is believed to be a reference to firecrackers,citation needed instead of the previous tradition of firing bamboo, both of which are called the same in the Chinese language. Amid the sound of firecrackers, a year has come to an end,The spring wind has wafted warm breath to the 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.
South Asia
The Taijitu, the well-known circular symbol commonly referred to as the Yin-Yang symbol – visually represents this philosophy. The temperament traditionally attributed to the Horse – bold, enthusiastic, energetic – aligns naturally with the attributes of Yang Fire. The horse, known for its spiritedness, speed, and strength, was therefore chosen as the emblem of this dynamic temporal phase. The connection between zodiac animals and Earthly Branches reflects the ancient Chinese understanding of natural order. The Horse occupies the seventh position in this sequence and corresponds specifically to the Earthly Branch «Wu,» hence the designation ‘Wu Horse.’ The origins of the Chinese zodiac can be traced to ancient astronomical observation and early forms of animal worship.
- 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.
- Before the new year celebration was established, ancient Chinese gathered and celebrated the end of the harvest in autumn.
- This 40-day period is called chunyun, and is known as the world’s largest annual migration.
- There are so many dishes famous and loved around the world and when it comes to Lunar New Year, a number of them are at the centre of the celebrations.
- Several foods are consumed to usher in wealth, happiness, and good fortune.
- The New Year’s Eve dinner is very large and sumptuous and traditionally includes dishes of meat (namely, pork and chicken) and fish.
- On Chinese New Year day, it is customary for Sino-Mauritians to share niangao with their relatives and friends and to light firecrackers to ward off evil spirits.
To protect themselves, they hung red decorations and lit firecrackers to scare the monster away. One year, the villagers discovered that Nian feared the color red and loud noises. This festival is celebrated worldwide, particularly in Asian countries like China. In 2026, Lunar New Year falls on February 17th, kicking off the 16-day Spring Festival. Celebrated by millions around the world, this is a time for cultural traditions, family reunions, and hopes for good fortune in the coming year.
Why China Highlights
The Lunar New Year in 2026 welcomes the Year of the Horse, according to the Chinese lunar calendar. On this day, people light lanterns to symbolize driving out darkness and bringing hope to the coming year. Called Yuan Xiao Jie in Mandarin Chinese, it’s considered the perfect ending to the weeks-long Lunar New Year preparations and celebrations.
New Year’s Day: Family Visits
Marking the end of winter and the beginning of 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. As an official public holiday, Chinese people can get nine days’ off from work, from February 4th to February 12. As an official public holiday, Chinese people can get nine days’ off from work, February 15th to February 23th.The Chinese New Year of 2027 falls on February 6th (Tuesday), and will last to February 10th. The horse stands as a revered symbol of freedom, vitality, and unbridled ambition. As the calendar follows the moon’s phases, the holiday falls on different dates each year, usually between late January and mid-February. But long before modern calendars standardised dates, societies measured passing months by the moon, tracking its phases to mark time.
Many believe that a big cleanup should take place at home on the 28th day of the last lunar month, which falls on February 15 this year. Every animal in this zodiac system, which is called Sheng Xiao, is believed to have a personality that represents the year and the people born during that year. Some people prepare and enjoy special foods on certain days during the holiday. Since the mid-1990s people in China have been given seven consecutive days off work during the Chinese New Year. During the 15 days of celebration, breaking objects is considered a bad omen, as it is thought to bring bad luck, and gifting or buying new books is discouraged because the word for “book” sounds like “lose” in Chinese. Nevertheless, decorative lights and lanterns were displayed as usual, and Songkhla Province declared the day a public holiday.
Comment une idée a révolutionné la publicité
In ancient Chinese society, it was the only day when young girls were allowed to go out to admire the lanterns and meet boys. It marks the departure of winter and the beginning of the spring season. The highlight of the whole Spring Festival, the Lantern Festival happens on the 15th and final day (March 3 in 2026). Different communities in Asia will serve various “birthday” foods on that day. Day three of the Lunar New Year, which falls on February 19, is named chi kou/cek hau, or red mouth.
- These practices reflect the enduring symbolic association between the horse and swift achievement.
- Every animal in this zodiac system, which is called Sheng Xiao, is believed to have a personality that represents the year and the people born during that year.
- Every year, certain Chinese zodiac signs clash with the stars negatively, so temple visits are considered a good way to resolve those conflicts and bring peace in the coming months.
- Pickles such as Laba garlic, which turns green from vinegar, are made on this day.
- The phrase Guo Nian, meaning “celebrating the new year” in Chinese, evokes warm feelings of family reunions.
- The process of purchasing all Chinese New Year’s goods, including food, wearing, using, pasting (New Year’s red), gifts, etc., is collectively referred to as Spring Festival shopping.
On New Year’s Eve, all family members gather together to enjoy a sumptuous dinner. The process of purchasing all Chinese New Year’s goods, including food, wearing, using, pasting (New Year’s red), gifts, etc., is collectively referred to as Spring Festival shopping. It is the year-end household cleaning, symbolizing the elimination of bad luck of the past year. Later one New Year’s Eve, an elderly beggar came from outside the village and told people the methods to drive away the Nian monster.
As such, the Year of the Horse often becomes a point of dialogue in cross-cultural exchange, illustrating how shared archetypes transcend geographic boundaries. In Greek mythology, Pegasus represents divine inspiration and freedom, while throughout European history the horse has symbolised power, nobility, and movement. Countries shaped by Confucian and East Asian cultural traditions, including South Korea and Vietnam, also observe the lunar New Year cycle. In traditional belief, individuals born in the Year of the Horse are often described as cheerful, energetic, independent, and proactive. Similarly, expressions such as «dragon-horse spirit» evoke boundless vitality, while idioms like «sky-horse soaring across the heavens» metaphorically describe bold imagination and unrestrained aspiration.
Suddenly, the doors and windows were blown open by a strange wind, and even the candlelight was extinguished. The fever would eventually cause the child to have intellectual disabilities. In the mid-2010s, Chinese messaging apps such as WeChat popularized the distribution of red envelopes in a virtual format via mobile payments, usually within group chats.
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. Red envelopes are then kept under the pillow and slept on for seven nights after the Chinese New Year, before opening, because that symbolizes good luck and fortune. Red packets almost always contain money, usually varying from a couple of dollars to several hundred.
Chinese New Year is a national public holiday in many Southeast Asian countries and is considered to be one of the most important holidays of the year. Before 1872, traditional events of the Japanese New Year were celebrated on the first day of the year of the modern Tenpō calendar, the last official 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 by Ringospin Casino the Korean diaspora all around the world. Since people needed to work on Chinese New Year’s Eve, they would not need holidays during the Spring Festival.
The fifth day of the new year is dedicated to welcoming Cai Shen, the God of Wealth. When visiting, it’s customary to bring gifts, such as fruits or beverages, and exchange greetings like Gong Xi Fa Cai (wishing you prosperity) and Guo Nian Hao (happy new year). In the past, the gesture behind the red pockets was more important than the amount of money inside. A key part of this tradition is the exchange of Hong Bao (red envelopes), which carry good wishes.