Things You Didn't Know About Chinese New Year
15-01-2020
1. Chinese New Year is also known as the Spring
Festival
In China, you'll hear it being called chunjie (春节), or the Spring Festival. It's still very wintry, but the holiday marks the end of the coldest days. People welcome spring and what it brings along: planting and harvests, new beginnings and fresh starts.
2. There's no set date for Chinese New Year
According to the Lunar calendar, the Spring Festival is on January 1st and lasts until the 15th (the full moon). Unlike western holidays, such as Thanksgiving or Christmas, when you try to calculate it with the solar (Gregorian) calendar, the date is all over the place.
Chinese New Year ranges from January 21 to February 20. In 2019, it occurs on February 5th. For a full list of dates and events check out our Chinese New Year calendar.
Chinese New Year calendar
Modern Chinese calendars use the Gregorian calendar but include lunar holidays.
The lunar calendar is still really important in China, even though it has officially moved to the Gregorian calendar like the rest of the world. All traditional holidays and days such as the Winter Solstice are celebrated. Some people still calculate their birthdays and ages according to the lunar calendar!
3. The most fireworks are set off in the world that night
As in the myth about Nian, firecrackers are supposed to scare off monsters and bad luck. So people stay up on Chinese New Year's Eve and set off firecrackers at midnight. In the morning, firecrackers are used again to welcome the new year and good luck.
Chinese New Year firecrackers and fireworks
Both firecrackers and fireworks sound throughout the night.
That same night, families also burn fake paper money and printed gold bars in honor of their deceased loved ones. Similar to the Korean Chuseok holiday or the Mexican Day of the Dead traditions, they believe the offerings will bring fortune and good luck to their ancestors in the afterlife.
4. It is the longest Chinese holiday
The Spring Festival is technically 15 days. But celebrations start on New Year's Eve (making it 16 days). You can also say that the holiday season starts in (lunar) December with the Laba Festival (腊八节—là bā jié). That's around 40 days of celebrations!
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We will have CNY holiday from 19th, Jan to 31th, Jan, 2020. And, we will be back to work on 1st, Feb, 2020. Best wishes for all of you!
