China Spring Festival 2025

When is it Celebrated?

The Spring Festival falls between January 21 and February 20, based on the lunar calendar. The exact date varies each year, as it aligns with the first new moon of the lunar year. The celebrations last 15 days, ending with the Lantern Festival.

Spring Festival Historical Data (2023 - 2027)

Know about the Complete List of Public Holidays in China this year including National and Regional holidays.

Purpose

This festival symbolizes a fresh start, honoring ancestors, family unity and good fortune. It is a time for banishing bad luck, welcoming prosperity and praying for a prosperous year ahead.

How Is It Celebrated?

Spring Festival is steeped in ancient customs and lasts for two weeks with these key traditions:

• Reunion Dinners – Families gather for a grand feast on New Year's Eve, often featuring dumplings, fish (symbolizing abundance) and sticky rice cakes.
• Red Envelopes (Hóngbāo) – Elders gift money in red envelopes to children and unmarried adults for good fortune.
• Fireworks & Firecrackers – Explosions fill the skies to ward off evil spirits and welcome the new year with loud, dazzling displays.
• Dragon & Lion Dances – Vibrant performances in the streets symbolize strength, wisdom and prosperity.
• Decorating with Red & Gold – Homes, streets and temples are adorned with red lanterns, couplets and paper cuttings, believed to attract luck and ward off bad omens.
• Seven-Day Public Holiday – Many people return to their hometowns, leading to a travel phenomenon known as Chūnyùn (Spring Festival travel rush).

History

The origins of the Spring Festival date back over 4,000 years. According to legend, a mythical beast called Nián would attack villages at the start of the new year. People discovered that loud noises, fire and the color red frightened the creature away, giving rise to traditions like firecrackers and red decorations.

Focus & Activities

• Respecting ancestors with offerings and prayers.
• Family bonding through meals and storytelling.
• Festive entertainment, including opera, markets and parades.

Facts

• The Chūnyùn travel period sees over 3 billion trips, making it the largest human migration worldwide.
• Over 90% of the world's fireworks are set off during this festival.

Modern-Day Celebrations

While traditional customs remain strong, modern Chinese New Year now includes:

• Virtual red envelopes sent via apps like WeChat.
• Spring Festival Gala (CCTV New Year's Eve Show) watched by millions.
• International celebrations in major cities worldwide.

What Do People Do?

Families gather for feasts, watch fireworks, exchange red envelopes and participate in cultural festivities, cherishing joy and renewal as they welcome the new year.