Humanities › History & Culture A Guide to Celebrating Chinese New Year Learn the Customs and Traditions to Prepare for and Celebrate Chinese New Year Share Flipboard Email Print History & Culture Asian History East Asia Basics Figures & Events Southeast Asia South Asia Middle East Central Asia Asian Wars and Battles American History African American History African History Ancient History and Culture European History Genealogy Inventions Latin American History Medieval & Renaissance History Military History The 20th Century Women's History View More By Lauren Mack Journalist M.S., Journalism, Columbia University B.A., Humanities, Florida Atlantic University Lauren Mack is a journalist who covers Chinese culture and history. She studied Mandarin Chinese in Beijing and Taipei and has written for Newsweek International, Elle Girl, and the Chicago Tribune. our editorial process Lauren Mack Updated October 20, 2018 Chinese New Year is the most important and, at 15 days, the longest holiday in China. Chinese New Year begins on the first day of the lunar calendar, so it is also called Lunar New Year, and it is considered the beginning of spring, so it is also called Spring Festival. Learn the traditions and customs of Chinese New Year and how to prepare for and celebrate Chinese New Year. The Basics of Chinese New Year Andrew Burton/Getty Images News/Getty Images Learn how Chinese New Year celebrations came about and how they have evolved over time. Origins of Chinese New YearHistory of Chinese New Year There's a famous story about a people-eating monster called 'Nian.' The Chinese for New Year, 過年 (guònián) comes from this story. Important Dates of Chinese New Year Getty Images/Sally Anscombe Chinese New Year is held on different dates each year. The dates are based on the lunar calendar. Each year has its own corresponding animal from the Chinese Zodiac, a cycle of 12 animals. Learn how the Chinese zodiac works. How to Prepare for Chinese New Year Getty Images/BJI/Blue Jean Images Most families begin preparing a month or more in advance for Chinese New Year. Here's a guide to what needs to get done before Chinese New Year: Chinese New Year Clothing: Chinese Qipao and the tradition of red underwearChinese New Year Gift-Giving Etiquette How to Celebrate Chinese New Year Getty Images/Daniel Osterkamp Chinese New Year includes two weeks of celebration with most activities taking place the day before (New Year's Eve), the first day (New Year's Day) and the last day (Lantern Festival). Here's how to celebrate. Superstitions: ThingsCelebrate New Year's EveCelebrate New Year's DayCelebrating Days 2-13Celebrate the Lantern Festival Lantern Festival Lantern Colors and MeaningsWhat to Write on Your Lantern Chinese New Year Celebrations in China and Around the World China Town, San Francisco, USA. Getty Images/WIN-Initiative Chinese New Year: Hong KongChinese New Year: MacauChinese New Year: Shanghai Chinese New Year Around the World Chinese New Year: New York CityChinese New Year: San FranciscoChinese New Year: Los AngelesChinese New Year: Washington, DCChinese New Year: United KingdomChinese New Year: Paris Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Mack, Lauren. "A Guide to Celebrating Chinese New Year." ThoughtCo, Aug. 27, 2020, thoughtco.com/chinese-new-year-guide-687556. Mack, Lauren. (2020, August 27). A Guide to Celebrating Chinese New Year. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/chinese-new-year-guide-687556 Mack, Lauren. "A Guide to Celebrating Chinese New Year." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/chinese-new-year-guide-687556 (accessed January 27, 2021). copy citation