Chinese New Year (Lunar New Year)
The most important festival in Chinese culture, welcoming the new lunar year.
Chinese New Year falls on the first day of the first month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar, a new moon between January 21 and February 20. Celebrations traditionally continue 15 days to the Lantern Festival.
When Is Chinese New Year (Lunar New Year)?
Chinese New Year falls on the first day of the first month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar, a new moon between January 21 and February 20. Celebrations traditionally continue 15 days to the Lantern Festival.
Because the Gregorian date changes from year to year, check a calendar published by the tradition or your local community for this year's date.
Why It Matters
Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) marks the beginning of the Chinese lunar calendar. It is a time to honor ancestors, deities, and family bonds. Taoist temples are visited to pray for blessings in the new year, and fire crackers drive away evil spirits.
How It Is Observed
Temple visits, family reunion dinner on New Year's Eve, red envelopes (hongbao) with money, lion and dragon dances, fireworks, lantern festival, reunion meals, cleaning the house.
Sacred Text
“Return to the root is called stillness. Stillness is called returning to one's destiny. Returning to one's destiny is called the eternal. Knowledge of the eternal is called enlightenment.”
, Tao Te Ching, Chapter 16 ↗