Dates and Calendar
Chinese New Year date is different every year. Generally speaking, it distributes between January 21st and February 22nd. Chinese Lunar Calendar is different from the Gregorian calendar, so the New Year dates on the two calendars are different.
According to the Chinese Lunar Calendar, there are big years and small years. In big years, there can be up to 384 days, but in small years, there can be only 355 days. During the big years, the Chinese New Year date moves to late February, but during the small years, it goes back to late January. That is the reason why the date has a range of 32 days. The Lunar Calendar has been running for over 4000 years. After some successive big years, there must be several small years or vice versa, so the New Year date can never go out of the range. The lunar calendar was developed according to the movement of the moon and is closely related to farming activities.
Day-by-Day Guide to New Year
New Year's Eve
Pasting couplets on the doors; have reunion dinner; stay up late or all night to welcome the New Year.
The first day
Welcome the gods of the heavens and earth; Visit families (especially those older than yourself) and friends to pass on New Year's wishes for the forth coming year.
On the second day
Chinese people worship their ancestors as well as tutelary deities of people with the same surname organised into lineage societies in ancestral shrines..
The third and fourth days
Married Women will come back to their parents' home with the husband and children to pay New Year visits and extend New Year greetings
The fifth day
Known as ‘Po Woo'. On the day people stay home to welcome the God of Wealth. No one visits relatives and friends on this day because it will bring both parts bad luck.
On the sixth to the 10th day
Visit relatives and friends freely. People also go to temples to pray for good fortune and health in the coming year. In addition, the seventh day of the New Year is the day for farmers to display their produce. The seventh day is also considered as the birthday of human beings. Noodles are eaten to promote longevity and fish for affluence.
The ninth day
Present the offerings to the Jade Emperor, the God of the Heaven in Chinese legend.
From the 10th to 12th
People usually invite friends and relatives to have dinner at home.
On the 15th day
The Lantern Festival (元宵节) is the last day of the Chinese New Year celebration. This day is for the last moment for setting off fireworks, the last excuse for eating a big feast and the last chance for family getting together before the “年” celebrations are over. People celebrate the Lantern Festival by eating Sweet Dumplings, making and displaying lanterns.