What is the tradition of Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year, also called the Spring Festival, is the most important traditional holiday in China, and its customs reflect thousands of years of family values, folklore, and hopes for good fortune. For our international friends and business partners, understanding these traditions offers a window into Chinese culture and explains why the holiday is so central to life in China.
The Spring Festival follows the lunar calendar and usually falls between late January and mid-February. Preparation begins weeks in advance: families clean their homes thoroughly to sweep away bad luck, decorate doors with red couplets and paper cuttings, buy new clothes, and stock up on festive foods. The color red dominates because, according to legend, it frightens away the monster Nian, and red is also the color of happiness and good fortune.
New Year's Eve is the heart of the celebration. Family members travel from far away to reunite, often making this the largest human migration on earth, and together they enjoy a lavish dinner featuring dishes with symbolic meanings: fish for abundance, dumplings for wealth, and glutinous rice cakes for rising success. After dinner, families stay up late watching the Spring Festival Gala on television, and at midnight, fireworks and firecrackers explode across the country to welcome the new year.
During the following days, people visit relatives and friends to exchange greetings of health and prosperity. Children receive red envelopes, or hongbao, containing money, which are believed to bring good luck. Elders give advice and blessings, and the festive atmosphere continues with dragon dances, temple fairs, and performances that vary from region to region.
For businesses, the Spring Festival is also a time of planning and renewal. Factories close for about one to two weeks while workers travel home, and production schedules are arranged around the holiday. At Hongmioo, we inform our customers of our holiday schedule well in advance and plan our production to minimize any impact on delivery times. We wish all our partners around the world a happy and prosperous new year.
