It’s that time of year again. Time to bring out the firecrackers and red envelopes, clean out the house, and reunite with family. That’s right—it’s Chinese New Year!

If you’re not familiar with the Chinese New Year, don’t worry. This introduction to the biggest holiday in Chinese culture will catch you up on all you need to know!

When is it?

The dates of the Chinese New Year are determined by the Chinese lunar calendar, beginning on the last day of the last month of the year, and continuing for 15 days (or until the start of Lantern Festival). This year the New Year began on January 31st as people around the world said goodbye to the Year of the Snake with the ushering in of the Year of the Horse.

Where is it celebrated?

Chinese New Year is celebrated around the world, anywhere that there is a large population of ethnic Chinese.

The Legend

Legend has it that Chinese New Year began as a way to ward off a beast called ‘The Year’. The first day of every New Year, the beast would come to terrorize the villages, eating the town’s livestock, crops, and children. Eventually it was discovered that the beast was scared of the color red and firecrackers. The villagers began using these tools as a way to keep the beast away, and the traditions surrounding Chinese New Year were born!

Celebrating the Holiday

The best part of Chinese New Year is the festivities that surround it. Most families usher in the New Year with the following traditions:

Out with the Old

The days leading up to the New Year are a time to get rid of the old to make room for the good luck of the upcoming year. It’s a bit like spring-cleaning, but often includes getting rid of old furniture or anything that isn’t serving a purpose. As a foreigner living in Taiwan, this was always a great time to take advantage of sales at department stores or pick up a new desk left on the side of the road.

Decorations Galore

Decorations are an important part of Chinese New Year, largely due to the legend that surrounds them. Expect to see a lot of red, particularly red paper lanterns, red Chinese greeting cards wishing wealth and health, and red paper cuttings. It’s also common to see decorative Chinese characters hanging upside down, again to bring good luck.

The New Year’s Eve Dinner

As families reunite to celebrate the holiday together, it’s only natural that there is a lot of cooking and eating going on—especially in a culture where food is so important. But of all the meals, the New Year’s Eve dinner is the most important to the majority of families. If you’re invited to a Chinese dinner, then expect a feast, likely with fish and dumplings (both of which are viewed as ‘prosperous’ foods). 

Fireworks

Fireworks play an important role in the lives of Taiwanese throughout the year; on any given day, it’s not uncommon to see fireworks decorating the sky. But at no time of the year are they as important as during Chinese New Year. Perhaps it stems from the legend. Perhaps it’s because firecrackers are just plain fun. Regardless, the noise, smoke and colors of fireworks and firecrackers are a constant presence during the 15-day holiday. Although firecrackers are actually banned in urban areas in Taiwan, most authorities look the other way during the New Year.

Red Envelopes

Red envelopes are the highlight of the holiday for most children—and even some adults! While physical gifts are increasingly common, most prefer to give and receive red envelopes with crisp cash inside. Parents and elders give these treats to children during Chinese New Year, and they are believed to bring good luck and protect the children throughout the year. Small gifts such as oranges are also common, specifically to anyone you would like to ‘tip’ or show extra gratitude towards.

Despite all the wonderful traditions and festivities surrounding the Chinese New Year, for an expat the holiday can seem calm. That’s because this is a time of year to close down shops and restaurants and spend time with families. If you don’t have a Chinese family to celebrate with, the holiday is a bit quiet—except for the constant reverberation of firecrackers going off! As such, most expats, myself included, choose to use the holiday and time off work as an opportunity to travel. Just remember to book your transportation and accommodation early; similarly to holidays in Western cultures, the New Year is a heavy travel time as families reunite to celebrate.

My experience with Chinese New Year comes from my being an expat in Taiwan—but each family and area has their own unique variations of the holiday. Have you celebrated Chinese New Year before? What would you add to this overview of the holiday?