The Chinese New Year falls on the first day of the first month of the Lunar Calendar, which means it falls on a different date every year in January or February of the Western calendar. In 2006, it falls on January 29th.

The New Year, China’s most important holiday, starts on the first day of the new year and ends with the Yuen Xiao Festival (Lantern Festival) on the fifteenth day of the month. Families gather on New Year’s Eve for a family dinner known as Tuan Nien, or “family reunion.” It is such an important occasion for families that even departed family members travel back home for the celebration. Huge feasts are prepared to bring abundance in the coming year. These usually include a dish of “jai” (with different kinds of vegetables or produce), The jai dish may include lotus seeds (which symbolize having many children), ginkgo nut (silver ingots) and black moss seaweed (for wealth), dried bean curd (for wealth and happiness), and bamboo shoots (for all to be well). Other dishes include a whole fish (which represents abundance), a whole chicken with its head, tail, and feet to symbolize completeness (for prosperity), and uncut noodles (to symbolize long life). At midnight, firecrackers are lit to drive away evil spirits.

It is tradition for the house to be thoroughly cleaned before New Year’s Day. Also before the family reunion dinner on New Year’s Eve, members of the family pay respects to their ancestors by placing incense and fresh flowers on the altar.

Chinese New Year décor symbolizes a year of prosperity.  It includes cut flowers, and live potted plants, among which Ji, the tangerine, is the most popular because it symbolizes “good luck”.  Floral arrangements would include peach flowers, Narcissus and chrysanthemums, which generally can be found in almost every Chinese household. Fei Chun (or Chun Lian in Northern China), are red banners with words of fortunes and are hung on the walls and doors.

Chinese New Year is a time to visit friends and relatives. It is especially important for the younger generations to visit the elders in the extended family.  It is a traditional custom to bring a bag of oranges, cakes or candies as a symbol of good will and abundant happiness.

When you arrive, you may find a Chuan He (Full Box), a circular candy tray filled with a dazzling array of treats to start the New Year sweetly. Adults would give lai see (or hong bao in Mandarin, meaning red envelope) to the children and the youth within the family.