Spring Festival Golden Week, often coinciding with the Chinese New Year and taking place between late January to mid-February, is celebrated from January 28 to February 3 this year. The celebrations go on till the Lantern Festival, which is on the 15th day of the New Year.
The Spring Festival is an important part of Chinese culture and one of the largest celebrations among the Chinese people, no matter where they are. The festival has a lot of focus on activities that bring luck, to make sure everyone celebrating has a great new year.
History of Spring Festival Golden Week holiday
Spring Festival Golden Week Holiday, also known as the Chinese New Year, Spring Festival, or the Lunar New Year, refers to the weeks of celebration around the new year and the arrival of Spring. The festival is one of the most important festivals on the Chinese calendar, and the celebrations have influenced similar celebrations in countries around China as well.
Like a lot of Spring Festivals in the region, the Chinese New Year is also a time for family and ancestor worship, as well as honoring and praying to important deities. People clean their homes in preparation, to sweep away the bad luck from the previous year and make room for better luck in the New Year.
The Chinese New Year is supposed to have originated under Emperor Yao, one of the legendary Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. The day he took the throne was marked to be the beginning of the year, and people have celebrated it ever since.
A popular folktale about the Chinese New Year and its celebrations is the tale of the beast called ‘Nian,’ sometimes known as ‘Xi.’ The beast was supposed to be a terrifying creature that would eat people, especially children. As the people of the villages went to hide, an old man reassured them that he would take revenge.
The old man set up red paper and firecrackers, which scared Nian. So when the villagers returned from hiding, they saw that nothing had been destroyed. Ever since, people have worn red near New Year’s Day and set off crackers to keep Nian away.
Spring Festival Golden Week holiday timeline
The inauguration day of the Emperor is marked as the beginning of a New Year, and people have celebrated it ever since.
Records between 202 B.C. and 220 A.D. describe how people celebrate the New Year, in ways remarkably similar to modern celebrations.
During the Tang dynasty, people send their good wishes through New Year’s cards.
The tradition of giving children money during the celebrations is established during the Qing dynasty.
Spring Festival Golden Week holiday FAQs
How long does the Chinese Spring Festival last?
The Spring Festival starts a few days before New Year’s Day and goes on for about 15 days after the New Year has begun.
What do you eat during Chinese New Year?
Some traditional foods are rice cakes, dumplings, whole fish, rice balls, and longevity noodles.
What color should you avoid?
Black is strictly avoided during the Chinese New Year, and people wear mostly red for good luck.
Spring Festival Golden Week holiday Activities
Find a celebration in your area
Head over to the nearest Chinatown and immerse yourself in the decorations, food, and general festivities around you. Make sure you wear red!
Clean up your house
Cleaning your home of any lingering bad luck from the previous year is a great way to make sure you’re all set for the new year and all the good luck it can bring! What are you waiting for? Get sweeping!
Visit a temple the night before
Light some incense and pray for the good wishes of the deities for the upcoming year. With that, you would have the assurance of a good year.
5 Incredible Facts About Spring Festival Golden Week Holiday
Dumplings and cakes are good luck
In North China, people eat dumplings because they symbolize wealth, and in South China, people make cakes and send pieces to friends and family for a prosperous year.
The first day is for deities
Chinese people first welcome the deities, then honor their immediate family members, especially the elders of the family.
Children are given red envelopes containing money
Married people give children money as blessings to protect them from the challenges of the coming year.
The second day is a deity’s birthday
People go to the deity Che Kung’s temples to pray, especially in Hong Kong, where the deity has the most worshippers.
The last day is another festival
The last festival is celebrated on the 15th and last day of the Chinese New Year.
Why We Love Spring Festival Golden Week holiday
It’s the biggest Chinese celebration
We want to honor and celebrate Chinese culture by joining in with the festivities and participating in all the events. Why not join in on the fun this year?
We want a great New Year
The golden weeks of holidays are phenomenal and the celebrations last for two weeks. There’s no better way to celebrate New Year than the Chinese way!
We love fireworks
The Chinese New Year has an incredible fireworks show. We love any excuse to set off colorful fireworks!
Spring Festival Golden Week holiday dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | January 31 | Monday |
| 2023 | January 21 | Saturday |
| 2024 | February 11 | Sunday |
| 2025 | January 28 | Tuesday |
| 2026 | January 15 | Thursday |
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