Chinese New Year is the Chinese version of Christmas and Western New Year's celebrations, but many Chinese get in the holiday spirit during Western New Year's. New Year's Day is an official holiday in China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan with many businesses and schools closed on New Year's Day.
Western New Year's holiday (Jan. 1) is celebrated differently than the Chinese New Year's holiday. While Chinese New Year’s Eve is held several weeks after Western New Year's Eve, revelers can enjoy a Chinese-style Dec. 31 by enjoying some traditional Chinese New Year's Eve activities.
New Year Cleaning
On the days before the New Year, Chinese families give their houses a thorough cleaning. But traditionally, this practice is done on New Year Eve. The dust and dirt are traditionally associated with "old" in Chinese culture, so cleaning the houses and sweeping the dust mean to bid farewell to the past new and usher in the new year.
Watching CCTV New Year Gala
The annual CCTV New Year Gala begins at 8:00 and lasts for 4 hours to the beginning of the New Year.
Shousui-Staying up late
Shousui means to stay up late or all night on New Year's Eve. After the New Year's Feast, families sit together and watch CCTV New Year Gala to wait for the New Year's arrival.
Play Mahjong:
Mahjong (麻將, má jiàng) is a fast-paced, four-player game played throughout the year but particularly during Chinese New Year. Learn all about mahjong and how to play.
Launch Fireworks
Fireworks of all shapes and sizes are launched at midnight and throughout New Year’s Day. Firecrackers with red paper are the most popular. The fireworks tradition began with the legend of Nian, a ferocious monster that was afraid of the color red and loud noises. It is believed the noisy fireworks scared the monster. Now, it is believed the more fireworks and noise there are, the more luck there will be in the New Year.
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