Chinese New Year is the festival that Chinese communities all over the world celebrate at the beginning of the new year. It is also known as Lunar New Year or Chinese Spring Festival.
The dates of the Lunar New Year are determined by the Chinese Lunar Calendar, and it changes every year. It always starts from the new moon. The day of the Lunar New Year is also famous as a new moon day.
Moreover, It comes in between January 21st to February 20th. Lunar New Year is the most important traditional festival in China and other East Asian countries.
Each Lunar year is allied with an animal sign in consonance with the Chinese zodiac cycle. Chinese New Year 2023 is the year of the Rabbit, especially, Water-Rabbit. In Chinese culture, the sign Rabbit is a symbol of peace, prosperity and longevity. Rabbit year is envisioned as a year of hope.
Traditionally the Chinese New Year celebrations last for 16 days, starting from Chinese New Year’s Eve to the Lantern Festival. The first 7 days are a public holiday, from January 21st to January 27th in 2023.
The most notable dates of the Chinese New Year 2023 are these days:
Solar Date (2023) | Title | Activities |
January 14 | Little Year
(小年 Xiǎonián) |
Thorough house-cleaning and cooking |
January 21 | Chinese New Year’s Eve | Visiting ancestors’ graves, enjoying the family reunion dinner, giving red envelopes, staying up until midnight, and setting off firecrackers and fireworks |
January 22 | Chinese New Year’s Day
初一 (Chūyī) |
Visiting/greeting family and relatives, and giving presents |
February 5 | Lantern Festival | Marks the end of the festival. Lanterns, dragon dances… |
Lunar New Year is traditionally a time to honour the ancestors and visit family members.