New Year celebrations is a grand event of China. New Year festivities lasts for one month in China. Chinese New Year is also called Spring festival. It begins from the middle of the last month of the year and ends up in the first month of the new year. These last day celebrations in China is called Lantern Festival.
 
History of Chinese New Year 追溯历史：名叫“年”的怪兽
Chinese New Year has a very interesting and unique history. According to the Chinese legends, there was a giant beast Nian who used to swallow humans in a single bite. Relief from the horrifying beast came only when people realized that Nian was scared of red color and loud noises. They started bursting crackers and used red color to scare the beast. Since then, this day was named as GuNian meaning "Pass over the Nian". Chinese considered the day an auspicious one as it brought new life for them and celebrated it as a New Year.
 
Chinese New Year Dates 农历新年，年年不同
Chinese New Year falls on a different date every year. Chinese calendar is a combination of solar and lunar calendar. Chinese New Year falls on second new moon after the winter solstice（冬至）. Chinese calendar has a 12 year cycle and each year is named after animal. Chinese believe that every person resembles an animal and this reflects their traits. Year 2006 was the Year of the Dog. People born on this date are said to be very loyal and trustworthy.
 
Chinese New Year Celebrations 新年找乐，日日不同
Lot of excitement can be seen in the last 15 days of New Year celebrations. Every day has a special importance to it. Chinese ritualize and celebrate each day in a customary manner. Given below are the line wise celebrations of the New Year in China:
 
年初一：祭拜天地
Day 1: People began their day by offering prayers and welcome the gods of heaven and earth. Most of the people stay away from meat to ensure healthy living.
 
年初二：狗狗过生日
Day 2: Successively, prayers are offer to their ancestors and other gods. Chinese are strict care-taker of dogs and feed them well. This is day is considered to be the birthday of all dogs.
 
初三初四：走亲访友，媳妇回娘家
Day 3 and 4: These are very important days for the families to keep up their relations. It calls for every son-in-law to pay respect to their parents-in-law.
 
年初五：“破五”祭财神
Day 5: According to the traditions, nobody visits friends and relatives houses as it would bring bad omen. They stay back home to worship the God of wealth. The day is called Po Woo.
 
年初六：百无禁忌，出门活动筋骨
Day 6: On this day, people freely meet their near and dear ones and even visit nearby temples to pray for their well being and high spirits.
 
年初七：吃面条，祝长寿
Day 7: This is Chinese farmers' day. They display their backbreaking produce. They also prepare a drink from seven different types of vegetables. On this day, everybody eats noodles which is a symbol of long life and fish representing success.
 
年初八：凌晨拜天公
Day 8: It's an other day to be celebrated with the family and friends. They also offer midnight prayers to Tian Gong, the God of Heaven.
 
年初九：玉皇大帝登场
Day 9: Prayers are offered to Jade Emperor.
 
初十、十一、十二、十三：大吃大喝，最后记得回归清淡
Days 10 to 13: From 10 to 12, people celebrate the days by having sumptuous dinner with the loved ones and the 13th day is left for a very light dinner to cleanse the system.
 
年十四：准备闹元宵
Day 14: People start preparing for the celebration of Lantern Festival to be held on next day.
 
年十五：吃元宵看灯火
Day 15: Since it is the first night to see full moon, people hang out colorful lanterns, eat glutinous rice balls and enjoy the day with their families.
 
【基本词汇与短语】：
春节The Spring Festival
农历lunar calendar
正月lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
除夕New Year‘s Eve; eve of lunar New Year
初一the beginning of New Year
元宵节The Lantern Festival
【风俗Customs】：
过年Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
对联poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
春联Spring Festival couplets
剪纸paper-cuts
买年货special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
年画New Year paintings
敬酒propose a toast
灯笼lantern: a portable light
烟花fireworks
爆竹firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
红包red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
舞狮lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
舞龙dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
戏曲traditional opera
杂耍variety show; vaudeville
灯谜riddles written on lanterns
灯会exhibit of lanterns
守岁staying-up
禁忌taboo
拜年pay New Year‘s call; give New Year‘s greetings; New Year‘s visit
去晦气get rid of the ill- fortune
祭祖宗offer sacrifices to one‘s ancestors
压岁钱gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
【Culture Note】：Inthe old days, New Year‘s money was given in the form of one hundredcopper coins strung together on a red string and symbolized the hopethat one would live to be a hundred years old. Today, money is placedinside red envelopes in denominations considered auspicious and givento represent luck and wealth
辞旧岁bid farewell to the old year
扫房spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
【食物名称Food names】：
年糕Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
团圆饭family reunion dinner
年夜饭the dinner on New Year‘s Eve
饺子Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
八宝饭eight treasures rice pudding
汤圆Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
糖果盘candy tray:
什锦糖assorted candies - sweet and fortune
蜜冬瓜candied winter melon - growth and good health
西瓜子red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
金桔cumquat - prosperity
红枣red dates - prosperity
糖莲子candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
糖藕candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
花生糖peanut candy - sweet
【祝福Blessing】:
Treasures fill the home 财源广进
Business flourishes 事业兴隆
Peace all year round 岁岁平安
Wishing you prosperity 恭喜发财
Harmony brings wealth 家和万事兴
May all your wishes come true 心想事成
Everything goes well 万事如意
The country flourishes and people live in peace 国家富强、人民安康
Money and treasures will be plentiful 财源茂盛
Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position 事业有成、更上一层楼、蒸蒸日上
Safe trip wherever you go 一帆风顺
Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 祝你新的一年快乐幸福
Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 事业成功，家庭美满（阖家欢乐）