Chinese New Year-Spring Festival The Year of Dog

CHINESE NEW YEAR-SPRING FESTIVAL

2018 Chinese New Year falls on Feb. 16. It is the Year of the Dog according to Chinese zodiac. It is a great chance to experience the folk customs!

Chinese New Year, also called Spring Festival, has more than 4,000 years of history. It is the grandest and the most important annual event for Chinese people.

Time for Family Reunion

Being one of the traditional festivals, it is the time for the whole families to reunite together, which is similar with Christmas Day to the westerners.

The Longest Public Holiday

Most employees in China have at least seven days off work, including three days' legal holiday, while students take one month absence from school. The celebration lasts for 15 days from the 1st to 15th day of the first lunar month, and in folklore it starts even earlier, from the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month.

Holiday Origins from Monster Nian

Originating during the Shang Dynasty (17th - 11th century BC), the festival used to be observed to fight against the monster "Nian" who liked to eat children and livestock. The monster was afraid of red color and loud sound. Therefore, people decorated their houses in red and set off firecrackers to expel it.