The Chinese New Year season lasts for fifteen days. The first week is the most important and most often celebrated with visits to friends and family as well as greetings of good luck. The celebrations end on the important and colourful Lantern Festival on the evening of the 15th day of the month.

Days before the new year
On the days before the New Year celebration, Chinese families give their home a thorough cleaning. It is believed the cleaning sweeps away bad luck and makes their homes ready for good luck to arrive. All brooms and dust pans are put away on New Year's Eve so that good luck cannot be swept away. Some people give their homes, doors and windowpanes a new coat of red paint.

A reunion dinner is held on New Year's Eve where all the family members get together for celebration. The New Year's Eve dinner is very large and traditionally includes chicken and fish.


First day of the new year
The first day is meant for the welcoming of the gods of the heavens and earth. Many people abstain from meat consumption on the first day because it is believed that this will ensure long and happy lives for them.

New Year's day is also celebrated within the family. The family membersgather on the morning of New Year's Day. In this gathering red envelopes containing currencies are given by senior members of the family, usually married, to the unmarried junior members of the family.


Second day of the new year
Incense is burned at the graves of ancestors as part of the offering and prayer ritual. It is the second day of Chinese New Year for son/daughter-in-laws to visit their parent-in-laws.


Third day and fourth of the new year
The third day of Chinese New Year is not appropriate to visit any relative as it is supposed to bring ill luck. In north China, people eat Jiao zi (dumplings) on the morning of Po Wu.

Fifth day of the new year
The fifth day is called Po Woo. On that day people stay home to welcome the God of Wealth.


Sixth to the fourteenth day
On these days, the Chinese visit their relatives and friends freely. They also visit the temples to pray for good fortune and health.

The seventh day traditionally is known as the common man's birthday, the day when everyone grows one year older. It is also the day when tossed fish salad, yusheng, is eaten for wealth and prosperity.

On the eighth day the Fujian people have another family reunion dinner, and at midnight they pray to Tian Gong, the God of Heaven.

The ninth day of the new year is herald as the New Year of the Hockiens. Come midnight of the eighth day of the new year, the Hockiens will offer thanks giving prayers on a large scale. It is called the Pai Thee Kong

The 10th through the 12th are days for friends and relatives to be invited for dinner. After so much rich food, a spartan meal of rice congee and mustard greens (choi sum) are offered.

The 14th day should be for preparations to celebrate the Lantern Festival which is to be held on the 15th night.


Fifteenth day of the new year

The fifteenth and last day of the new year is the time when an old woman will greet you with a basket of celery. This occurrence is celebrated as Yuánxiāo jié. The Lantern Festival is celebrated on this day.