Lunar New Year, also known as the Chinese New Year, is a special time when people celebrate the beginning of a new lunar calendar year. In 2025, the festival will start on February 17th and last for 15 days, each with its own traditions and celebrations. It’s a festival filled with family gatherings, delicious food, and exciting cultural activities. In this guide, we’ll take you through each day of the Lunar New Year celebrations so that you can enjoy all the fun and learn about the customs that make this festival so special.
Day 1: Welcoming the New Year
The first day of Lunar New Year marks the official start of the festival. On this day, families clean their homes to sweep away bad luck and make room for good fortune. People often wear new clothes, usually in red, as it symbolizes good luck and happiness. Fireworks and firecrackers are set off to scare away evil spirits and bring in a prosperous year.
Day 2: Honoring Married Daughters
On the second day, married daughters visit their parents’ homes with their husbands and children. It’s a time for family reunions and showing respect to parents and elders. This day is often filled with laughter, joy, and lots of delicious food.
Day 3: The Day for Friends and Extended Family
The third day is for socializing with friends and extended family members. People often go out to visit their relatives and close friends, exchanging gifts, and wishing each other prosperity and good health. This is a more relaxed day compared to the earlier ones.
Day 4: Welcoming the God of Wealth
Day four is dedicated to the God of Wealth. Families will set up offerings to invite the god’s blessings for a prosperous year ahead. Many businesses also reopen on this day after the holiday break, with prayers for financial success.
Day 5: The Beginning of the Business Year
Day five marks the start of the business year for many. People visit shops, restaurants, and businesses to offer good wishes for success. In some regions, it’s a tradition to eat dumplings on this day, symbolizing wealth and prosperity.
Day 6: Visiting Friends and Relatives
On day six, people continue to visit friends and relatives, giving gifts, and enjoying time together. It’s also common for people to make offerings to ancestors and visit the graves of loved ones to pay respects.
Day 7: The Day for Everyone’s Birthday
The seventh day of Lunar New Year is known as Renri, the “Birthday of Everyone.” It’s believed that everyone is born on this day, regardless of their actual birth date. People celebrate by eating foods like fish and noodles for long life, and this day is often filled with fun activities and gatherings.
Day 8: Reuniting with Ancestors
On day eight, families come together to honor their ancestors and pay respects. Many will offer prayers and food at family shrines or visit the graves of their ancestors. It’s a meaningful day for families to reflect on their heritage.
Day 9: Celebrating the Jade Emperor’s Birthday
The ninth day is dedicated to the birthday of the Jade Emperor, the ruler of Heaven in Chinese mythology. People celebrate with prayers and offerings to the Jade Emperor, asking for blessings in the new year.
Day 10-12: Festive Meals and More Family Time
From day 10 to day 12, families continue their celebrations with festive meals, games, and family gatherings. It’s also a time for people to relax and enjoy each other’s company after the busyness of the first few days. Many will cook dishes like fish, chicken, and rice, all of which symbolize different aspects of prosperity and good luck.
Day 13: The Day for Vegetarian Foods
Day 13 is traditionally a day for eating vegetarian meals. People eat dishes like vegetable stir-fries, dumplings, and steamed buns as a way to cleanse the body and prepare for the final days of the festival.
Day 14: Preparing for Lantern Festival
The 14th day is the time to prepare for the Lantern Festival, which marks the end of Lunar New Year celebrations. People start making or buying lanterns to display on the 15th day. It’s a fun and colorful day where families enjoy preparing for the final grand celebration.
Day 15: Lantern Festival
The 15th and final day of the festival is the Lantern Festival. On this night, lanterns are displayed, and people participate in lantern parades, enjoy traditional lion dances, and eat sweet glutinous rice balls known as tangyuan. These rice balls symbolize family unity and happiness. The Lantern Festival is a lively, colorful event that ends the 15-day celebration with joy and excitement.
Conclusion
The Lunar New Year is not just about the festivities; it’s a time for families to come together, reflect on the past year, and express gratitude for the blessings they’ve received. From the start of the new year to the colorful Lantern Festival, each day offers something unique and special to celebrate. Whether you’re honoring traditions or simply enjoying the time spent with loved ones, the 15 days of Lunar New Year remind us all of the importance of family, respect, and hope for a bright future ahead.
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