The Spring Festival, also known as the Lunar New Year, is the most important traditional festival in China, which takes place in late January or early February. The historical reason for beginning the year during cold weather is that it is a time between the "autumn harvest and winter storage" and "Spring plowing and summer weeding." In other words, this is a time between the "autumn harvest and winter storage "and "spring plowing and summer weeding" In other words, this is the time for rest and relaxation after a year's toil, and for celebration as well.

In addition to the practical reasons of having the Spring Festival during the cold months ,Chinese lore offers another explanation. According to Chinese legends, a demon called Nian world torment people once a year during the winter. The people gathered to discuss how to deal with Nian. Some people suggested that the demon was afraid of the color red, and of flames and loud noise. So they put red couplets on their gates, set off firecrackers and beat gongs and drums to drive Nian away. Their ideas worked and Nian fled. Thus, the customs of celebrating the Spring Festival were born and passed down.

During the month of January or February, Chinese families clean their homes, set off firecrackers, post pictures of the Door God and couplets on their gates. On the eve of the Spring Festival, it is a folk custom to stay up late or all night to pray for peace and prosperity in the coming year. The new year is ushered in at midnight. A get-together banquet is usually a must for every Chinese family. The most popular food enjoyed by both the rich and poor is jiaozi, or dumplings, which is supposed to bring good fortune.

On the first day of the new year, everybody wears new clothes and greets relatives and friends with bows and¡¡gongxi(congratulations)
wishing each other the best during the new year.

In recent years, the Spring Festival has become a public holiday. People usually have several free days for attending family dinners, traveling, going to the movies or concerts or just watching television.

The Lantern Festival

The fifteenth day of the first lunar month is also an important traditional festival in china where various types of lanterns are exhibited. The lantern exhibition is a custom that has persisted throughout history. In recent years, the increase in living standards has led to various lantern exhibitions all over the country. Such festivals are colorful and present picture perfect scenes with the bright moon shining down on hundreds of colorful lanterns. In addition to lantern exhibitions. the Lantern Festival includes plays, firework displays, acrobatics and dances, which are all part of the celebration.

Traditionally, every family eats yuanxiao on the night of the Lantern Festival. Yuanxiao, a symbol of family unity, affection and happiness, is a glutinous, rice-fluyr dough stuffed with sweet stuffings such as sugar and bian paste. Often, the Lantern Festival is also called the Yuanxiao Festival.