Spring Festival, widely known as Chinese New Year in the west, is the most important traditional festival and a public holiday in China. The 2011 Chinese New Year starts in February 3. It is the year of rabbit. The festival falls on the first day of the first lunar month (usually in late January and early February), and ends with Lantern Festival which is on the 15th day.
The festival is celebrated grandly and extensively across the country. Various cultural activities such as Fireworks Dragon Dancing, Lion Dancing and other traditional performances, are arranged in parks and streets in cities and towns. Every family thoroughly cleans the house, sweeps the floors and washes daily things. House cleaning is believed to drive away ill-fortune and bring good luck in the coming year. Windows and doors are decorated with red paper-cuts and couplets. See New Year decorations.
Chinese New Year is a time for families to be together. A reunion dinner is held on New Year's Eve, when New Year food including Chinese dumplings and spring rolls is eaten.
From the first day of the New Year to the 15th day, Chinese people go to visit friends and relatives. New year greetings are given to each other, and lucky money is given to children to bring them good luck.
The new year period is the busiest travel time. If you choose to travel during this period, you need to make full preparations and have your trip arranged as early as possible.
