Lunar New Year names a group of celebrations, not one uniform holiday. This guide focuses on Chinese Spring Festival traditions while recognizing that Korean Seollal, Vietnamese Tết, and other observances have their own names and practices. A family’s celebration is the best starting point for understanding its customs.
A calendar tied to moon and seasons
The Chinese calendar is lunisolar: it relates months to the moon while keeping the year connected to the solar seasons. This is why the festival moves on the Gregorian calendar rather than falling on January 1.
In the Chinese festival cycle, New Year’s Eve leads into celebrations traditionally continuing to the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first month. This cultural span does not mean everyone has fifteen days away from work or follows the same daily schedule.
Reunion takes different forms
A reunion meal and visits to relatives make the holiday a time for renewing relationships. The dishes, rituals, and people at the table differ. Some families make offerings to ancestors; others mark the occasion primarily through a meal and greetings.
In a Smithsonian personal essay, Wendy Wang describes celebrations changing as her family moved from Taipei to the United States. Her mother’s hot pot became one way to keep the holiday present. A changed menu can carry continuity rather than signal its loss.
Joining a celebration
If invited, ask your host what would be useful to bring and which greetings their family uses. Follow their lead on food, gifts, and any religious observance. Public celebrations can be a welcoming first encounter, while a family gathering may have its own expectations.
Avoid making one custom a test of whether someone celebrates correctly. Work, distance, religion, and personal preference all affect participation. Curiosity about what the occasion means to your host will usually tell you more than a checklist.
Sources & further reading
- Through the SeasonsSmithsonian Folklife Festival
- Spring Festival, Lunar New YearSmithsonian National Museum of Asian Art
- Lunar New Year: Then and Now, by Wendy WangSmithsonian National Museum of Asian Art