Chinese new year holiday 2018
Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is a significant traditional holiday in China and other countries with Chinese populations. In 2018, Chinese New Year fell on:
- January 28, 2018 (Saturday)
- February 15, 2018 (Wednesday) - Lantern Festival (the 15th day of the Chinese New Year)
Here are some key dates and events related to Chinese New Year 2018:
- January 28, 2018: Chinese New Year's Eve (除夕, chūxī)
- January 29, 2018: Chinese New Year's Day (元旦, yuándàn)
- January 30, 2018 - February 15, 2018: Chinese New Year's holiday (春节假期, chūn jié jià qī)
- February 15, 2018: Lantern Festival (元宵节, yuán xiāo jié)
During the Chinese New Year holiday, many businesses, schools, and government offices in China and other countries with Chinese populations are closed for several days. The holiday is a time for family reunions, traditional foods, and cultural celebrations.
Some popular Chinese New Year traditions include:
- Cleaning the house to sweep away bad luck
- Wearing new clothes and giving red envelopes with money to children and elders
- Eating traditional foods such as dumplings, fish, and niangao (sticky rice cake)
- Watching traditional lion and dragon dances
- Setting off firecrackers to scare away evil spirits
- Visiting family and friends
- Exchanging gifts and red envelopes
The Chinese New Year is also a time for predictions and auspicious beginnings. The zodiac animal for 2018 is the Dog, and the element is Fire.