Spring Festival, the most important holiday for the Chinese, marking the start of the lunar new year, is built on tradition and an array of centuries old customs.

The celebrations begin on new year's eve, which falls on February 17 this year, and continues for two weeks until the Lantern Festival, on the 15th day of the first lunar month, or March 4.

Just as people spend weeks, and sometimes months, preparing for Christmas, the Chinese prepare for this family reunion festival a long time in advance. They hit the shops, clean their homes and stock up on everything from oil and rice to fruit, candies, nuts, new clothes and shoes for the children and gifts for the elderly, friends and relatives.
People decorate their homes to create a festival atmosphere. Two things that should never be forgotten are spring couplets (chunlian) and firecrackers. In a typical Chinese home, you will see all the door panels pasted with spring couplets, Chinese calligraphy on red paper, as well as fireworks in bunches resting in the corner of the room. These are two basic tools required to expel evil, especially the Nian monster.

Chinese use the term guonian (pass the year) to describe their happiness at celebrating the year, as guo means "passing" and "survival". While nian was originally the name of a beast who came to the village to prey on humans on new year's eve.

Legend had it that the Nian had an enormous mouth that can swallow hundreds of people with just one bite. Although a powerful monster, it was afraid of two things the "magic" peach-wood charms hung on the gate of each home and fireworks. When the firecrackers were lit, the monster fled. At new year, people continue to celebrate this auspicious event.
Family members lay on a large spread for the new year banquet. Traditional food is prepared for family and friends. Although food and dishes vary according to where you are in China, dishes such as chicken (ji), fish (yu) and tofu (doufu) are essential elements in any new year feast as, in Chinese, these words sound like auspiciousness (ji), abundance (yu), and rich blessings (duofu).

People in the north of China traditionally eat jiaozi, or dumplings, on new year's eve.
The first five days of the lunar month are considered a good time for relatives and friends to visit each other's homes, exchange greetings, gifts and chat, as well as going out socializing, taking part in fun activities like lion dances, lantern shows and temple fairs.

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