Chinese New Year's Eve, the last evening of the Chinese lunar year, carries rich traditional customs and profound cultural significance. On this day, regardless of the distance, people will make every effort to return home and reunite with their families to celebrate the festival together. In 2025, Chinese New Year's Eve falls on January 28 in the Gregorian calendar.
Family members participate in a thorough cleaning on Chinese New Year's Eve, symbolizing the removal of bad luck and misfortune from the past year, making way for a fresh start in the new year. Afterward, the family prepares a lavish reunion dinner, which typically includes dishes such as fish (symbolizing abundance and prosperity) and jiaozi (dumplings, shaped like ingots, representing wealth and good fortune). Younger family members offer New Year's greetings to the elders, who in turn give red envelopes to the younger ones, symbolizing their blessings for a safe, healthy, and prosperous year ahead.
As the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve, the sound of fireworks and firecrackers fills the air, and fireworks light up the night sky, marking the arrival of the New Year. People believe that wishes made at this moment are most likely to come true. Over time, some traditional customs may vary or be simplified in different regions, but the core spirit of family reunion and bidding farewell to the old year remains unchanged. It is not only an important festival for the Chinese people but also a cultural bond shared by Chinese communities around the world.
(By Yang Jiming/ Qi Qian)
