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The Lunar New Year is an event celebrated by billions of people across the world on the first new moon of their calendar. Although often referred to as "Lunar New Year" in English, this is a misnomer, as it refers to both celebrations based on a lunar calendar as well as a lunisolar calendar. Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival, is the most important among the traditional Chinese festivals. The origin of the Chinese New Year Festival can be traced back to about 3,500 years ago . The origins of the Lunar New Year festival are thousands of years old and are steeped in legends. One legend is that of Nian, a hideous beast believed to feast on human flesh on New Year’s day. Because Nian feared the colour red, loud noises, and fire, red paper decorations were pasted to doors, lanterns were burned all night, and Lunar New Year is one of the most important celebrations of the year among East and Southeast Asian cultures, including Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean communities, among others. The New Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, is China’s most important festival. It is also the most important celebration for families and includes a week of official public holiday. The history of the Chinese New Year festival can be traced back to about 3,500 years ago. Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, is the most important and widely celebrated holiday in China and many other Asian countries. Its origins stretch back over 3,500 years, with traditions evolving and changing over centuries and millennia. Chinese New Year, also referred to as the Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival, is one of the most important traditional Chinese festivals and began around 3,500 years ago. This festivity is tied to the Chinese lunar calendar, and it originated as a time for feasting and to honor household and heavenly deities and ancestors. Its traditional Chinese celebrations last for 16 days, from Lunar New Year's Eve to the Lantern Festival. In 2025, Lunar New Year will fall on Wednesday, January 29th and start a year of the Dragon. The Origin of Lunar New Year. Lunar New Year has enjoyed a history of about 3,500 years. A very old legend about Lunar New Year is still popular This Chinese legend explains the origin of the Lunar New Year, one of the most important holidays in many Asian countries and the Asian diaspora. The monster, Nian, shares its name with the Chinese word for “year.” When the newly founded Republic of China officially adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1912, its leaders rebranded the observation of the Lunar New Year as Spring Festival, as it is known in The origin and traditions of the Lunar New Year, explained The Lunar New Year is one of the most important holidays in many Asian countries and the Asian diaspora. (more) See all videos for this article The history of Chinese New Year can be dated back to 3,800 years ago. Its origin was the worshiping activities for harvest in Shang Dynasty (17th century -1046 BC). For example, in 2013, New Year's Eve (9 February) fell on a Saturday and New Year's Day (10 February) on Sunday. The holiday may be referred to by different names depending on the country; common English terms include "Chinese New Year," "Lunar New Year," "New Year Festival," and "Spring Festival." Chinese New Year has a far-reaching history of over 3,800 years. The origin of the festival can be traced back to the worshiping activities in China’s ancient agrarian society. The date for the ceremony wasn’t fixed till the Han Dynasty (202 BC - 220 AD), when Emperor Wudi commanded to use the lunar calendar. The Tang Dynasty period (618-907 AD) allows a change of paradigm in the Spring Festival celebration and the main function of the festival has also shifted.The festival was no longer perceived as a sacred ritual for the gods—which was the norm established for thousands of years—, and now the New Year was celebrated mainly as entertainment for both nobles and commoners. It is not only celebrate in China. Vietnam, Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore also practice the Lunar New Year holiday. The two-week celebration includes family and friends, feasting and fireworks, parties and parades. For more than 3,000 years, Lunar New Year was just what it sounds like—the beginning of a new year in the Chinese calendar. Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival and the Lunar New Year, is an annual 15-day festival celebrated in China, East and Southeast Asia and by Chinese communities around the world. Known for its bright colours, music, gift-giving, socialising and festivities, Chinese New Year is a widely-enjoyed staple event in the Chinese calendar. What is Lunar New Year? Lunar New Year is the observance of the start of a new year in a lunar or lunisolar calendar. The phrase is often used to refer to the Lunar New Year celebration held in China and worldwide by people of Chinese heritage, known as Chinese New Year. Chinese New Year usually falls in late January or early February. According to the Asian zodiac cycle, 2015 is the Year of the Goat (also interpreted as Year of the Ram and Year of the Sheep). Yong Chen, a UC Irvine associate professor of history and Asian American studies, discusses some common Lunar New Year customs: For centuries the festival observing the first day of the year was popularly called (lunar) New Year’s Day, or literally, “First morning of the year” (Yuan dan), “Beginning of the first month” (Yuan zheng), or “First day” (Yuan ri). When the Republic of China was founded in 1912, the government officially adopted the Gregorian
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