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Get ready to welcome the new lunar year with joy and prosperity on the Chinese Spring Festival held on February 10! Bursting with colorful traditions and grand celebrations, the Festival dates back to the Shang Dynasty (1600–1046 BC) and highlights the richness of the Chinese culture. Representing values of family, unity, and hope for a bountiful year ahead, the Festival is not only a national holiday in China but is now celebrated globally. With its thrilling dragon and lion dances, beautiful red lanterns filling the streets, and the delightful treat of Yusheng (a raw fish salad), it offers a significant glimpse into Chinese heritage. So join in the spirit of new beginnings, and embrace the awe-inspiring festivities of the Chinese Spring Festival!
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1600-1046 BC</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Festival's Origin</div><div class='timeline-text'>The Chinese Spring Festival's origin traces back to the Shang Dynasty (1600–1046 BC) as a ceremonial day to pray to gods for a good planting and harvest season.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>AD 202</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Lion Dance Introduction</div><div class='timeline-text'>The Lion Dance, a traditional dance in Chinese culture, was introduced during the Han Dynasty (202 BC – 220 AD) adding a spirited touch to the festivities.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>618-907</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Tang Dynasty Celebrations</div><div class='timeline-text'>Under the Tang Dynasty (618–907), the Spring Festival became the most important of all holidays, with grand celebrations featuring music, dance, and food.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1644-1912</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Qing Dynasty Practices</div><div class='timeline-text'>During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912), customs like cleaning houses, decorating with red lanterns, and setting off firecrackers became integral to the Festival.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1980s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Broadcast of CCTV New Year's Gala</div><div class='timeline-text'>Starting in the 1980s, the CCTV New Year's Gala, a variety entertainment show broadcast on New Year's Eve, became a staple for Chinese families during the Festival.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2000s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Global Celebrations</div><div class='timeline-text'>As Chinese communities grew globally in the 21st century, the Spring Festival started to be observed worldwide, showcasing an exhilarating display of Chinese culture.</div></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Create your own Chinese lanterns</h3><p class='facts-text'>A key highlight of the Spring Festival is the gorgeous red lanterns that light up the streets. You can join in on the fun by making your own lanterns at home! Look up some online tutorials and get your family or friends involved. Hang them up around your house or garden to set a festive atmosphere.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Prepare Yusheng at home</h3><p class='facts-text'>Yusheng is a traditional salad dish usually shared during the festival. It's a colorful and refreshing mixture of raw fish and various vegetables. It's not just delicious, marking part of the festival's rituals, it also signifies abundance and prosperity. Learn how to prepare this at home, and let everyone toss the ingredients together as a celebratory gesture!</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Host a dragon or lion dance performance</h3><p class='facts-text'>While traditionally performed by professional troupes, there's no reason you can't put on a show at home! Get some family members or friends together to stage the dance. You can look up instructions and routines online. It will certainly be a memorable way to celebrate the festival!</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Conduct a traditional tea ceremony</h3><p class='facts-text'>Tea ceremonies are an integral part of Chinese culture, symbolizing peace, purity, and tranquility. Hosting a tea ceremony at home during the festival is a wonderful way to respect the tradition and share a serene moment with loved ones. Be sure to learn about the right etiquette and types of tea to use for the ceremony.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Create a virtual Spring Festival celebration</h3><p class='facts-text'>In the time of social distancing, celebrating virtually is a great option. Host an online gathering where you and your loved ones can share in the festivities together. You can coordinate a time for everyone to dine together, share stories, or even play traditional Chinese games. This way, you can maintain the spirit of 'reunion' that's central to the holiday while keeping everyone safe.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Symbol of Renewal and Prosperity</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Chinese Spring Festival represents renewal and the hope for a prosperous New Year. This gives a fresh start and positive outlook that attracts people to love and celebrate the festival annually.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Embracing the Richness of Chinese Culture</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Through celebrating Chinese Spring Festival, we are given a glimpse into Chinese heritage, with thrilling dragon dances and lion dances, beautiful red lanterns, and delightful treats. This connection with an ancient culture adds a new depth to our understanding of world cultures.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Creating and Participating in Traditions</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>The festival encourages participation - from making one's own lanterns, preparing Yusheng at home, to hosting a lion or dragon dance performance. These activities provide exciting ways for families and communities to come together to celebrate life, love, and prosperity.</p></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Festival is the world's largest human migration</h3><p class='facts-text'>During the Chinese Spring Festival travel period, known as 'Chunyun', millions of people return home for reunion. It becomes the largest human migration event globally, with a record of 3 billion trips made in 2016.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Spring Festival varies each year</h3><p class='facts-text'>Unlike holidays set on a specific gregorian date, the Chinese Spring Festival is lunisolar-based, meaning it can fall anywhere between January 21 and February 20 each year, depending on when the new lunar year starts.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>The color red symbolizes luck and prosperity</h3><p class='facts-text'>You'll see the color red everywhere during the Spring Festival. It's considered a color that signifies luck, joy and prosperity. People also give red envelopes, known as 'hongbao', containing money as a gift during this time.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Each new year celebrates a specific zodiac animal</h3><p class='facts-text'>In Chinese culture, each new year is associated with one of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac. Beliefs and predictions about the coming year often center around the attributes of the year's respective zodiac animal.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>The Lantern Festival marks the end</h3><p class='facts-text'>The Chinese Spring Festival concludes with the Lantern Festival, celebrated on the 15th day of the New Year. On this day, people come out at night carrying paper lanterns of various shapes and sizes, culminating in a beautiful spectacle of light.</p></div></div>
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