\[ **BT: [[China]]** ] --- # Spring Festival ## Spring Festival holiday [[China’s Spring Festival travel rush is extremely intense. ‘For about 30 days, billions of passenger trips are made.’]][^1] > [[‘The bigger the city, the emptier it gets during the New Year. The more rural the area, the livelier it becomes.’]][^2] [[Between the 7th and 15th days of the Lunar Month, many people have returned to the city from the country, but the Spring Festival holidays atmosphere lingers and decorations remain. Food stalls and restaurants are likely to have re-opened.]][^3] [[By the 15th day of the Lunar Month—which is the Lantern Festival—everyone will have returned to work as usual. Spring Festival decorations are taken down a month later.]][^4] ### using public transport during the Spring Festival holiday period > [[‘The train tickets only released less than 2 weeks from Spring Festival, so you have chance to not be able to get it given the extreme high demand. Also train station will be packed as hell too, and people with 5 luggages, etc.’]][^5] > [[‘Last year, I took a regular train home, but there were no seats available. I had to squat on a folding stool in the aisle. The whole train was like a shipping container, crammed into every corner, even the toilets and washbasins.’]][^6] ### driving during the Spring Festival holiday period [[There are a significant number of car accidents during China’s Spring Festival period.]][^7] > [[‘We once drove for the October holiday. Shanghai to Zhengzhou. It took more than 30 hours of bumper to bumper traffic. Was one of the worst experiences of my life. Mind numbing and we had two infants with us.’]][^8] --- ## the days of Spring Festival Although New Year’s Eve, with it’s Reunion Dinner, is the biggest deal of Spring Festival, it isn’t *everything*.[^9] ### Xiao Nian (小年) > pinyin: xiǎo nián **Little Year**. The 23rd or 24th of the previous lunar month is the beginning of Spring Festival.[^10] Traditionally, people honour the [[Zao Jun (Kitchen or Stove God)|Kitchen God]], clean their homes, and eat dumplings.[^11] Basically—you’re saying goodbye to the old year and (quite literally) sweeping away all the trappings of that in anticipation of the new year.[^12] - **sweep away bad luck** (扫年, sǎo nián).[^13] - **pray to stove/kitchen god** (祭灶, jì zào).[^14] Popular foods: - sugar melons (糖瓜 / táng guā), also known as stove candy (灶糖 / Zào táng), are made of malt and can only be found on this day.[^15] - other food include baked wheat cakes (火烧 / huǒ shāo) and tofu soup (豆腐汤 / dòufu tang).[^16] In contemporary China, it has been suggested that ‘people in northern China celebrate it on the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, while the people in southern China celebrate it on the twenty-fourth.’[^17] Historically, Xiao Nian was celebrated by government officials on the 23rd, common folk on the 24th, and fisherman on the 25th.[^18] [[Many Lunar New Year customs are associated with the Kitchen God, especially during Little New Year.]][^19] > ‘It is believed that on the twenty third day of the twelfth lunar month, just before Chinese New Year, the Kitchen deity returns to Heaven to report the activities of every household over the past year to Yu Huang Da Di (玉皇大帝), the Jade Emperor. The Jade Emperor, emperor of the heavens, either rewards or punishes a family based on Zao Jun’s yearly report.’[^20] ### Lunar New Year’s Eve #### Reunion Dinner [[At Reunion Dinner, ‘most of the old guys watch TV, smoke and talk about politics. … The level of eating civility depends on the family. Old people should get first dibs and then it’s free for all.’]][^21] ##### tips for your first Reunion Dinner as the person dating into the family [[When attending Reunion Dinner with the boyfriend’s family, good gift suggestions include ‘a gift box of apples, a tin of those butter cookies, or something good from wherever you’re from. Fruit is always good and apples safe.’]][^22] [[When attending Reunion Dinner with the boyfriend’s family as a girl, one netizen recommends you ‘help mom cook and clean the dishes even if she protests while the men eat and drink and have their baijiu nap.’]][^23] ##### tips for your first Reunion Dinner when your boyfriend is spending it overseas with you, a non-Chinese person [[One redditor suggests an American girl cook homemade dumplings with her Chinese boyfriend for New Year’s Eve dinner together; also, gift him exactly $5.21 in a red envelope. (A cute way of saying ‘I love you’.)]][^24] ### Lunar New Year’s Day (元旦) Married couples, with their children, visit the husband/father’s family to pay respects.[^25] Taboos include sweeping—don’t do it, because it will sweep away your good luck. In fact, best to simply not do any cleaning until Spring Festival’s fifth day.[^26] ### 2nd Day (初二) Married couples, with their children, visit the wife/mother’s family to pay respect.[^27] In the past, this would have been particularly special since married women lived with their husband’s family and rarely saw their own.[^28] ### 3rd Day - Red Dog Day (初三 / 赤口 / 赤狗日) Taboos—unlucky to visit anyone or have guests.[^29] ‘Red Mouth’ or ‘Red Dog’ are euphemistic references for the God of Blazing Wrath, and staying inside on this day keeps you safe from that. The one place safe to visit would be the temple of Cai Shen, God of Wealth.[^30] ### 5th Day - God of Wealth’s Birthday & Powu (破五) Northern Chinese people eat dumplings ‘because they look like ingots’.[^31] Powu means ‘broken fifth’ because many of the Spring Festival taboos can be broken on this day. Although there was still a tradition of staying at home on this day, in reality most business re-open on this day.[^32] ### 7th Day - Human’s Birthday (初七 / 人日) In one of the two Chinese creation stories (the one based around [[Nuwa]]), humans were created on the seventh day. This is, therefore, the day when ‘all Chinese people get one year older’ (and why Chinese people are often viewed as having two days—the one per the lunar calendar, and the one on their ID card).[^33] ### 9th Day - Jade Emperor’s Birthday ( 天公旦) In the other Chinese creation myth (the one based around Yu Huang/Yu Di), we have Yu Di. He’s one of the highest gods in the [[Daoism|Daoist]] pantheon, and this is the day where Daoists head to temples to offer up prayers in his honour.[^34] ### 15th Day - Lantern Festival (元宵节) The final day of Spring Festival always falls on the ‘first full moon of the new year’.[^35] It is celebrated via the [[Lantern Festival]]—going to public lantern displays, eating tangyuan, and possibly having a big family dinner.[^36] [^1]: SuccessfulHall8621 \[pseud.], “China’s Spring Festival travel rush is the largest annual human migration on Earth,” Reddit Post, r/China, 12 February 2026, [https://www.reddit.com/r/China/comments/1r2fsm7/chinas_spring_festival_travel_rush_is_the_largest/](https://www.reddit.com/r/China/comments/1r2fsm7/chinas_spring_festival_travel_rush_is_the_largest/). [^2]: No-Echidna7296 \[pseud.], comment on SuccessfulHall8621 \[pseud.], “China’s Spring Festival travel rush is the largest annual human migration on Earth,” Reddit Post, r/China, 12 February 2026, https://www.reddit.com/r/China/comments/1r2fsm7/comment/o4xhjrt/. [^3]: No-Echidna7296 \[pseud.], comment on SuccessfulHall8621 \[pseud.], “China’s Spring Festival travel rush is the largest annual human migration on Earth,” Reddit Post, r/China, 12 February 2026, https://www.reddit.com/r/China/comments/1r2fsm7/comment/o59hjaq/. [^4]: No-Echidna7296 \[pseud.], comment on SuccessfulHall8621 \[pseud.], “China’s Spring Festival travel rush is the largest annual human migration on Earth,” Reddit Post, r/China, 12 February 2026, https://www.reddit.com/r/China/comments/1r2fsm7/comment/o59hjaq/. [^5]: WELCOMET0THEGOODLIFE \[pseud.], comment on SuccessfulHall8621 \[pseud.], “China’s Spring Festival travel rush is the largest annual human migration on Earth,” Reddit Post, r/China, 12 February 2026, https://www.reddit.com/r/China/comments/1r2fsm7/comment/o4xq2h9/. [^6]: PPTV-110 \[pseud.], comment on SuccessfulHall8621 \[pseud.], “China’s Spring Festival travel rush is the largest annual human migration on Earth,” Reddit Post, r/China, 12 February 2026, https://www.reddit.com/r/China/comments/1r2fsm7/comment/o4xy6if/. [^7]: achangb \[pseud.], comment on SuccessfulHall8621 \[pseud.], “China’s Spring Festival travel rush is the largest annual human migration on Earth,” Reddit Post, r/China, 12 February 2026, https://www.reddit.com/r/China/comments/1r2fsm7/comment/o4wu8ay/. [^8]: Tapeworm_fetus \[pseud.], comment on SuccessfulHall8621 \[pseud.], “China’s Spring Festival travel rush is the largest annual human migration on Earth,” Reddit Post, r/China, 12 February 2026, https://www.reddit.com/r/China/comments/1r2fsm7/comment/o4xe8jd/. [^9]: CK \[pseud.], ‘What Are the Most Important Days of Spring Festival?’, Weixin Post, *CulturalKeysCK*, 1 February 2019, [https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/bixO7MWag0a-Z8VTJzCXMg](https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/bixO7MWag0a-Z8VTJzCXMg). [^10]: CK \[pseud.], ‘What Are the Most Important Days of Spring Festival?’, Weixin Post, *CulturalKeysCK*, 1 February 2019, [https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/bixO7MWag0a-Z8VTJzCXMg](https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/bixO7MWag0a-Z8VTJzCXMg). [^11]: CK \[pseud.], ‘What Are the Most Important Days of Spring Festival?’, Weixin Post, *CulturalKeysCK*, 1 February 2019, [https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/bixO7MWag0a-Z8VTJzCXMg](https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/bixO7MWag0a-Z8VTJzCXMg). [^12]: CK \[pseud.], ‘What Are the Most Important Days of Spring Festival?’, Weixin Post, *CulturalKeysCK*, 1 February 2019, [https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/bixO7MWag0a-Z8VTJzCXMg](https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/bixO7MWag0a-Z8VTJzCXMg). [^13]: ‘Little Year’, Chinese New Year, last edited 8 January 2023, https://chinesenewyear.net/calendar/. [^14]: ‘Little Year’, Chinese New Year, last edited 8 January 2023, https://chinesenewyear.net/calendar/. [^15]: ‘Little Year’, Chinese New Year, last edited 8 January 2023, https://chinesenewyear.net/calendar/. [^16]: ‘Little Year’, Chinese New Year, last edited 8 January 2023, https://chinesenewyear.net/calendar/. [^17]: ’Kitchen God’, Wikipedia, last edited 17 December 2022, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kitchen_God&oldid=1127893343. [^18]: ‘Little Year’, Chinese New Year, last edited 8 January 2023, https://chinesenewyear.net/calendar/. [^19]: ’Kitchen God’, Wikipedia, last edited 17 December 2022, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kitchen_God&oldid=1127893343. [^20]: ’Kitchen God’, Wikipedia, last edited 17 December 2022, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kitchen_God&oldid=1127893343. [^21]: \[deleted username] in response to Kaitong_ \[pseud.], ‘Spring festival with the partner’s family - does, don’ts and general taboos’, Reddit Post, r/China, 25 January 2017, https://www.reddit.com/r/China/comments/5q1zbs/comment/dcvop3p/. [^22]: \[deleted username] in response to Kaitong_ \[pseud.], ‘Spring festival with the partner’s family - does, don’ts and general taboos’, Reddit Post, r/China, 25 January 2017, https://www.reddit.com/r/China/comments/5q1zbs/comment/dcvop3p/. [^23]: iwazaruu \[pseud.] in response to Kaitong_ \[pseud.], ‘Spring festival with the partner’s family - does, don’ts and general taboos’, Reddit Post, r/China, 25 January 2017, https://www.reddit.com/r/China/comments/5q1zbs/comment/dcvodi2/. [^24]: Viva_Pioni and emarsh92, in response to Viva_Pioni \[pseud.], ‘Spring Festival Gift For Boyfriend’, Reddit Post, r/China, 9 February 2024, https://www.reddit.com/r/China/comments/1amdlwx/comment/kplajhj/ and https://www.reddit.com/r/China/comments/1amdlwx/comment/kpl7sts/. [^25]: CK \[pseud.], ‘What Are the Most Important Days of Spring Festival?’, Weixin Post, *CulturalKeysCK*, 1 February 2019, [https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/bixO7MWag0a-Z8VTJzCXMg](https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/bixO7MWag0a-Z8VTJzCXMg). [^26]: CK \[pseud.], ‘What Are the Most Important Days of Spring Festival?’, Weixin Post, *CulturalKeysCK*, 1 February 2019, [https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/bixO7MWag0a-Z8VTJzCXMg](https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/bixO7MWag0a-Z8VTJzCXMg). [^27]: CK \[pseud.], ‘What Are the Most Important Days of Spring Festival?’, Weixin Post, *CulturalKeysCK*, 1 February 2019, [https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/bixO7MWag0a-Z8VTJzCXMg](https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/bixO7MWag0a-Z8VTJzCXMg). [^28]: CK \[pseud.], ‘What Are the Most Important Days of Spring Festival?’, Weixin Post, *CulturalKeysCK*, 1 February 2019, [https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/bixO7MWag0a-Z8VTJzCXMg](https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/bixO7MWag0a-Z8VTJzCXMg). [^29]: CK \[pseud.], ‘What Are the Most Important Days of Spring Festival?’, Weixin Post, *CulturalKeysCK*, 1 February 2019, [https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/bixO7MWag0a-Z8VTJzCXMg](https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/bixO7MWag0a-Z8VTJzCXMg). [^30]: CK \[pseud.], ‘What Are the Most Important Days of Spring Festival?’, Weixin Post, *CulturalKeysCK*, 1 February 2019, [https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/bixO7MWag0a-Z8VTJzCXMg](https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/bixO7MWag0a-Z8VTJzCXMg). [^31]: CK \[pseud.], ‘What Are the Most Important Days of Spring Festival?’, Weixin Post, *CulturalKeysCK*, 1 February 2019, [https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/bixO7MWag0a-Z8VTJzCXMg](https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/bixO7MWag0a-Z8VTJzCXMg). [^32]: CK \[pseud.], ‘What Are the Most Important Days of Spring Festival?’, Weixin Post, *CulturalKeysCK*, 1 February 2019, [https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/bixO7MWag0a-Z8VTJzCXMg](https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/bixO7MWag0a-Z8VTJzCXMg). [^33]: CK \[pseud.], ‘What Are the Most Important Days of Spring Festival?’, Weixin Post, *CulturalKeysCK*, 1 February 2019, [https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/bixO7MWag0a-Z8VTJzCXMg](https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/bixO7MWag0a-Z8VTJzCXMg). [^34]: CK \[pseud.], ‘What Are the Most Important Days of Spring Festival?’, Weixin Post, *CulturalKeysCK*, 1 February 2019, [https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/bixO7MWag0a-Z8VTJzCXMg](https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/bixO7MWag0a-Z8VTJzCXMg). [^35]: CK \[pseud.], ‘What Are the Most Important Days of Spring Festival?’, Weixin Post, *CulturalKeysCK*, 1 February 2019, [https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/bixO7MWag0a-Z8VTJzCXMg](https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/bixO7MWag0a-Z8VTJzCXMg). [^36]: CK \[pseud.], ‘What Are the Most Important Days of Spring Festival?’, Weixin Post, *CulturalKeysCK*, 1 February 2019, [https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/bixO7MWag0a-Z8VTJzCXMg](https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/bixO7MWag0a-Z8VTJzCXMg).