New Year’s Eve

New Year’s Eve is observed annually on December 31, the final day of the Gregorian Calendar. It is certainly one of the most popular festivals which attract a large number of Chinese populations located at different corners of the world.

At least a week or fortnight ahead of the occasion, people clean up their houses as they believe that cleaning sweeps away the bad luck of the previous year and will bring good luck to their homes. What’s more, all the door panels will be pasted with Spring Festival couplets, highlighting Chinese calligraphy with black characters on red paper.

Sweeping floor is a traditional custom of China for years. 

They are three ladies sweeping the floor outside in his house.

A pretty mon was pasting spring festival couplet on three sides 

of the Gate to welcome Spring Festival on New Year’s Eve.

New Year is a time for families to be together. On New Year’s Eve, all the members of families come together to feast New Year food. Although families still gather together, it is now often that they do not eat inside the home. Many restaurants will offer a Reunion Dinner Package to attract these modern people who want to have a great dinner but haven’t enough time to cook.

Eat dinner together with lovely family during New Year’s Eve 

Chinese lucky money is money that is traditionally given in red packages to young people on New Year’s Eve. These red envelopes of money are called Ang Bao. Symbols of wealth and luck usually decorate the outside of the red money packages.

A grandfather give 'Ang Pao' for their grandson

Burning fireworks was once the most typical custom on the Spring Festival. At midnight of New Year’s Eve, people used to let off fire-crackers and fireworks which serve to drive away the evil spirits and to greet the arrival of the New year. 

Nowadays, young people in modern cities are so busy with their work that they can’t go home on New Year’s Eve. That’s a pity! Their families are waiting for them. So everyone should spare some time to go home on that day no matter how busy they are.