Chinese New Year 2024 Calendar — Celebrating the Year of the Dragon
Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival or Lunar New Year, is the most important festival in China and many other Asian countries.
It is a time to celebrate the end of the cold winter and the beginning of a new year full of hope and prosperity. But when is Chinese New Year 2024 and how long does it last?
What is the zodiac animal for 2024 and what does it mean? In this article, I will answer these questions and more, so you can plan ahead and enjoy the festive season.
When is Chinese New Year 2024?
Chinese New Year 2024 falls on Saturday, February 10th, 2024, according to the Gregorian calendar. However, the date of Chinese New Year is determined by the lunar calendar, which follows the phases of the moon. Therefore, the date of Chinese New Year varies from year to year, but it always falls between January 21st and February 20th.
The first day of Chinese New Year marks the start of a new lunar month and a new zodiac sign.
In 2024, we will enter the Year of the Dragon, which is the fifth sign in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac. The dragon is a symbol of power, strength, and good luck in Chinese culture.
How Long is Chinese New Year?
Chinese New Year celebrations last up to 16 days, from the eve of Chinese New Year (February 9th, 2024) to the Lantern Festival (February 24th, 2024). However, only the first seven days are considered a public holiday in China (February 10th–February 16th, 2024), during which most people take time off work and travel to visit their families and friends.
The most important days of Chinese New Year are:
Chinese New Year’s Eve (February 9th, 2024): The night before Chinese New Year, people gather with their families for a reunion dinner, exchange red envelopes with money or gifts, and set off fireworks and firecrackers to ward off evil spirits.
The First Day of Chinese New Year (February 10th, 2024): The first day of Chinese New Year is dedicated to honoring one’s ancestors and elders. People visit their relatives and neighbors, offer greetings and wishes, and give red envelopes to children and unmarried adults.
The Second Day of Chinese New Year (February 11th, 2024): The second day of Chinese New Year is also known as the Day of the Son-in-Law. Married daughters return to their parents’ home with their husbands and children, bringing gifts and red envelopes.
The Third Day of Chinese New Year (February 12th, 2024): The third day of Chinese New Year is considered an unlucky day to visit friends or relatives, as it may lead to quarrels or misunderstandings. Instead, people stay at home or visit temples to pray for good fortune.
The Fourth Day of Chinese New Year (February 13th, 2024): The fourth day of Chinese New Year is the day when corporate spring dinners are held. Employers treat their employees to a banquet and give them bonuses or gifts.
The Fifth Day of Chinese New Year (February 14th, 2024): The fifth day of Chinese New Year is also known as the Day of Po Wu or the God of Wealth. People worship the God of Wealth and hope for a prosperous year ahead. They also eat dumplings, which are shaped like ingots and symbolize wealth.
The Sixth Day of Chinese New Year (February 15th, 2024): The sixth day of Chinese New Year is a day for visiting friends and relatives who live far away. People also sweep away the dust and dirt from their homes, symbolizing getting rid of bad luck.
The Seventh Day of Chinese New Year (February 16th, 2024): The seventh day of Chinese New Year is also known as Ren Ri or Human Day. According to legend, this is the day when the goddess Nüwa created human beings. People celebrate by eating noodles for longevity and raw fish salad for abundance.
The Eighth Day of Chinese New Year (February 17th, 2024): The eighth day of Chinese New Year is a day for preparing for the Lantern Festival. People buy lanterns and decorate their homes with colorful lights.
The Ninth Day of Chinese New Year (February 18th, 2024): The ninth day of Chinese New Year is also known as Ti Kong Dan or Jade Emperor’s Birthday. The Jade Emperor is the supreme deity in Taoism and the ruler of heaven. People offer sacrifices and prayers to him at midnight.
The Tenth Day of Chinese New Year (February 19th, 2024): The tenth day of Chinese New Year is also known as Shi Gong Dan or Stone God’s Birthday. The Stone God is the guardian of the village or the neighborhood. People offer him food and wine and ask for his protection.
The Eleventh Day of Chinese New Year (February 20th, 2024): The eleventh day of Chinese New Year is a day for visiting friends and relatives who have not been visited yet. People also eat rice cakes, which are sticky and sweet and symbolize family unity.
The Twelfth Day of Chinese New Year (February 21st, 2024): The twelfth day of Chinese New Year is a day for resting and relaxing. People enjoy various entertainment activities, such as watching movies, playing games, or reading books.
The Thirteenth Day of Chinese New Year (February 22nd, 2024): The thirteenth day of Chinese New Year is also known as Xiao Nian or Little New Year. People start to prepare for the end of the festive season by cleaning their homes and making offerings to the Kitchen God, who will report their deeds to the Jade Emperor.
The Fourteenth Day of Chinese New Year (February 23rd, 2024): The fourteenth day of Chinese New Year is a day for making lanterns and riddles. People write riddles on paper and attach them to lanterns, which are then hung up for others to guess. The riddles are usually witty and humorous, and the winners get prizes or red envelopes.
The Fifteenth Day of Chinese New Year (February 24th, 2024): The fifteenth day of Chinese New Year is also known as Yuan Xiao Jie or Lantern Festival. It is the last day of the festive season and the first full moon night of the lunar year. People go out to admire the moon and the lanterns, eat glutinous rice balls, and express their love and gratitude to their families and friends.
The Origin of Chinese New Year
The origin of Chinese New Year is shrouded in legends and myths. One of the most popular is about a mythical beast named Nian (/nyen/), which means “year” in Chinese.
According to the legend, Nian would attack villagers on the eve of each new year, devouring their livestock, crops, and even people. To prevent Nian from harming them, people would put food at their doors for Nian to eat, and use loud noises (firecrackers), bright lights (lanterns), and the color red (clothes and decorations) to scare Nian away. These practices later evolved into some of the common customs of Chinese New Year.
The History of Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year has a history of about 3,500 years. Its exact beginning is not recorded, but some people believe that it started in the Shang Dynasty (1600–1046 BC), when people held sacrificial ceremonies to honor their gods and ancestors at the turn of the year.
The term Nian (“year”) first appeared in the Zhou Dynasty (1046–256 BC), when people also worshiped nature to bless their harvests. The date of Chinese New Year, the first day of the first lunar month, was fixed in the Han Dynasty (202 BC — 220 AD). Since then, various celebration activities became popular, such as burning bamboo (later replaced by firecrackers), cleaning houses, having family dinners, and staying up late on New Year’s Eve.
In later dynasties, such as the Tang, Song, and Qing dynasties, Chinese New Year became more prosperous and diverse, with more entertainment activities, such as dragon dances, lion dances, lantern riddles, and temple fairs.
The Countries that Celebrate Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year is not only celebrated in China, but also in many other countries and regions where there are significant Chinese populations or cultural influences.
These include Singapore, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Canada, Mauritius, New Zealand, Peru, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Some of these countries also have their own Lunar New Year festivals that may differ from the Chinese one in terms of dates or customs.
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Further reading:
- History of Chinese New Year: This article from the Timothy S. Y. Lam Museum of Anthropology at Wake Forest University provides an overview of the origin, customs, and traditions of the Chinese New Year festival, which dates back to about 3,500 years ago.
- The Lunar New Year: Rituals and Legends: This article from Asia for Educators at Columbia University explains the significance of the lunar calendar, the preparations for the new year, the new year’s eve and festivities, and the lantern festival, with references to myths and legends.
- Chinese New Year: The Importance of Tradition and Impact of Modernization: This article from the University of San Francisco is a capstone project that examines the cultural and generational differences in celebrating the Chinese New Year, and argues for the preservation and implementation of the traditional customs.
- Happy Lunar New Year: This article from the University of California features reflections on the holiday and its global celebrations from scholars at UC Irvine, who share their personal stories and insights on the cultural and social aspects of the Chinese New Year.
- The Origin of Chinese New Year: This article from Western Kentucky University, published on the SMS-I-Media Tourism Express, introduces the legend and history of the Chinese New Year, as well as some of the common practices and foods associated with the holiday.
