Chinese New Year is a holiday that celebrates the incoming year with different animal zodiac signs, celebrations, and traditions, with dates that vary depending on the year. The 2026 Chinese New Year will range from February 17 to March 3, and this year’s animal is the horse.
The history behind the Chinese New Year is abundant. According to Google, the Chinese New Year first began around 3,500 years ago during the Shang Dynasty, and it was created to celebrate the end of the harvest season and the start of a new farming year.
Northeastern Asian American Cultural Center (NEAACC) states, “It is one of the most important holidays in China. There are many legends about the holiday. It is celebrated all around the world now, but mostly celebrated by Asian countries. All the family members of the house help clean and get the house ready for the holiday. A traditional color that you wear is red [Red representing good luck]or gold. Sometimes in Chinese areas, you will see that there is Dragon dancing and drum beating.”
The celebrations of the Chinese New Year involve money, food, and spending time with family. In the Chinese culture, it is important to spend time with family during the New Year to ensure good luck and fortune for the rest of the year, according to Dream Bridge Partners. By upholding traditions and celebrations, Chinese New Year continues to be an important holiday.
Two students share how it is celebrated in their households.
Freshman Maya Zhou claims, “In the morning, my sister and I go wish our parents good luck for the rest of the year, and then they give us red pockets, which usually have $200 each. And then, at night, we usually have a really big meal that lasts up to three days. [During the Chinese New Year], usually you’re supposed to wear new clothes.”
Some traditions vary based on the family, such as cooking specific foods, receiving gifts, and honoring ancestors through celebrations.
Junior Amy Huang shares, “Every year my family and I celebrate it, my dad will go out and buy food, typically lobster, rice cakes, and other desserts. I get money from my parents and grandparents and have a small, close family celebration.”
Chinese New Year is a much-celebrated holiday across Chinese culture, with many celebrations and traditions. It has been going on for thousands of years, and people continue to celebrate and honor the end of the harvest season.
