FarandawaythemostimportantholidayinChinaisSpringFestival,alsoknownastheChineseNewYear.TotheChinesepeopleitisasimportantasChristmastopeopleintheWest.ThedatesforthisannualcelebrationaredeterminedbythelunarcalendarratherthantheGregoriancalendar,sothetimingoftheholidayvariesfromlateJanuarytoearlyFebruary.

　　TotheordinaryChinese,thefestivalactuallybeginsontheeveofthelunarNewYear'sDayandendsonthefifthdayofthefirstmonthofthelunarcalendar.Butthe15thofthefirstmonth,whichnormallyiscalledtheLanternFestival,meanstheofficialendoftheSpringFestivalinmanypartsofthecountry.

　　PreparationsfortheNewYearbeginthelastfewdaysofthelastmoon,whenhousesarethoroughlycleaned,debtsrepaid,haircutandnewclothespurchased.Housesarefestoonedwithpaperscrollsbearingauspiciousantitheticalcouplet(asshowonbothsideofthepage)andinmanyhomes,peopleburnincenseathomeandinthetemplestopayrespectstoancestorsandaskthegodsforgoodhealthinthecomingmonths.

　　"GuoNian,"meaning"passingtheyear,"isthecommontermamongtheChinesepeopleforcelebratingtheSpringFestival.Itactuallymeansgreetingthenewyear.Atmidnightattheturnoftheoldandnewyear,peopleusedtoletofffire-crackerswhichservetodriveawaytheevilspiritsandtogreetthearrivalofthenewyear.Inaninstantthewholecitywouldbeengulfedinthedeafeningnoiseofthefirecrackers.

　　OnNewYear'sEve,allthemembersoffamiliescometogethertofeast.Jiaozi,asteameddumplingaspicturedbelow,ispopularinthenorth,whilesouthernersfavorastickysweetglutinousricepuddingcalledniangao.