TheoldestandmostimportantfestivalinChinaistheSpringFestival.Thatdayallfamilymembersgettogether,morecommonlyknownintheWestasChineseNewYear.

　　TheChineseNewYearisnowpopularlyknownastheSpringFestivalbecauseitstartsfromtheBeginingofSpring.ThedateoftheholidayvariesfromlateJanuarytomidFebruary.

　　TheSpringfestivalcelebratestheearthcomingbacktolife,andthestartofploughingandsowing.Inthepast,feudalrulersofdynastiesplacedgreatimportanceonthisoccasion,andceremoniestousherintheseasonwereperformed.

　　PreparationsfortheNewYearfestivalstartduringthelastfewdaysofthelastmoon.Housesarethoroughlycleaned,debtsrepaid,haircutandnewclothesbought.Doorsaredecoratedwithverticalscrollsofcharactersonredpaperwhosetextsseekgoodluckandpraisenature,thispracticestemmingfromthehangingofpeach-woodcharmstokeepawayghostsandevilspirits.

　　OnNewYear’sEvehousesarebrightlylitandalargefamilydinnerisserved.InthesouthofChina"niangao"isserved,whileinthenorththesteameddumpling"jiaozi"ispopular.Mostcelebratingthefestivalstayuptillmidnight,whenfireworksarelit,todriveawayevilspirits.PeopleoftenspendNewYearsdayvisitingneighbours,familyandfriends.

　　ThepublicholidayforNewYearlasts3daysinChina,butthefestivaltraditionallylaststillthe15thdayofthelunarmonthandendswiththe‘LanternFestival’.