Chinese Spring Festival Traditions and Customs: Lunar Calendar, Reunion Dinner, and Red Envelopes

Learn English in just 1 minute a day! This website offers short English reading passages for beginners, each with audio and text. The content is interesting and moderately difficult. By practicing one passage daily, you can build a sense of language and improve both reading and listening skills. Start your journey of English progress today! Below is a listening passage from beginner English reading practice compiled by the editor of qicai.com.

In China, people use the lunar calendar, which is based on the cycles of the moon. The lunar calendar plays an important role in daily life and is especially significant during traditional festivals. Unlike the solar calendar that many countries use, the lunar calendar follows the movement of the moon. This makes the dates of festivals such as the Chinese New Year change every year. Families pay close attention to the lunar calendar to know when to prepare for important holidays.

Before the New Year, people clean their houses to sweep away the bad luck from the old year. This tradition is more than just tidying up the home. It symbolizes a fresh start and the hope for good fortune in the coming year. People believe that by removing dust and unwanted items, they also remove negative energy. This practice shows how cultural customs are closely linked to beliefs about luck and success.

On Chinese New Year's Eve, people have a reunion dinner with their families. This dinner is considered the most important meal of the year. Family members travel long distances to be together, and the table is usually filled with a variety of dishes that represent wealth, happiness, and longevity. For many, the reunion dinner is not only about food but also about the joy of family connection and unity.

After dinner, kids set off firecrackers and receive red envelopes from their parents. Firecrackers are believed to scare away evil spirits and create a lively atmosphere. Red envelopes, usually filled with money, symbolize good luck and blessings for the new year. This custom brings excitement to children and reflects the tradition of passing down wishes of prosperity and happiness through generations.

The above is a beginner English listening passage about the Chinese Spring Festival, collected by Xiao Wu from qicai.com. We hope it brings you some learning gains!