The Chinese calendar is based on the moon, hence "lunar" unlike the Western or Gregorian calandar which is based on the sun, Like the Gregorian calendar which has leap year, the lunar calendar has 13 months on certain year to compensate.

The Chinese Lunar New Year is a time for reunion. It is also called the Spring Festival (Chun Jie) where all debts had to be paid by this time and one could hope for a greater success in the coming year.

There are also many festivals which precede the Lunar New Year and others which supersede it, customs and practices which lead into the Chinese New Year and welcoming it and subsequently closing it. I will attempt to look into each one.

I am a Chinese born in Malaysia, currently working and living in Singapore. It is my family's custom that all members of the family must come home on New Year eve. There used to be other customs and practices preceding and following the New Year but had been subsequently given up for just something simple. On the New Year eve, an elaborate dinner will be cooked by mother and all will tuck in around 7.00 pm. There is usually more than can be eaten to represent a plentiful next year. All these will be eaten the next morning, usually porridge.

Ang-pows will be given either on the Eve after the New Year or the New Year morning. These ang-pows are red-packets which contain money, representing prosperity and good wishes. Nowadays these ang-pows have become works of art. See below for some examples.

These ang-pows can be used to construct Chinese lanterns. To see some examples, visit my Chinese Lanterns Handicraft Page

If you wish to know more about Chinese Lunar New Year's rich traditions, check out Singapore One's website: (Spring Festival is another name for Chinese Lunar New Year)