Chinese Spring Festival 2019 Schedule – PCB COPY

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Laba Festival (January 13th, 2019)

The Laba Festival, on the 8th day of the 12th lunar month, marks the start of the Spring Festival celebrations. The main customs include:

Eating Laba Congee, a porridge made with various grains, beans, and dried fruits
Making offerings to ancestors and deities
Attending temple fairs and worshipping the Buddha

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Little Year (January 28th, 2019)

The 23rd day of the 12th lunar month is known as “Little Year”. Preparations for the Spring Festival intensify from this day onward:

Thoroughly cleaning the house to sweep away bad luck
Shopping for New Year goods, gifts, and decorations
Starting to prepare traditional New Year foods

New Year’s Eve (February 4th, 2019)

New Year’s Eve, or Chuxi, is the most important day of the Spring Festival. Family members gather for a reunion dinner, enjoying dishes with auspicious meanings. Other customs include:

Offering sacrifices to ancestors
Pasting Spring Festival couplets and hanging decorations
Staying up late or all night to welcome the New Year (Shousui)

New Year’s Day (February 5th, 2019)

New Year’s Day, or the first day of the first lunar month, is a time for visiting family and friends, exchanging greetings and red envelopes (hongbao) containing money. Other activities include:

Setting off firecrackers and fireworks to ward off evil spirits
Watching lion and dragon dances
Visiting temples to pray for good fortune

Second Day of the New Year (February 6th, 2019)

On the second day, married daughters visit their parental homes, bringing gifts for their families. People also:

Pay respects to in-laws and seniors
Visit temples and burn incense
Enjoy various entertainments and shows

Third Day of the New Year (February 7th, 2019)

The third day is known as “Chigou’s Day”, and people generally stay at home to avoid potential conflicts. Some customs include:

Visiting the tombs of ancestors
Eating leftovers from the previous days
Watching traditional performances

Fourth to Seventh Day of the New Year (February 8th – 11th, 2019)

During these days, visits to relatives and friends continue, and businesses start to reopen. Other activities include:

Attending temple fairs and enjoying folk performances
Preparing for the upcoming Lantern Festival
Gradually returning to work and normal routines

Lantern Festival (February 19th, 2019)

The Lantern Festival, on the 15th day of the first lunar month, marks the end of the Spring Festival celebrations. Customs include:

Admiring and lighting colorful lanterns
Eating tangyuan, sweet glutinous rice balls
Watching lion and dragon dances, fireworks displays, and solving lantern riddles

Chinese Spring Festival 2019 Schedule Overview

Date	Festival/Day	Key Activities
January 13th	Laba Festival	Eating Laba congee, worshipping ancestors and the Buddha
January 28th	Little Year	Cleaning, shopping, preparing food
February 4th	New Year’s Eve (Chuxi)	Family reunion dinner, ancestor worship, staying up late
February 5th	New Year’s Day	Visiting family and friends, exchanging red envelopes
February 6th	Second Day of the New Year	Married daughters visit parental homes
February 7th	Third Day of the New Year (Chigou’s Day)	Staying at home, visiting ancestors’ tombs
February 8th – 11th	Fourth to Seventh Day of the New Year	Continuing visits, businesses reopening
February 19th	Lantern Festival	Admiring lanterns, eating tangyuan, enjoying performances

Chinese New Year Greetings

During the Spring Festival, people exchange various greetings and wishes for good luck, prosperity, and happiness. Some common phrases include:

新年快乐 (Xīn Nián Kuài Lè) – Happy New Year
恭喜发财 (Gōng Xǐ Fā Cái) – Wishing you wealth and prosperity
万事如意 (Wàn Shì Rú Yì) – May everything go well with you
岁岁平安 (Suì Suì Píng Ān) – Wishing you peace all year round
身体健康 (Shēn Tǐ Jiàn Kāng) – Wishing you good health

Traditional Spring Festival Foods

Many traditional foods are enjoyed during the Spring Festival, each with its own symbolic meaning. Some of the most popular dishes include:

Jiaozi (Dumplings): Symbolizing wealth and prosperity due to their resemblance to ancient Chinese gold ingots.
Niangao (New Year Cake): Its name sounds similar to “year high”, symbolizing progress, advancement, and success in the coming year.
Yu (Fish): The Chinese word for fish, “yu”, sounds like the word for surplus or abundance, symbolizing a wish for prosperity.
Tangyuan (Glutinous Rice Balls): Eaten during the Lantern Festival, their round shape symbolizes unity, completeness, and family togetherness.
Longevity Noodles: Long, uncut noodles symbolize a long and healthy life.

FAQs About the Chinese Spring Festival

Q: How long is the official Chinese Spring Festival holiday in 2019?
A: In 2019, the official public holiday for the Chinese Spring Festival lasts 7 days, from February 4th to February 10th.
Q: What’s the significance of the color red during the Spring Festival?
A: Red is considered an auspicious color in Chinese culture, symbolizing good luck, happiness, and prosperity. It’s used extensively in decorations and clothing during the festival.
Q: Why do people set off firecrackers during the Spring Festival?
A: According to legend, firecrackers ward off a mythical monster called “Nian”. The loud noise is also believed to drive away evil spirits and bring good luck.
Q: What are red envelopes and who receives them?
A: Red envelopes, or “hongbao”, contain money and are given as gifts during the Spring Festival. They are usually given by married couples or elderly family members to children and unmarried adults.
Q: How do people greet each other during the Spring Festival?
A: Common greetings include “Xin Nian Kuai Le” (Happy New Year), “Gong Xi Fa Cai” (Wishing you prosperity), and “Wan Shi Ru Yi” (May everything go well with you).

The Chinese Spring Festival is a time for family reunions, celebrations, and age-old traditions. By understanding the customs and schedule of this important holiday, one can better appreciate the rich cultural heritage of China and the significance of the Spring Festival in the lives of Chinese people around the world.

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