- Статьи
- Society
- How to celebrate the Chinese New Year in 2026: dates, traditions and the meaning of the holiday
How to celebrate the Chinese New Year in 2026: dates, traditions and the meaning of the holiday
Chinese New Year, or Chunjie, annually unites millions of people around the world and is accompanied by family gatherings, trips and centuries-old traditions. In 2026, the holiday will begin on February 17th. About how its customs were formed, what is remarkable about the year of the Horse and how to celebrate the Chinese New Year in Russia — in the material of Izvestia.
When is Chinese New Year celebrated in 2026
Chinese New Year in 2026 according to the lunar calendar will come on February 17th. The holiday will last 15 days.
— One of the main features of this New Year is its duration. The holiday lasts about 15 days, and the date of its beginning changes every time. The reason is simple: the countdown is based on the traditional Chinese lunar calendar. New Year's Eve comes on the second new moon after the winter solstice, so it can happen on any day between January 21 and February 21," Lyudmila Staver, a methodologist in history and social studies at Online School No. 1, tells Izvestia.
According to Maria Suvorova, a lecturer at the Institute of Business and Business Administration at the Presidential Academy, the traditional Chinese calendar has been formed for several millennia and is still used to determine all traditional holidays. In fact, Chinese New Year Chunjie (Spring Festival) is not just a change of year, but a symbolic transition from winter stagnation to spring renewal.
The official New Year holidays in China last seven days, but in practice, many enterprises suspend work for 2-3 weeks, said a teacher at the academy.
How the holiday appeared
One of the most famous legends about the origin of the holiday is associated with the mythical monster Nyan, says Suvorova. According to legend, at the end of each lunar year, it emerged from the sea and destroyed villages, devouring people, livestock and crops.
— Over time, residents noticed his weaknesses: Nyan was afraid of red, was afraid of loud noises and avoided bright light. To protect themselves, people began to hang out red cloths and lanterns, burn bamboo (it crackles loudly when burning), and later set off firecrackers. Gorenje The monster never returned, and the red color, noise and fireworks became key symbols of the holiday," explains Suvorova.
The first mentions of New Year's rituals — sacrifices to ancestors and gods — date back to 1600-1046 BC, the expert says. According to her, during the Han Dynasty (206 BC — 220 AD), the calendar was standardized and the celebration was fixed for the first new moon of the year, and then traditions of family dinners and gifts began to form.
— In the 20th century, the holiday underwent a complex transformation. In 1912, China switched to the Gregorian calendar, and the traditional New Year was officially named the Spring Festival. In the 1949-1980s, its celebration was limited as a "feudal relic," but since the early 1980s, Chunjie has been fully restored and has once again become the country's main national holiday.
What is unique about the Chinese New Year – 2026
The Year of the Horse will begin on February 17th. In traditional symbolism, this animal is associated with movement, hard work and high social activity, says Suvorova. According to her, such years are considered favorable for changes, launching new projects, traveling and expanding business ties. In practice, this usually means an increase in domestic tourism, consumer activity and increased mobility of the population during the holiday period.
— The Chinese New Year launches the Chunyun phenomenon, the largest annual migration on the planet. More than 3 billion trips are made within 40 days. In 2024, a record was recorded — about 9 billion trips, which is three times the population of China. Train tickets are sold out in seconds after the start of sales, and the railway system annually introduces up to 5,000 additional flights," the expert comments.
The reason for the increase in trips is the tradition of Tuanyuan — family reunification during the holiday period, Suvorova notes. Refusal to come home for Chinese New Year is perceived in Chinese society as socially undesirable behavior and a violation of unspoken social norms. In addition, in popular beliefs, the year of the Horse is considered favorable for the birth of children.
How to celebrate Chinese New Year in China
They do a general cleaning before the New Year. She gets rid of the excess and failures of the past year. Another tradition is to decorate the house with live plants. Peach branches promise longevity, daffodils — financial well—being, tangerine trees - good luck and prosperity, says Stavers. Vera Kolesova, a teacher of Chinese language and Chinese culture, an expert at the Infowork educational marketplace, says that the Chinese also hang lanterns all over the house, and there are paired inscriptions above the front door that bring happiness and good luck.
The color of the holiday is red or gold, so the New Year is celebrated in this color scheme, in new clothes as a sign of renewal. According to Suvorova, in modern China, sales of red clothing and accessories are growing sharply during the New Year period, especially underwear and socks, which are perceived as a personal charm for the whole year.
— Streets and houses in China are decorated with red lanterns, paper clippings and paired inscriptions wishing happiness, prosperity and longevity. Over time, the tradition of fireworks has spread far beyond the borders of China. Today, New Year's Eve fireworks are being launched in many countries, including Russia," explains Stavers.
They also give red envelopes with money for the holiday, which symbolize good luck and well-being.
On New Year's Eve in China, families gather for a big dinner, says Staver. According to her, each dish has a meaning: fish symbolizes abundance, dumplings — wealth (their shape resembles gold bars), and sweet rice balls mean unity and family cohesion.
According to Kolesova, every day of the celebration carries a certain meaning.
— On the first day, it is very important that the whole extended family gather at the festive table and set off fireworks and firecrackers at the hour of the New Year to scare away evil spirits. On the fifth day, it is important to bring an offering and pray to the God of Wealth, and the Lantern Festival traditionally ends the celebration. On this day, all people across China light lanterns, make their most cherished wishes and release them into the sky," says the Chinese man.
How to celebrate Chinese New Year for Russians
Kolesova recommends spending February 17, 2026 with her family. According to her, on this day you can cook traditional dishes, including dumplings, fish and meat, and arrange a festive family dinner with elements of Chinese culture. In the evening, the expert notes, it is allowed to use festive firecrackers as a symbolic gesture associated with the tradition of driving away evil spirits.
She also recommends visiting themed festivals and traditional festivities. For example, in Moscow this year, a festive program is planned in the city center and at VDNH.
— The most important thing is to try to let go of all bad and negative thoughts inside yourself, so that you can enter the New Year only with a positive and joyful attitude, so that no evil spirits frighten you, — concludes Kolesova.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
