Chinese New Year

The Chinese New Year has to be the most popular and famous festival in Taiwan, beginning on December 30th (New Year’s Eve) and ending on the fifth day of the first month of the lunar calendar. On the Western calendar, the dates fall around mid-January to mid-February. The people carry out spring cleaning on the last day of the old lunar year to get rid of all things bad.

The new year is celebrated in innumerable ways. Huge feasts, massive street parades, traditional Chinese music, dragon dancing take place every day along with family gatherings and the exchange of red envelopes with a monetary gift inside. Chinese people refer to this festival as the “passing of the year” and welcome the new year with high hopes of good fortunes for themselves and their families.

When: 1st to 5th day of the Lunar Calendar