What do Chinese people do on Chinese New Year?

Answer 1

The origin of the Lion Dance at Chinese New Year is thought to have started through a legend handed down through the generations. According to the legend a mythical beast called a Nian (meaning year in Chinese) would come and attack villagers at the same time every year. The villagers asked for the help of a great colourful lion spirit, who came and drove the Nian away with much noise. The following year the people were left defenseless as the lion was away defending the Emperor's Palace. The people improvised and created a false lion out of cloth and bamboo along with noisy firecrackers to drive the Nian away. This was so successful that every year since then the lion dance is performed to frighten away evil spirits and bring luck in with the New Year.

Answer 2

A family would unite at the eldest living parents' house even though the rest of the family may live in different provinces. Older relatives would give money to younger relatives for good fortune. Different foods, usually including fish and dumplings (deemed auspicious in Chinese culture) are served either at home or at a restaurant. Traditional dragon or lion dance may be performed in public areas. Most people will set off fireworks to "scare away the spirits" as based in traditional folklore.

Answer 3

Chinese New Year (known as "Spring Festival") is a one to two week festival at the end of January/beginning of February.

Return Home Most people will return to their hometowns if they are not already there.

Fireworks These are the main draw. In most places, it's the only time of year they are legal. First and last nights of Spring Festival are the biggest volleys.

Hongbao Chinese people exchange red envelopes called "hongbao" stuffed with cash. Wrapped gift giving is not really the tradition in China. If you want to give a gift, cash is king here. Children are the biggest benefactors of these envelopes. The doling out of hongbao can quickly become quite political. How much you give to whom relative to others you've given to is closely watched (particularly if you are a young man who moved out of a small town and found work in a big city, or if you're a rich uncle with government connections). If you bring your girlfriend home for Spring Festival, this is tantamount to announcing marriage and people are expected to give hongbao to the couple, particularly the visiting GF.

Make xuejiao (dumplings) Handmaking and boiling dumplings is a common tradition for most Chinese people during Spring Festival.

Visit/Eat Basically, you visit all your friends and family and eat.

Watch TV Just like Westerners have their Christmas specials, Chinese people have their holiday programs. The more popular ones are usually annual hosted dancing/singing/comedy (cross talk) performances.

Answer 4

Chinese people celebrate Chinese New Year by spending time with family, sharing meals, giving red envelopes with money, and setting off fireworks. They also clean their homes to usher in good luck and honor traditional customs and rituals.

Answer 5

Chinese New Year is important to the Chinese because they are starting a new year...a new life. The Chinese believe their celebrations will help bring in a great new year.

Answer 6

Good morning teacher and friends. today i am going to share with you about Chinese New Year.

Answer 7

The Chinese perform the dragon dance because it is a tradition(usually during Chinese new year). It is said that the dragon dance can scare evil spirits away.

Answer 8

Well, as far as I know, it's lion dance, maybe dragon dance is a variation…Here's a wikipedia link to it http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lion_dance

Answer 9

Because it's the Chinese new year. Its like any country celebrating their new year.