How we got our Holidays: Lunar New Year 2024

On February 10th 2024, over 1.5 billion people will celebrate the Lunar New Year and the Year of the Dragon! 🐉 Let’s take a closer look at this popular and important festival. Chinese New Year and the other Lunar New Year holidays are one of the most widely observed public holidays in the world with over one-sixth of the world’s population celebrating. Several countries also mark the Lunar New Year with public holidays. Most are in South-East Asia, but also Suriname in South America observes a holiday for Chinese New Year. Lunar New Year begins at sunset on the day of the second New Moon following the winter solstice (21st December). This means the New Year can begin anytime from January 21st through to February 21st. The New Year period ends 15 days later on the first full moon, with a Lantern Festival. Though China enjoys several days of public holidays for Chinese New Year, the festival is celebrated for 15 days until the Lantern Festival, which takes place on the night of the first full moon. Legend has it that this holiday originated from a time when ancient Chinese villagers defeated a Nian, a ferocious dragon that eats livestock and children. Chinese New Year emerged as the yearly celebration of the victory, with records showing celebrations as far back as the 14th-century Shang Dynasty. Famously each year is named after one of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac. 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit, the fourth animal in the cycle. Festivities include fireworks, parades, and performances. Chinese New Year creates the world’s largest annual migration. Known as the Spring Festival Travel Rush, the total trips taken each year exceed three billion. Celebrations take place across the globe, from Southeast Asia’s centuries-old Chinese communities to the more recently established Chinatowns of Sydney, London, Vancouver, Los Angeles and beyond. Parades and lion dances in these cities always draw large crowds. Customs of Spring Festival Tradition says that Nian emerges from his hiding place on New Year’s Eve, but is frightened off by the red decorations and banners and the sound of firecrackers! On Chinese New Year’s Day, children are not punished even if they are misbehaving because, according to tradition, if children cry on this day, they will cry all year. The world record for most text messages sent in a day is broken each year during Chinese New Year. The current record was 19 billion. Dumplings are a popular New Year food as they symbolize happiness, prosperity. People believe that dumplings will bring good luck for the coming year. People will often eat noodles on the second day of the Lunar New Year as noodles represent longevity. The most common Chinese New Year greeting is “Guo Nian Hao“ which means “Happy New Year.“ Stock footage provided by Videvo, downloaded from For more information about Spring Festival, read: