Chinese New Year is also known as Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival. It is an important festival in China and many other countries with Chinese communities. People usually celebrate it in January or February to mark the beginning of spring.

A few days before Chinese New Year, people clean their houses, which symbolises the sweeping away of all the bad luck of the old year, and prepare a fresh start for the new year. Red and gold are lucky colours for Chinese people as red symbolises vitality of life and happiness, and gold represents wealth and prosperity. People decorate their houses by putting up spring couplets, small red and gold banners with messages of good luck, on the walls or around the doorways. They also flock to flower markets on Chinese New Year’s Eve to buy some "lucky plants". Some of the plants hold special meanings during Chinese New Year celebrations. For example, peach blossoms represent growth and prosperity; narcissus symbolise abundance and good fortune; and tangerines mean good luck and wealth. The sweet-scented blossoms fill the air with their refreshing fragrance.

Chinese New Year is a joyful time of the year to bring several generations of families together. On Chinese New Year's Eve, people usually go home to have the most significant reunion dinner with their family members. The traditional dishes served during the festival are rich, diverse and symbolic. For example, fish represent surplus or abundance. As for fried prawns, they symbolise laughter or happiness. Sweet rice balls mean family togetherness. People eat these traditional dishes together and enjoy each other's company.

On the first day of Chinese New Year, people usually visit their relatives and friends with festive gifts. It is important to serve people with "lucky" food placed in an exquisitely decorated candy box, the "tray of togetherness". Each tray is filled with candies such as sugared lotus seeds, candied winter melon, chocolate coins or roasted red melon seeds. These sugary treats symbolise the wish to be healthy, wealthy and happy throughout the year. Children greet their grandparents, parents and elder relatives with auspicious words. They then receive money in red envelopes called "red packets". Nowadays, some people send red packets to relatives electronically.

Many traditional Chinese New Year events are held to celebrate the festive holiday. In Hong Kong, there is a night parade with lively dragon dances and colourful floats in Tsim Sha Tsui on Chinese New Year's Day. A giant fireworks display at Victoria Harbour is normally held on the second day of Chinese New Year. Some people visit temples to pray for good fortune in the new year. The Chinese Lantern Festival falls on the 15^th day of the first month of the lunar calendar. There are lantern displays at some tourist spots and parks. The displays usually last for some time. People can enjoy the beautiful lanterns in their free time. The Chinese Lantern Festival also marks the end of Chinese New Year celebrations.

People celebrate Chinese New Year in many different ways and they appreciate many unique Chinese traditions. Through these celebrations and activities, people treasure the values of sharing, caring and making good wishes for family members, relatives and friends.