Chinese New Year marks the lunar new year with family reunions, feasts, and festive celebrations. Send invitations for reunion dinners, parties, and gatherings during this 15-day festival of renewal.

About Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year, also called Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, begins on the second new moon after the winter solstice and lasts 15 days. The occasion centers on family reunion, honoring ancestors, and welcoming good fortune for the coming year. Invitations should specify the date, time, and venue for reunion dinners or celebration parties. Include details about the meal (often a multi-course feast with symbolic dishes), dress code (red is traditional and auspicious), and any activities like lion dances, fireworks, or games. Red envelopes (hongbao) containing money are exchanged, especially to children and unmarried adults. Regional variations exist: Northern China emphasizes dumplings and jiaozi; Southern regions prefer fish and sticky rice cakes. Overseas Chinese communities host large public celebrations alongside private family gatherings. Each year is associated with an animal from the zodiac cycle (rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, pig), influencing decoration themes and symbolic references.

Cultural context

Chinese New Year is rooted in ancient lunar calendar traditions and agrarian cycles. It honors ancestors and celestial deities believed to visit households during this period. The color red symbolizes good fortune and wards off negative energy; gold represents wealth and prosperity. Fireworks and loud noises were traditionally used to scare away evil spirits. The festival reflects Confucian values of family hierarchy and filial piety, with younger generations paying respects to elders.