Chinese New Year 2022

Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, is the most important festival in China.

It is also a major event in some other East Asian countries (Lunar New Year is known as Seollal in South Korea, Tet in Vietnam, and Tsagaan Sar in Mongolian). Over 1.5 billion people will celebrate. Unlike countries which use the Gregorian calendar (which starts on 1 January) these nations relied on a lunisolar calendar. The festival marks the beginning of a new moon, and falls at a slightly different time each year, usually in January or February.  Traditionally it is a time to honour deities as well as ancestors, and it has also become a time to feast and to visit family members. 

The celebrations traditionally last about two weeks in total, from Chinese New Year’s Eve to the Lantern Festival, held on the 15th day of the lunar year. Regional customs and traditions vary widely but share the same theme: seeing out the old year and welcoming in the luck and prosperity of a new year. 

Chinese New Year 2022 starts on Tuesday 1 February 2022, beginning a year of the Tiger.

China's public holiday will be from Monday 31 January to Sunday 6 February 2022.

• Also called: 'Spring Festival', Lunar New Year
• Chinese: 春节 Chūn Jié /chwn-jyeah/
• 1 February 2022: Year of the Water Tiger occurs every 60 years.
• Holiday: 7 days 
• Celebrations: New Year decorations, New Year's Eve dinner on Monday 31 January, firecrackers and fireworks, red envelopes, lanterns and dragon dances.

Years of the Tiger include 2022, 2010, 1998, 1986, 1974, 1962, 1950, 1938...

The Tiger is known as the king of all beasts in China. The zodiac sign Tiger is a symbol of strength, exorcising evils, and braveness.

Fram lanterns to envelopes, the colour red, symbolising good fortune and joy, is everywhere during Lunar New Year celebrations in China. Red lanterns are hung outside doors to wear off bad luck. Many Chinese children wear hats or shoes with a tiger image for good luck. Parents give their children red pockets or envelopes with gifts inside. At this special time, everyone wears their new clothes, spend time with relatives and have have meals together.

Lunar New Year celebrations are being held more and more in Western cities in recent years too, like London, New York, San Francisco, Vancouver, Melbourne and Sydney.

Find out more about the...