From New Year's Eve on February 5, 2027 to the Lantern Festival on February 20, 2027. These are widely described Chinese customs; traditions differ by region and family.
Friday, February 5, 2027
New Year's Eve (Chuxi, 除夕)
The reunion dinner (nian ye fan): the most important family meal of the year. Families stay up late to see the new year in (shou sui), hand out red envelopes, and set off fireworks at midnight where allowed.
Saturday, February 6, 2027
Day 1: Spring Festival (Chunjie, 春节)
Wear new clothes, often red, greet elders first, and visit close family. Many avoid sweeping, taking out the trash, or washing hair today so good luck is not washed or swept away.
Sunday, February 7, 2027
Day 2: Married daughters visit their parents
Married daughters traditionally return to their parents' home with their husbands and children (hui niangjia). In Cantonese tradition this is kai nian, the start of the year, marked with a special meal.
Monday, February 8, 2027
Day 3: Chikou (赤口), the 'red mouth' day
Believed to be prone to arguments, so many families stay home and skip social visits. Some use the day to visit the graves of relatives.
Tuesday, February 9, 2027
Day 4: Welcome back the Kitchen God
Families welcome the Kitchen God and other household gods back from heaven with offerings and incense.
Wednesday, February 10, 2027
Day 5: Powu (破五), the God of Wealth
Many welcome the God of Wealth with firecrackers, northern families eat dumplings, and many shops and businesses reopen.
Thursday, February 11, 2027
Day 6: Send off the Ghost of Poverty
Families clean out the trash saved since New Year's Day to send off poverty, and more businesses reopen.
Friday, February 12, 2027
Day 7: Renri (人日), everyone's birthday
The day humankind was created in Chinese legend, so everyone grows a year older. Some eat a seven-vegetable soup; in Malaysia and Singapore families toss yusheng (lo hei) for prosperity.
Saturday, February 13, 2027
Day 8: Eve of the Jade Emperor's birthday
Hokkien families hold another family dinner and prepare offerings for midnight prayers to the Jade Emperor.
Sunday, February 14, 2027
Day 9: The Jade Emperor's birthday (天公诞)
Hokkien and Taiwanese families pray to the Jade Emperor (Tian Gong), often with sugarcane, incense, and food offerings.
Monday, February 15, 2027
Day 10: Visiting continues
Visits to friends and relatives continue as families start preparing lanterns for the Lantern Festival.
Tuesday, February 16, 2027
Day 11: Visiting continues
Visits to friends and relatives continue. In some regions fathers-in-law host their daughters' husbands.
Wednesday, February 17, 2027
Day 12: Lantern preparations
Families make or buy lanterns and set up decorations for the Lantern Festival.
Thursday, February 18, 2027
Day 13: Lantern preparations
Many eat lighter, simpler meals after two weeks of feasting, and lanterns go up outside homes and temples.
Friday, February 19, 2027
Day 14: Lantern Festival eve
Last preparations: lanterns are hung and tangyuan dough is made for the next day.
Saturday, February 20, 2027
Day 15: Lantern Festival (Yuanxiao, 元宵节)
The first full moon of the year closes the celebration with lantern displays, riddles written on lanterns, lion and dragon dances, and sweet rice balls (tangyuan or yuanxiao).