New Year's Eve 除夕

Overview

Chuxi is the eve of the lunar new year. Its central observance is the reunion dinner, and the customary practice is to stay up through the turning of the year.

Meaning

The last evening of the lunar year — the reunion meal and the turning of the year.

Traditional Interpretation

The name means 'the evening that removes the old'. Red envelopes given on this evening are the best-documented of the festival's customs, and the household observances — the meal, the vigil, the door couplets — are the year's most consistent.

Related Concepts

FAQ

What is new year's eve 除夕 in the Chinese calendar?

The last evening of the lunar year — the reunion meal and the turning of the year. Chuxi is the eve of the lunar new year. Its central observance is the reunion dinner, and the customary practice is to stay up through the turning of the year.

When does new year's eve 除夕 fall?

Its date is set by the lunar month, so it moves against the solar calendar. The last evening of the lunar year — the reunion meal and the turning of the year. The eve, not the day, carries the main observance in this festival, which distinguishes it from the solar-term observances where the day itself is the point.

How is new year's eve 除夕 read in Chinese tradition?

The name means 'the evening that removes the old'. Red envelopes given on this evening are the best-documented of the festival's customs, and the household observances — the meal, the vigil, the door couplets — are the year's most consistent. It is grouped under Fire (火) in the five-element system.

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