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Rites of Spring

The Spring Festival has been inscribed onto UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list, recognizing its rich cultural traditions, social significance and contribution to family values

By Lü Weitao , Wang Yuyan Updated Apr.1

People browse a ffower market decorated with lanterns on the Spring Festival’s Eve, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, January 28, 2025 (Photo by VCG)

UNESCO recently added the Spring Festival, the 15-day celebration of the Chinese New Year according to the lunar calendar, to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This decision was made during the 19th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, held in Paraguay in early December last year. With this addition, UNESCO recognizes 44 examples of China’s intangible cultural heritage.　

According to UNESCO’s documentation, the traditional knowledge and customs associated with the Spring Festival are passed down informally within families and communities, as well as formally through the education system. The craftsmanship and artistry tied to the festival are transmitted through apprenticeships, fostering family values, social cohesion and peace while strengthening cultural identity.　

The committee highlighted that the Spring Festival exemplifies a harmonious relationship between humans and nature, contributing to sustainable development in areas such as food security and education, and plays a vital role in raising environmental awareness.

Nature of the Beast 
Of all traditional Chinese festivals, Spring Festival is the richest in cultural content, the most widely observed and the most influential. About one-fifth of the global population celebrates Spring Festival, according to China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This includes lunar new year celebrations in over 20 countries, such as Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam, each with its own unique customs and cultural significance. But most share the holiday’s values, such as family harmony, social inclusivity and the coexistence of humans and nature.　

The origins of China’s Spring Festival date back at least 3,000 years. According to legend, a ferocious beast called Nian appeared at the end of each year, bringing disaster to the people. To ward off the beast and protect their homes, people held sacrificial rituals, praying for peace and good fortune in the coming year. Over time, these rituals evolved into the festival as it is known today.　

The tradition of celebrating the new year on the first day of the lunar calendar began during the Han Dynasty (206 BCE-24 CE). In 104 BCE, during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, the first month of the lunar calendar was officially designated as the start of the new year. Despite changes to the calendar over the past 2,000 years, the timing of the Lunar New Year has remained consistent.　

On the first day of the first lunar month, grand ceremonies are held in government courts, while ordinary citizens clean their homes, honor their ancestors and visit relatives and friends to offer New Year’s greetings.　

The custom of staying up on New Year’s Eve starts with the mythical beast Nian.　

According to legend, Nian devoured everything in its path – birds, livestock and people. It was said that when Nian appeared, trees withered, plants ceased to grow and the world was shrouded in gloom. However, once the beast had passed, flowers bloomed, grass flourished and prosperity returned.　

Nian appeared every 365 days, usually at nightfall, and disappeared with the first crow of the rooster at dawn. Despite knowing its schedule, there was no way to defeat it. Thus, people treated this terrifying night as a crucial moment in the year, calling it nian guan, or the “Nian threshold.”　

To survive the ordeal, families adopted various customs. On New Year’s Eve, they prepared dinner early, extinguished fires, locked livestock in pens, sealed their doors and windows, and gathered indoors for New Year’s Eve dinner. Because the night’s outcome was uncertain, the meal was prepared with extra care and abundance. Besides gathering the whole family to symbolize unity, they honored their ancestors before the meal, praying for their protection and a peaceful night.　

No one dared sleep that night. Instead, families stayed up together, eating, drinking and chatting to boost their spirits in case Nian attacked. By the Wei, Jin and Northern and Southern Dynasties (220-589), this practice had evolved into the custom of shou sui, or staying awake on New Year’s Eve.　

This tradition not only reflects people’s attachment to the passing year but also embodies their hopes for a better future in the coming year.

Wrap Parties 
During the Sui and Tang dynasties (581-907), the Spring Festival became an official holiday, typically lasting seven days. On the first day of the year, the imperial court held a grand morning ceremony to celebrate its arrival. Families reunited on this day, holding feasts to mark the occasion. While the ways of celebrating the Spring Festival have evolved over time, its core values remain unchanged – spending quality time with family and cherishing moments of togetherness and warmth.　

During the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period (907-960), Emperor Meng Chang composed the earliest known chunlian, or Spring Festival couplet. Meng Chang ruled the Later Shu (934-966), a regional power in southwestern China, and was known for his whimsical nature. One New Year’s Eve, he tasked imperial academicians, including the scholar Xin Yinxun, to write auspicious couplets to hang on the palace doors. After much difficulty, Xin Yinxun produced two lines, but Meng Chang found them poorly balanced and rejected them. When others hesitated to try, Meng Chang decided to compose the couplets himself:　

“May the new year bring abundant blessings / May the joyous occasion signal eternal spring.”　

Despite being considered an inept ruler, Meng Chang’s reign – though brief – became notable for this event. The Later Shu fell to the Song Dynasty (960-1279) in the second year of his rule. Captured and given the title of Duke of Qin, he died just seven days later. Though his life was filled with misfortune, the tradition of pasting Spring Festival couplets on doorways has endured, becoming one of the most recognizable customs of the festive season.　

During the Song and Yuan dynasties (960-1368), other customs gained popularity during the Spring Festival, including eating dumplings, setting off firecrackers, visiting relatives, sending New Year’s greeting cards and attending temple fairs.　

Dumplings have existed since at least the Han Dynasty. According to legend, Zhang Zhongjing, the renowned “sage of medicine,” invented dumplings. Initially, they were filled with medicinal herbs to prevent and treat illnesses, likely due to the bitterness of traditional Chinese medicine. Over time, dumplings became known by different names across regions and historical periods. During the Song Dynasty, they were called jiaozi, which may be the origin of the modern term.　

In the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), dumplings were called bianshi, which is still used in parts of Shanxi and Henan provinces today. The name is believed to have originated from their distinctive shape, roughly translating to “flat food.”　

On New Year’s Eve, as the old year transitions into the new, families gather to make and enjoy steaming hot dumplings, creating a lively and festive atmosphere. Traditionally, one dumpling contains a coin, and whoever finds it is considered especially lucky, symbolizing financial prosperity for the coming year.

Added Flame 
Today, setting off firecrackers adds to the festive atmosphere, bringing joy and good luck. However, the origins of firecrackers are rooted in the ancient legend of Nian. In an effort to ward off Nian, people used fire and the crackling sound of burning bamboo to scare it away. After the invention of gunpowder, they began filling bamboo tubes with it, which later evolved into paper tubes – eventually becoming the fireworks we know today. From New Year’s Eve to the early hours of the first day, the sound of firecrackers fills the air, symbolically expelling the old year and welcoming the new.　

During the Ming Dynasty (1368- 1644), even more unique customs caught on that embody China’s agrarian roots. A cracking good example is “whipping the ox.”　

In ancient times, oxen were essential for spring plowing, but they often resisted work during the winter and needed to be persuaded. As valuable assets, people were reluctant to whip them, so they created mock oxen out of clay or paper and used willow branches to whip them symbolically. This ritual, accompanied by ceremonial plowing, marked the beginning of the farming season. Although modern China no longer relies on oxen for plowing, the tradition of whipping the ox remains an entertaining custom in many regions during the Spring Festival.　

Other customs are less down to earth. The Kitchen God, regarded as the household deity, is believed to ascend to the Jade Emperor – the supreme deity in heaven – on the 23rd or 24th day of the 12th lunar month to report on the family’s deeds over the past year. Before his departure, families hold an elaborate farewell ceremony, offering specific foods such as zao tang (a sticky malt sugar candy), rice wine and fruits. The stickiness of zao tang is intended to seal the Kitchen God’s mouth so he will report only good things, while the rice wine is to make him tipsy and forget any negative comments. Sugarcane symbolizes the hope for continuous improvement, apples represent peace and safety, and oranges signify good fortune and prosperity.　

New Year pictures, a unique form of Chinese folk art, have become a beloved tradition during the Spring Festival. Comprising simple lines, bright colors and lively scenes, these festive decorations not only beautify homes but also carry auspicious meanings.　

For another taste of spring, look no further than spring pancakes. Filled with shredded radishes and other vegetables, eating these thin flour treats symbolizes welcoming the arrival of spring and the hope for a bountiful harvest.　

Solving lantern riddles is a popular pastime during the festival, where people write riddles on colorful lanterns for others to guess. Lanterns symbolize hope, and the riddles reflect aspirations for a smooth year ahead.　

During the Qing Dynasty (1644- 1911), dragon and lion dances, opera performances and parades became prominent Spring Festival traditions. Dragons and lions are considered auspicious creatures in Chinese culture, and performances featuring them are meant to drive away evil spirits and welcome good fortune.　

In the Chaoshan region of Guangdong Province and the Zhangzhou area of Fujian Province, the yingge dance is performed – a folk dance that blends martial arts, local theater and other regional arts. Dancers hold short wooden sticks in each hand, striking them together rhythmically with vigorous movements. The leader traditionally performs a snake dance, reflecting local reverence for snakes.　

After the Xinhai Revolution, which overthrew the Qing Dynasty and established the Republic of China (1911- 1949), the Gregorian calendar was introduced, separating official holidays from traditional folk festivals. In 1912, Sun Yat-sen, upon becoming the provisional president in Nanjing, announced the adoption of the Gregorian calendar in all provinces. In 1914, the Ministry of the Interior of the Beijing government approved a proposal to designate the first day of the lunar new year as the official Spring Festival, formally renaming the traditional lunar new year celebration.　

Following the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, the Gregorian calendar became the official date system. The central government approved the “National Holidays and Commemorative Days Regulations,” designating the Spring Festival as an official holiday. Since the 1980s, with the advance of reform and opening-up policies, there has been a resurgence of traditional festivals, with the Spring Festival regaining popularity and cultural significance.　

As one of the most important traditional festivals in Chinese culture, the influence of the Spring Festival has expanded globally. According to incomplete statistics, nearly 20 countries and regions now recognize it as an official holiday, and its customs have reached almost 200 countries and regions, making it a major cultural event enjoyed by people worldwide. In 2025, the Year of the Snake, the world celebrated the first UNESCO-recognized edition of the Spring Festival.

Traditional drummers from Fuping County, Shaanxi Province perform in Beijing, February 12, 2025 (Photo by VCG)

Visitors view displayed lanterns in celebration of Chinese Lunar New Year, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, February 11, 2025 (Photo by VCG)

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