New Year's Eve vs. Chinese New Year (with Flashcards)

新年快乐！

While Chinese New Year is undeniably the biggest holiday in China, New Year’s Eve on the Roman calendar is also widely celebrated. Despite their similar names, the ways Chinese people celebrate the start of the Roman calendar year and the Lunar New Year are quite different.

The Calendars: Roman vs. Lunar

New Year’s Eve on December 31st follows the Roman calendar, the same calendar used worldwide. In contrast, Chinese New Year is based on the lunar calendar, meaning its date changes every year, usually falling between late January and mid-February. Chinese New Year in 2025 will begin on Wednesday, January 29th, marking the start of the Year of the Snake (蛇年 shé nián).

Modern vs. Traditional Celebrations

New Year’s Eve in China is more modern and urban, often marked by countdowns, fireworks, and gatherings with friends. Young people might go to parties, while families sometimes enjoy a simple dinner at home. Recently drone shows have become quite popular too in some bigger cities in China. You can watch the video of last night’s New Year’s drone show and fireworks in Shanghai here:

Chinese New Year, on the other hand, is deeply rooted in tradition. Families reunite, honor their ancestors, and share a feast, including symbolic foods like dumplings (饺子 jiǎozi), fish (鱼 yú) and rice cake (年糕 niángāo) for good luck.
New Year’s Eve is a one-night affair, celebrated with a countdown to midnight. Chinese New Year, however, is a grand festival lasting 15 days, culminating in the Lantern Festival (元宵节 Yuánxiāo Jié).
Chinese New Year is steeped in cultural significance. It’s a time for giving red envelopes (红包 hóngbāo), decorating with red for good luck, and performing dragon dances. New Year’s Eve, in comparison, is celebrated more for fun than tradition, with less cultural weight attached.
While New Year’s Eve is becoming more popular in China, it’s still nowhere near as important as Chinese New Year. For many families, it’s the only time of the year they can all come together, enjoy a big meal, and really catch up. It’s all about traditions, sharing good food, and celebrating with the people who matter most.

While Chinese New Year is still a month away, I’ve created a new flashcard set on Quizlet with New Year’s Eve and Spring Festival-related vocabulary and expressions, which you can access here: Quizlet Flashcards.

I wish you an amazing start to the new year！

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