As the world prepares to welcome the Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, millions are set to embrace a season filled with renewal, reunion and good fortune.

This year ushers in the Year of the Horse, a symbol of rapid change, fresh opportunities and personal growth. The horse embodies speed, freedom and ambition, inspiring us to pursue bold new journeys with courage and optimism.

Recently, the "becoming Chinese" trend has swept across social media, with many declaring they're living through a "very Chinese time" in their lives. With so many new celebrants joining in, it's only fitting to share the essential traditions and insights that make this festival so meaningful.

Whether you're celebrating your first Spring Festival or simply seeking a refresher on its rich customs, this guide will help you navigate the intricacies of the holiday. From preparing delicious dumplings and readying red envelopes, known as hongbao, to giving your home a thorough clean and decluttering before the festivities begin, these time-honored practices will help you greet the Lunar New Year with positivity and purpose.

This year's Lunar New Year, which marks the beginning of the 15-day Spring Festival in China, begins on February 17 and lasts through March 3.

As of February 2, China had already seen an estimated 187.91 million cross-regional trips, a 13-percent year-on-year increase from last year, according to the Ministry of Transport. Railway passenger trips were estimated at 12 million, while road trips added up to 173.12 million, the waterway passenger flow was at 600,000, and the air passenger flow at 2.19 million.

Evidently, this is a peak time for travel in China, with many heading home to be with loved ones.

A time for family, food, festivities and tradition, the Spring Festival each year is marked by the hosting of traditional rituals and behaviors.

Reunion dinner

On New Year's Eve, families gather for a lavish reunion dinner, often traveling great distances to be together. This meal features dishes rich in symbolism, like fish for abundance, dumplings for wealth and rice cakes for rising fortunes.

Fish is always served at the reunion dinner because the word for fish (yu) sounds like "surplus" or "abundance" in Chinese. Serving fish represents wishes for a year of plenty. Fish is often left partially uneaten at this dinner, symbolizing that the surplus will carry over into the next year.

Nian gao is a sweet, sticky rice cake whose name sounds like "higher year" or "yearly growth." Eating nian gao expresses hopes for advancement, success and rising fortunes in the coming year.

Families often gather on New Year's Eve to prepare dumplings together, turning the process into a joyful, communal activity that spans generations.

The shape of dumplings resembles ancient Chinese silver or gold ingots, symbolizing wealth and prosperity for the coming year. Sometimes, a coin is hidden inside one dumpling, and whoever finds it is said to have extra luck in the year ahead. Dumplings are typically eaten at midnight or during the reunion dinner, marking the transition from the old year to the new.

All in red

Red is the festival's dominant color, seen in lanterns, couplets and clothing. It's believed to bring happiness, ward off evil and attract abundance. Families decorate their homes with red banners and paper cuttings, inviting prosperity for the year ahead.

Red envelopes (hongbao)

Traditionally, elders present children and unmarried adults with red envelopes filled with money. However, these can be given as gifts to all family, friends and colleagues. These are more than gifts; they are blessings for prosperity and protection. The act of giving and receiving hongbao is a cherished ritual, reinforcing bonds and spreading good fortune.

Fu for blessings and good fortune

Another iconic tradition is decorating homes with red paper emblems, especially the Fu character, which means "blessing" or "good fortune." These are often pasted on doors and windows, sometimes upside down. The upside-down Fu is a play on words in Chinese: "upside down" (dao) sounds like "arrive" (dao), so an upside-down Fu means "fortune has arrived."

Red paper cuttings and poetic couplets are pasted on windows and doorways. The couplets express wishes for prosperity, health and harmony in the new year.

The act of decorating is usually done before New Year's Day, as it's considered unlucky to do so after the festival has begun.

The Lantern Festival

The 15th day marks the Lantern Festival, a night when streets and homes glow with lanterns of every shape and color. Dragon and lion dances fill the air with energy, and celebrations are in full swing. Some activities include riddles written on lanterns to challenge young and old alike. This festival is a celebration of light, hope and community, bringing the New Year festivities to a spectacular close.

Sweet, round, glutinous rice balls known as tangyuan are served with broth or syrup during the Lantern Festival. Their round shape symbolizes family unity and togetherness.

Dos and don'ts

Chinese New Year is governed by a host of superstitions, many rooted in ancient beliefs about luck and fate. Here are some examples:

No negative words: Avoid saying words related to death, sickness or loss. Language is believed to shape destiny. No arguing, crying or complaining either, as this is believed to set the tone for the rest of the year.

Be careful of breaking things: Breaking dishes or glass is considered unlucky, symbolizing the shattering of fortune.

No borrowing or lending money: Financial exchanges are discouraged, as they may represent debt or loss in the coming year.

No haircuts or hair washing on New Year's Day: Cutting and washing hair is seen as cutting and washing away luck; it's best done before the festival begins. Washing your body is also advised on New Year's Eve, washing away all the bad of the previous year.

Avoid sharp objects: Things like knives, scissors and needles are considered to cut through wealth and success and are considered a bad omen for cutting ties with family. So when it comes to chopping food, many do this on New Year's Eve.

No porridge: It's believed that a way of gathering wealth is to avoid eating porridge on New Year's Day as this is considered a poverty meal.

Avoid wearing black or white: These colors are usually worn for mourning or symbolize bad luck, so bright colors, especially red, are encouraged. 

No cleaning on New Year's Day: Preparations for the New Year begin with a thorough cleaning of the home, symbolizing the sweeping away of bad luck and making space for good fortune. But superstition dictates that cleaning, including taking out the trash, must be finished before New Year's Day; to clean on the day itself risks sweeping away the luck just received.

Don't buy or gift books: The Chinese word for "book" (shu) sounds like "lose," so buying a book right after the New Year is considered an invitation for bad luck. Giving books as gifts to anyone is like wishing bad luck upon them.

Every dish and decoration is chosen for its auspicious meaning, reflecting the deep-rooted belief in luck, prosperity and family unity. These traditions are not just rituals but expressions of hope, gratitude and the desire for a better year ahead.

Whether you're a lifelong celebrant or a curious newcomer, participating in these traditions offers a window into a culture where every gesture, color and word is filled with meaning.