About Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year, often called the Spring Festival or Lunar New Year, is the most important holiday in China and Chinese communities around the world. This year, Chinese New Year falls on January 22, although celebrations will typically last 16 days, starting from Chinese New Year's Eve (January 21) until February 5.
Chinese New Year Traditions
Prior to the Chinese New Year, households are thoroughly cleaned to rid the house of the bad luck from the previous year and to make the house a welcoming place for good luck. In addition, houses are decorated with fresh red paint, red cut-out decorations, and red lanterns, as red symbolizes joy and good fortune.
The Chinese New Year’s Eve meal is the most important dinner of the year. Families may gather at a relative’s house or at a restaurant. The celebration continues throughout the 16 days, often rotating between relatives' households. Traditional dishes include:
- Eight Treasures Rice - rice, walnuts, different colored dry fruit, raisins, sweet red bean paste, jujube dates, and almonds
- Tang Yuan - black sesame rice ball soup; or a won ton soup
- Song Gao - coarsely ground rice formed into a small, sweet round cake
- Jiu Niang Tang - sweet wine-rice soup which contains small rice balls
- Chicken, duck, fish and pork dishes
Each day of the 16-day long festival has a name, and usually an assigned purpose or meaning (see the “How Long is Chinese New Year” section in the China Highlights Chinese New Year 2023: Traditions/Greetings/Food for a Lucky Rabbit Year article for an overview). The final day is known as the Festival of Lanterns and marks the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations. All types of lanterns are lit throughout the streets and often poems and riddles are written for entertainment.
The Year of the Rabbit
2023 is the Year of the Rabbit and is predicted to bring hope. The zodiac sign is a symbol of longevity, peace, and prosperity. You are considered a rabbit if you were born after the Chinese New Year in 2023, 2011, 1999, 1987, 1975, 1963, 1951, or 1939. Additionally, if you were born before the Chinese New Year in one of the years immediately following those above (2012, 2000, 1988, 1976, etc.), then you are a Rabbit as well. The element associated with the rabbit this year is water, so it’s known as the Water Rabbit year, which comes around every sixty years.
Upcoming Chinese New Year Events
Lunar New Year at the MFA
Thursday, February 2, 2023
5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Ring in the Year of the Rabbit at MFA Boston! Stop by on Thursday evening, February 2, and celebrate the Lunar New Year by exploring Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese art from our collection—including works on view in the exhibition “Otherworldly Realms of Wu Junyong.” The MFA will also have Chinese Brush Painting Art Kits, Kung Fu and Lion Dance demonstrations, artist talks and demonstrations, and more. Check out the MFA event page for more details.
Chinatown's Annual Lion Dance Parade and Cultural Village
Sunday, January 29, 2023
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Philips Square (corner of Harrison Ave and Beach Street)
On Sunday, January 29, Chinatown will hold its annual Lion Dance Parade (date subject to change based on the weather – check The Boston Calendar for any updates). The parade kicks off with an opening ceremony at the main stage in Philips Square and continues its way through other nearby Chinatown streets. Continue the celebration with Chinatown Main Street at the Chinese New Year Cultural Village. There will be calligraphy, origami, lantern crafting, dance performances, and more!