The most important festival for the Chinese was, and still is, the Lunar New Year. Throughout China, this festival season is set aside totally for pleasure and merry-making. The form of celebration it takes is similar throughout the country, but there are variations between North, Central and South China.

Days before the New Year, housewives thoroughly clean their homes with bamboo leaves to chase away evil spirits. Door gods are pasted and New Year lucky posters hung up.

The reunion dinner is a must for every family on Lunar New Year's eve. Children practice Shou-sui on the eve by staying up as late as possible, as they believe that the later they sleep the longer their parents will live.

On New Year's day, everyone gets up early, washes and dresses in their best clothes. Offerings are made to the Jade Emperor. On the altars and in water containers coins are placed for luck.

In South China, balls of rice flour in a pink sugar solution are eaten as a symbol of reunion and happiness.

The celebration and ceremony held on the first day of the Lunar New Year is called Jie Tian Di - the welcoming of the gods of the heavens and earth. The food and utensils required for the ceremony are: 5 pairs of chopsticks, 5 bowls, 5 cups, a pine branch, a pig's head, 4 pig's trotters and one carp. Many elderly people of South China abstain from meat on the first day of the new year because it is believed that this will ensure long and happy lives for them.

The Chinese celebrate their New Year by staging lion and dragon dances. The dragon is usually made of light wooden frames in segments and covered with colourful cloth with mirrors and embroidery depicting the scales of the dragon. The head of the dragon is also made in bamboo frames and covered with layers of silk or cloth. It has large eyes and a large mouth with flexible lower lip.

A number of men with marshal art and gymnastic ability act as the legs of the dragon. Their gymnastic ability is well demonstrated as they swing the dragon from side to side, and as they jumped up and down to stimulate the gyrations and undulations of the dragon. Usually a marshal artist carrying a pearl runs in front of the dragon to lead its way.

Although real lions are not found in China, the Chinese believe that they repel evil and bring good fortune. A male and female lion is placed in front of buildings, on each side of the main door. The female has a cub in her claw, while the male has a ball. The one placed on the right has its mouth closed while the one on the left has its mouth open.

The lion dance is just as vigorous as the dragon dance. In South China the lion dance is performed by three men. Two act as the force and hind legs of the lion, while the third wears a hug mask and acts as a laughing monk.

In South China, the lions are usually white with long fur. The dancers are marshal artists and very often perform balancing acts on a big ball.

On the second day of the fifteen-day-celebration, the Chinese pray to their ancestors as well as all the gods. They call it Kai Nien - opening the new year. All kinds of fruits are offered together with cooked chicken, carp, duck and roasted pork. Some people in South China make symbolic gestures such as returning carp to the rivers as a sign of love and compassion. They are extra kind to dogs and feed them well as it is believed that the second day is the birthday of all dogs.

In North China, the third and fourth days are for the sons-in-laws to pay respect to their parents-in-law. However, in South China the 6th day is reserved for this.

The fifth day is called Po Wu 'broken fifth'. On that day, no visits to friends and relatives are made lest bad luck is brought to both parties. Instead, people stay at home to welcome the god of wealth and make offerings to the Spirits of the Road.

On the sixth day, people in Central China make lanterns to celebrate the Liu Zi Ye. During this celebration all those who are childless will exchange lanterns so that in the following year they might have babies.

From the sixth to the tenth day, Chinese the visit their relatives and friends freely. Guests are offered such fruits and cakes and lizbi (lychee), juzi (tangerine), and groundnut cakes. They also visit the temples to pray for good fortune and health. In North China, the temple Bai Yun Guan was, and continues to be, the most popular place for prayers and relaxation.

The seventh day of the New Year is the day for farmers to display their produce. These farmers make a drink from seven types of vegetables to celebrate the occasion. The 7th day is also considered the birthday of human beings. Noodles are eaten to promote longevity, and raw fish for success.

On the eight day, the Fujian people have another family reunion dinner, and at midnight they pray to Tian Gong, the God of Heaven.During the auspicious period of the New Year from the first to the fifteenth day of the lunar month, superstitious Chinese refrain from saying anything bad or referring to sad events or unhappiness. They believe that unlucky words spoken or unlucky events will be repeated over and over agin during the rest of the year.

Porridge is not to be eaten lest there be wet weather throughput the year. Women are not to do needlework lest they hurt or prick their fingers, and parents must not beat or scold their children lest they be naughty throughput the year. Housewives must not wash the floors or clothes. Even rubbish is not to be disposed of lest wealth too is washed or thrown away. They hide their brooms during the first few days so that the God of Wealth will not be offended or swept away from the house.

Some villagers believe that it is unlucky to hear a magpie cry. Many will not visit relatives on the 15th day of the new year and eat dumpling rather than rice because rice sounds like crime in Cantonese. Nothing should be broken during the festive season. Breaking articles will result in the breakup of marital or family unity.

Certain types of food or fruit are eaten during the lunar New Year season to ensure wealth throughout the year. Some of these are specially made for the occasion. For example, tortoise-shaped cakes are made to give longevity to the people who eat them. New Year rice cakes are made very sweet to ensure sweetness in life.

Some Chinese also believe that women who wash their hair just before the new lunar year will enjoy good health throughout the year.