Chinese New Year 2020

Chinese New Year is also known as the Spring Festival.
Chinese New Year is celebrated by more than 20% of the world. It's the most important holiday in China and to Chinese people all over.
In China, you'll hear it being called chunjie (春节), or the Spring Festival. It's still very wintry, but the holiday marks the end of the coldest days. People welcome spring and what it brings along: planting and harvests, new beginnings and fresh starts.
You can also call it the Lunar New Year, because countries such as North and South Korea and Vietnam celebrate it as well.
From the week of January 13th to the first week of February, China will be celebrating the advent of the new decade. Companies, Universities, factories, and schools will have this time off, and workers will be home to enjoy the festivities.
Similar to New Year resolutions, the spirit of the holiday is to shed old habits and begin new undertakings or hobbies.
It is the longest Chinese holiday

The Spring Festival is technically 15 days. But celebrations start on New Year's Eve (making it 16 days). You can also say that the holiday season starts in (lunar) December with the Laba Festival (腊八节—là bā jié). That's around 40 days of celebrations!

During the holiday, Chinese people spend twice as much on shopping and eating out than Americans spend on Thanksgiving.
Traditionally, you have to spend time with your family and can only go out after the 5th day. It's a national holiday. The large majority of stores are closed too.

So in the month before, people will buy nian huo (年货), or New Year's products. The Chinese stock up on cooking supplies, snacks, gifts, new clothes and more.

The Spring Festival causes the largest human migration in the world

The most important part of Chinese New Year is the family reunion. Everyone should come back home for the New Year's Eve dinner.

But since in modern China, most elderly parents live in rural villages while their children work in the cities. The migration back home and to go on vacation is called chunyun (春运), or Spring Migration.
Even on normal days, subways to work are jammed pack with people just barely squishing past the door. You can imagine the intensity of the chunyun.
Chinese Zodiac

Every year is marked by one of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals that cycle annually. 2020 is the year of the Rat. In the Chinese culture, the Rat is a sign of wealth and prosperity. Due to their high reproductive rate, they also represent fertility. People born under the year of the rat are said to be frugal, intelligent, clever, and adaptable.

Traditional Activities

Many people will decorate their homes with red posters and lanterns. Red represents wealth, fortune, and hospitality in China. Fireworks and firecrackers are set off to ward away any bad luck. Traditional garments are worn, and new clothing is bought to replace the old. There are various parades that include gongs and drums, with dragon floats and dances. Families will visit their relatives and children will receive gifts of cash.
Keep in mind the Chinese New Year when scheduling your overseas orders, as most manufacturing facilities and shipping companies will be closed for the holiday.
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