The most important Chinese holiday is Chinese New Year,which is known in China as Spring Festival. The festival ushers in the lunar New Year and is the West's Christmas and New Year's Eve rolled into one. From sun up to sun down, this is a time when the whole country throws itself into celebrating and eating.

No one is quite sure exactly when or where the festival originated. Legend has it that once upon a time, there was a monster called Nian that attacked Chinese villages every spring, eating anything that came its way- people, animals, plants and the odd building.One spring,villagers hung red paper on their doors and threw bamboo on a fire when Nian arrived. The monster was so startled by the bright colors and loud cracking noise of the burning bamboo that it turned and fled. Today the word" Nian" is the Chinese word for year.

Sincen that day, Chinese people hang red paper signs and lanterns outside their homes and enjoy making loud noises on New Year's Eve. Firecrackers replaced bamboo after gun power was invented and the main idea today is the louder and bigger, the better. In the days leading up to the Spring Festival,every household gets a thorough clean since sweeping on New Year's Day itself might sweep away the year's good fortune. Breaking dishes or using sharp objects is also seen as potentially unlucky.

The holiday is a time for family celebration and nearly every university student or migrant worker heads home.It'll seem like the whole country is going somewhere at this time, whether on their way home or taking advantage of the long holiday to do some traveling.

On New Year's Eve, once the family has been gathered, food becomes a central consideration. Large numbers of delicates are prepared and fish is often eaten as the Chinese word for fish is a homephone for surplus.

Children particularly enjoy the custom of receiving red envelopes. The envelopes contain gifts of money and are distributed by family elders to young unmarried relatives.