Chinese New Year 2020 – Year of the Rat

The Chinese New Year of 2020 falls on January 25th (Saturday), and the festival will last to February 8th, about 15 days in total. 2020 is a Year of the Rat according to Chinese zodiac. As an official public holiday, Chinese people can get seven days’ absence from work, from January 24th to 30th.
How long is the Chinese New Year holiday?
The legal holiday is seven days long, from the Lunar New Year’s Eve to the sixth day of the first lunar month. Some companies and public institutions enjoy a longer holiday for up to 10 days or more, because in common knowledge among Chinese people, the festival lasts longer, from the Lunar New Year’s Eve to the 15th day of the first lunar month (Lantern Festival).
Chinese New Year Dates & Calendar in 2020

2020 Lunar New Year falls on January 25th.
The public holiday lasts from January 24th to 30th, during which the New Year’s Eve on January 24th and the New Year’s Day on January 25th are the peak time of celebration.
The commonly known New Year calendar counts from the New Year’s Eve to the Lantern Festival on February 8th, 2020. According to the old folk customs, the traditional celebration starts even earlier, from the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month.
Why do Chinese New Year dates change every year?
Chinese New Year dates vary slightly between years, but it usually comes during the period from January 21st to February 20th in Gregorian calendar. The dates change every year because the festival is based on the Chinese Lunar Calendar. The lunar calendar is associated with the movement of the moon, which usually defines traditional festivals like the Chinese New Year (Spring Festival), Lantern Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, and Mid-Autumn Day.
The lunar calendar is also associated with 12 animal signs in Chinese zodiac, so every 12 years is regarded as a cycle. 2020 is a Year of the Rat, while 2021 turns to be a Year of the Ox.
Credits to: Travel Chine Guide
I love the article, It shows the meaning of Chinese culture in the food that they prepared, It also shows that the family is of great importance as it is the foundation of society. The significance of the family is most apparent in the Chinese New Year food they prepare during what they consider to be the most important holiday of the year.
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