The calendar date that begins Chinese New Year varies each year.
Chinese New Year is based on the lunisolar Chinese calendar, so it does not fall on a fixed Gregorian-calendar date. It begins on the second new moon after the winter solstice in most years, placing it between January 21 and February 20 in the Gregorian calendar. The celebration begins on Chinese New Year’s Day and continues through the Spring Festival period.
The date is sometimes incorrectly treated as a second January 1. January 1 is New Year’s Day in the Gregorian calendar, while Chinese New Year follows a different calendrical system. Other East and Southeast Asian traditions also use lunar or lunisolar calendars, but their customs and official names can differ.
Festivities commonly include family reunions, special foods, red envelopes, decorations, and public performances. The zodiac animal changes by year, but the date itself is determined by the calendar’s lunar calculations.