Which Republic of China leader proposed the name Spring Festival in 1914?

Yuan Shikai proposed the name “Spring Festival” for the traditional Chinese New Year in 1914. The name helped distinguish the lunisolar New Year from January 1, which had become the Republic of China’s Gregorian New Year.

After the 1911 Revolution, the Republic of China adopted the Gregorian calendar for official dating. The traditional first day of the first lunar month still remained the major popular festival, but it needed a distinct official name. Yuan Shikai, then president of the Republic of China, approved the designation “Spring Festival” (春节, Chūnjié).

The festival itself is far older than the name. Earlier names included New Year, Yuan Dan and Guo Nian, while “Spring Festival” had historically been used in other contexts, including for the season or the solar term Lichun. Some historical accounts emphasize that Interior Minister Zhu Qiqian submitted the proposal to Yuan, but quiz references commonly credit Yuan Shikai as the leader who proposed or approved the official name.