Of course like every celebration, there is always food 

So during Chinese New Year, Fruits such as mandarins, oranges and pomelos take on a certain importance during the Chinese New Year period.

Eating mandarins and oranges, or displaying them around the house, is used to bring good luck, a quality these fruits possess due to their assonance, in the Chinese language, with the word "success".Similarly, the Chinese character for Mandarin is 桔 (jú), which contains the character for "good luck" 吉 (jí). Their perfectly round shape symbolizes wealth and prosperity.

Another typical dish is "sweet rice dumplings", which represents family unity, fundamental to Chinese culture. 

Sweet rice dumplings are the most traditional food during the Lantern Festival, but in southern China they are eaten every day of the New Year festivities.

The circular shape and pronunciation recall the concept of "gathering" and "being together”.

Chinese dumplings" certainly can't be left in the pantry.

With a history of over 1800 years, dumplings are a classic Chinese dish and a popular traditional dish throughout the country during the New Year festivities.

When making dumplings, it's important to pay attention to the dough and the number of folds that form when they close. Also, if the part where they close is too thin, it's a sign of poverty for the coming year.

Ravioli are usually filled with minced meat and finely chopped vegetables, wrapped in a thin, elastic dough.

The most popular fillings are pork, shrimp, fish, chicken or beef, and various vegetables. They can be boiled, steamed, fried or baked.

Spring rolls are a must.

Spring rolls owe their name to the Spring Festival, which is another Chinese name for the New Year.

This dish is traditionally eaten during festivals, particularly in eastern China.

This dish is traditionally eaten during festivals, particularly in eastern China.

Spring rolls are cylindrical in shape and filled with vegetables, meat or sweet ingredients. The fillings are wrapped in a dough, which is then deep-fried until golden brown.

They symbolize wealth, as the fried rolls resemble gold ingots.

Family and friends traditionally give each other red envelopes containing money as a symbol of good luck and best wishes for the year ahead. They usually give to children red envelopes after the reunion dinner, wishing them health, growth, and good studies in the coming year.

Money in red envelopes is believed to bring good luck, as red is China's lucky color, so it's called lucky money.

Offering sacrifices to ancestors shows respect and piety. In addition, ancestral spirits are believed to protect their descendants and help them become prosperous.

Many worship on Chinese New Year's Eve, before the reunion dinner, to show that they are letting their ancestors "eat" first. Offerings of meat, wine, joss sticks and joss paper are placed in front of the shrine/grave.

The moment Lunar New Year arrives there is a cacophony of fireworks and firecrackers all around, even in rural China. Families stay up for this joyful moment.

In many rural areas, it's customary to set off firecrackers before dinner, each day from New Year's Eve to day 3 of CNY. See Why Chinese New Year Must Have Firecrackers.

Dragons represent boldness, power and strength in China. Performing a dragon dance during Chinese New Year is believed to drive away evil spirits and welcome in prosperity.

Perhaps the most fun and certainly the most active of all our Chinese New Year activities for adults, performing a dragon dance is a fantastic way to learn all about Chinese cultural traditions. You can watch an example of a dragon dance here for some inspiration!

Red lanterns are everywhere during the festivities. Symbolizing luck and prosperity, they are hung in front of houses, in the streets, and in public places. Red is considered a lucky color in China.

Couplets, or "chunlian," are red paper strips with auspicious poems or phrases written in black or gold calligraphy. They are placed on both sides of doors to attract good fortune and ward off evil spirits.

The Chinese character "福" (Fu), meaning happiness or fortune, is often displayed upside down on doors and windows. This inversion symbolizes the arrival of happiness since the word "upside down" in Chinese sounds like "arrive."

Jianzhi are intricate paper cuttings often featuring flowers, animals, or auspicious Chinese characters. These delicate decorations are placed on windows to symbolize happiness and good fortune.

The New Year's meal is often the most important moment of the celebration. Families prepare special dishes, such as dumplings (jiaozi), which symbolize wealth, or fish, which represents abundance. This meal is an opportunity to gather, share stories, and celebrate together.

These envelopes are typically given by elders to younger family members. The money inside is not a fixed amount, but receiving a red envelope is a symbolic gesture that represents wishes for prosperity in the new year. The envelopes are often decorated with lucky and happy motifs.

Fireworks are an essential part of the celebrations. They are meant to scare away evil spirits and bring good fortune. In some regions, firecrackers are also lit to create noise and drive away bad spirits. On New Year’s Eve, the sky lights up with vibrant colors, creating a festive atmosphere.

This dance is an artistic performance that symbolizes strength and luck. Dancers dress up as lions and perform acrobatic movements to the sound of drums and cymbals. The lion dance is often performed in the streets and at businesses to attract prosperity and good fortune for the coming year.

Before the New Year, families thoroughly clean their homes to get rid of accumulated bad luck. This cleaning is symbolic as it represents a fresh start. However, it is important not to sweep on New Year's Day, as this could sweep away good fortune.

Decorations are essential for creating a festive atmosphere. Red lanterns, banners with Chinese characters representing luck and happiness, as well as images of fish and flowers, are commonly used. These decorations are often placed at the entrance of homes to welcome the New Year with joy.