Gregorian calendar元旦
The first day of the Gregorian year offers a fresh start. It is a different occasion from the lunar New Year celebrated at Spring Festival.
Story & background
Gregorian New Year's Day arrived with the modern calendar, bringing a shared date for schools, offices, and cities around the world. In China it sits alongside, rather than replaces, the much older Spring Festival, so the two New Years carry different histories and moods.
Customs
- Exchange simple New Year wishes.
- Make a small plan for the year ahead.
- Join a local countdown only where public events are organised.
Festival food
There is no single national New Year's dish. Breakfasts, noodles, dumplings, and local treats depend on the household.
Try this
Write a short New Year greeting in Chinese and practise saying it to someone: 新年快乐 (Xīnnián kuàilè).
Dates in this guide
2026: 2026-01-01 · 2027: 2027-01-01 · 2028: 2028-01-01
Useful word新年快乐Happy New Year