Chinese New Year, also called “Spring Festival” (春节; chunjie), is China’s biggest and most important annual celebration. The festivities vary by region, and the date changes each year as it follows the lunar calendar. When is the Chinese New Year 2027, which marks the start of the Year of the Goat?
What is the Chinese New Year?
According to Chinese beliefs, before the new Chinese lunar year, it is important to remove bad luck and welcome prosperity, health, and happiness. Therefore, the Chinese traditionally prepare for the upcoming CNY by:
- Paying off debts
- Resolving disputes
- Deep cleaning the house
- Preparing symbolic decorations
- Paying respect to ancestors
When is the Chinese New Year 2027?
Chinese New Year 2027 begins on February 6 and ends on February 20 with the Lantern Festival. The year 2027 will be the Year of the Goat (or Sheep) according to the Chinese zodiac.
- Chinese New Year’s Eve: February 5, 2027
- Chinese New Year: February 6, 2027
- Statutory CNY holidays: February 5–11, 2027
- Lantern Festival: February 20, 2027
Chinese New Year Customs
Chinese New Year traditions are full of meaning:
- Fireworks and firecrackers: scare away evil spirits.
- Reunion family dinner: feature symbolic dishes like jiaozi (dumplings)for unity, noodles for longevity, and fish for abundance.
- Door decorations: the most common are Chinese character 福 (fu), meaning good fortune, and red couplets with wishes for the year ahead.
- Red: this color represents luck and prosperity.
- Money-packed red envelopes: a gift given to children and unmarried adults, also commonly replaced by digital ones.
Sourcing from China and the Chinese New Year
If you source from China or do any business in China, you have to understand how the CNY might impact your activities/ Take the following into consideration:
- Mass migration around the time of CNY leads to overcrowded public transportation and low ticket availability.
- Factories close for at least 7 days.
- Batches of goods produced around the CNY may be of lower quality (rushed production, lack of workforce).
- Production stops weeks before the holiday.
- Communication with suppliers is limited.
- Shipping delays are common.
- Product prices and freight rates are higher due to high demand before the holiday.
To sum it up, planning ahead is essential to keep your supply chain running smoothly.