TheSpringFestival,alsoknownasChineseNewYear,isthemostimportanttraditionalfestivalinChina.Itmarksthebeginningofanewyearonthelunarcalendarandisatimeforfamilyreunions.Peoplecleantheirhousestosweepawaybadluckanddecoratethemwithredlanternsandpapercuttingsforgoodfortune.OnNewYear'sEve,familiesgatherforabigdinnercalled"reuniondinner,"wheretheyenjoydeliciousfoodlikedumplingsandfish.Childrenreceiveredenvelopeswithmoneyfromeldersasasymbolofgoodwishes.Duringthefestival,peoplevisitrelativesandfriends,exchangegreetings,andwatchcolorfulfireworkslightupthesky.Thejoyfulatmospherelastsfor15daysuntiltheLanternFestival,whenpeopleadmirebeautifullanterndisplaysandeatsweetriceballs.TheSpringFestivalnotonlycarriesrichculturaltraditionsbutalsoshowsthewarmthoffamilybondsandthehopeforaprosperousnewyear.
