TheSpringFestival,alsoknownasChineseNewYear,isthemostimportanttraditionalfestivalinChina.ItmarksthebeginningofanewyearonthelunarcalendarandusuallyfallsbetweenlateJanuaryandmid-February.Duringthistime,familiesgathertogethertocelebratewithvariouscustomsandtraditions.Peoplecleantheirhousestosweepawaybadluck,decoratewithredlanternsandcoupletsforgoodfortune,andpreparespecialfoodslikedumplingsandricecakes.Thefestivallastsfor15days,endingwiththeLanternFestivalwhenpeopleadmirebeautifullanterndisplays.OneofthemostexcitingpartsoftheSpringFestivalisthereuniondinneronNewYear'sEve.Familymemberstravelfromfarandwidetobetogetherforthisspecialmeal.Afterdinner,peopleoftenstayuplatetowelcomethenewyear,atraditioncalled"Shousui."Atmidnight,fireworkslightuptheskytodriveawayevilspiritsandbringhappiness.Childrenreceiveredenvelopesfilledwithmoneyfromtheireldersasasymbolofgoodluck.Thelivelyatmosphere,deliciousfood,andwarmfamilygatheringsmaketheSpringFestivalatrulyunforgettablecelebration.
