Chinese Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, is the largest holiday throughout China and has been commemorated for thousands of years. This holiday marks the dawn of a new year based on the lunar calendar and corresponds with many myths and rituals. Chinese New Year is dedicated towards honoring ancestors casting out evil spirits and praying for good fortune.
Preparations for the New Year begin well in advance before the actual date of the holiday. As the year comes to an end, there is a tendency for people to organize and to declutter in hopes of a fresh start. A popular custom is decorating windows and doors with red paper couplets. Everyone will change into new outfits for the festive period.
Chinese New Year is a family-centered holiday, so those living far away from their families return home before the holiday. Family members gather around a big table to enjoy a New Year’s Eve dinner, known as Nian Ye Fan. Other activities involve lighting firecrackers, watching lion and dragon dances, and exchanging money in red paper envelopes.
How to Observe Chinese Lunar New Year in the Workplace:
Reunion lunch: Celebrate the start of the Chinese New Year by having a reunion lunch with colleagues once everyone returns back to work from the holiday. This can be done by making a list of traditional foods that staff can bring in, and coordinating with the employees to ensure there is diversity in the dishes. Getting employees together for a lunch celebration is a great way to encourage more interaction and engagement between team members.
Be Flexible: Accommodate requests for time off for Chinese Lunar New Year. An employer should present options to any employee who celebrates the holiday to take time off without losing wages or having to use vacation time.
Make No Assumptions: For personal reasons, not everybody who celebrates the New Year will do so in the same way. Some may take time off or be open about celebrating and sharing their culture with their colleagues, while others may prefer to stay quiet.
Communication Template for Chinese Lunar New Year
[Subject: Chinese Lunar New Year]
Hi everyone,
Chinese Lunar New Year is approaching soon. This is the largest holiday throughout China and has been commemorated for thousands of years. This holiday marks the dawn of a new year based on the lunar calendar and corresponds with many cultural rituals. Chinese New Year is dedicated towards honoring ancestors casting out evil spirits and praying for good fortune.
We encourage you to learn more about Chinese Lunar New Year. Here are some resources to get you started:
Please feel free to share any insights with the team.
Best,
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