History of Chinese New Year in Timeline

Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival, is a vital holiday rooted in the lunisolar Chinese calendar, celebrating the end of winter and the start of spring. Celebrations span from Chinese New Year's Eve to the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the year. The first day falls between January 21st and February 20th, coinciding with the new moon. Its cultural importance led to its inscription on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list in 2024.

1914: Name Proposed for Spring Festival

In 1914, Yuan Shikai, then the interim president of the Republic of China, proposed the name "Spring Festival" for the Chinese New Year celebration.

1928: Kuomintang Decree on Chinese New Year

In 1928, the Kuomintang party decreed that Chinese New Year would fall on 1 January of the Gregorian calendar; however, this decision was later abandoned due to overwhelming opposition.

June 1946: Recognition of Chinese New Year as a National Religious Holiday

On June 18, 1946, Chinese New Year was celebrated as one of the official national religious holidays by Chinese Indonesians through a government regulation signed by President Sukarno.

January 1953: Unofficial Celebration of Chinese New Year Begins

From 1953 to 1967, Chinese New Year was celebrated unofficially by ethnic Chinese in Indonesia, based on a government regulation signed on February 5, 1953 by Vice-President Mohammad Hatta, which annulled the previous regulation from June 1946.

February 1953: Government Regulation for Unofficial Celebrations

On February 5, 1953, a government regulation signed by Vice-President Mohammad Hatta allowed ethnic Chinese to celebrate Chinese New Year unofficially, annulling the previous regulation from June 1946.

1958: Inaugural San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade

In 1958, the annual Chinese New Year Parade was first held in San Francisco, growing into a major event attended by hundreds of thousands and viewed by millions on TV.

1966: "Kowloon Hong Kong" Pop Song

In 1966, the pop song "Kowloon Hong Kong" by The Reynettes recorded the saying 恭喜發財，利是逗來，斗零唔愛 (Gung Hei Fat Choy, Lai Si Tau Loi, Tau Ling M Ngoi), reflecting children's New Year wishes in Hong Kong.

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December 1967: Restriction on Chinese New Year Celebrations

Effective December 6, 1967, the New Order government in Indonesia restricted the spiritual practice of celebrating Chinese New Year by Chinese families to only inside the Chinese house, through Presidential Instruction No. 14 of 1967 signed by President Suharto.

1967: Ban on Chinese New Year Celebrations during the Cultural Revolution

In 1967, during the Cultural Revolution, official Chinese New Year celebrations were banned in China, and the public was urged to adopt a "revolutionized and fighting Spring Festival".

1967: End of Unofficial Celebration Period

In 1967, unofficial celebrations of Chinese New Year ended, marking a change in government regulations affecting the Chinese community in Indonesia.

1982: Start of Tet Celebrations in Little Saigon

In 1982, the Little Saigon area began hosting Tet celebrations for its Chinese and Vietnamese communities, initially at Garden Grove Park with parades in both Garden Grove and Westminster.

February 1984: Start of Jiazi Year

In February 1984, the Chinese year was designated as a Jiazi (甲子) year, marking the beginning of a year in the Sexagenary Cycle, which cycles through 60 combinations of Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches.

February 1985: End of Jiazi Year

In February 1985, the Chinese year designated as a Jiazi (甲子) year came to an end. This marked the completion of a year in the Sexagenary Cycle.

1993: Inaugural Festival in Alhambra

In 1993, Alhambra hosted its inaugural large Chinese New Year festival with many performances and street vendors, contributing to the celebrations in Southern California.

1998: Overthrow of President Suharto

In 1998, President Suharto was overthrown, signaling the end of the New Order government and leading to changes in restrictions on Chinese cultural practices.

1999: Unofficial Celebration of Chinese New Year

From 1999 to 2000, the Chinese community in Indonesia conducted unofficial celebrations of Chinese New Year following the overthrow of President Suharto.

January 2000: Annulment of Restrictions

On January 17, 2000, President Abdurrahman Wahid issued Presidential Decree No. 6 of 2000 to annul the previous instruction restricting Chinese New Year celebrations.

January 2001: Imlek Day as a National Holiday

On January 19, 2001, the Ministry of Religious Affairs in Indonesia issued Ministerial Decree No.13 of 2001, designating Imlek Day as a "facultative holiday" for the Chinese community.

April 2002: Official Declaration of Chinese New Year as a Public Holiday

As of April 9, 2002, President Megawati officially declared Chinese New Year as a one-day public holiday in Indonesia through a presidential decree.

2003: Commencement of Cross-Strait Flights

In 2003, cross-strait flights between Taiwan and China began as part of the Three Links initiative, primarily serving Taiwanese businessmen returning to Taiwan for the new year.

2010: Chinatown Celebrations in Singapore

In 2010, Chinese New Year celebrations in Singapore's Chinatown featured a Festive Street Bazaar, nightly staged shows at Kreta Ayer Square, and a lion dance competition.

2011: Chingay Parade Highlights

In 2011, the Chingay Parade in Singapore included a Fire Party, multi-ethnic performances, and a travelling dance competition.

2012: Chinese New Year as a Public Holiday in the Philippines

In 2012, Chinese New Year was included as a public non-working holiday in the Philippines, making it an important festival for both Chinese Filipinos and the wider population.

2013: New Year's Eve on a Saturday

In 2013, New Year's Eve, which was on February 9th, fell on a Saturday, and New Year's Day, February 10th, fell on a Sunday, causing some countries to adjust working days to create a longer public holiday.

2014: Celebrations at the Orange County Fair and Events Center

Starting in 2014, larger Chinese New Year celebrations were held at the Orange County Fair and Events Center in Costa Mesa, attracting over 50,000 visitors.

June 2015: Lunar New Year as a Public School Holiday

In June 2015, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio declared that the Lunar New Year would be made a public school holiday.

2017: Celebrations Started in Budapest

In 2017, Chinese New Year celebrations began in the Kőbánya district of Budapest, featuring many parades and performances.

2017: Estimated Virtual Red Envelopes Sent

In 2017, it was estimated that over 100 billion virtual red envelopes were sent via Chinese messaging apps like WeChat over the New Year holiday, reflecting the growing trend of mobile payments.

2021: Chinese New Year as a Government Holiday

For 2021 only, the government of Thailand declared Chinese New Year a government holiday, primarily for civil servants, while financial institutions and private businesses had the option to observe it.

2022: California Declared Lunar New Year a State Government Holiday

In 2022, California declared the Lunar New Year a state government holiday, which became effective in 2023, influencing celebrations throughout the state.

September 2023: Lunar New Year as a Mandatory Public School Holiday

In September 2023, New York State made Lunar New Year a mandatory public school holiday, further solidifying its recognition and importance.

2023: Lunar New Year as a State Government Holiday in California

In 2023, Lunar New Year became a state government holiday in California, after it was signed into law in 2022, leading to large celebrations across the state.

2023: Mr. & Ms. Chinatown Philippines 2023

In 2023, the winners of Mr. & Ms. Chinatown Philippines led the "Manila Chinatown Solidarity Float Parade" in Manila during the 2024 Spring Festival of the Wooden Dragon.

2024: UNESCO Recognition

In 2024, Chinese New Year was added to the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list by UNESCO.

2024: Manila Celebrated Spring Festival of the Wooden Dragon

In 2024, Manila celebrated the Spring Festival of the Wooden Dragon, as well as the 430th anniversary of Manila Chinatown, featuring the "Manila Chinatown Solidarity Float Parade" with key figures like Chinese ambassador Huang Xilian. A pyro-musical fireworks display was witnessed by 1.5 million people.