The Spring Festival is the most important festival for the Chinese people and is when all family members get together,just like Christmas in the West.The Spring Festival falls on the 1st day of the 1st lunar month,often one month later than the Gregorian calendar.It originated in the Shang Dynasty (c.1600 BC-c.1100 BC) from the people's sacrifice to gods and ancestors at the end of an old year and the beginning of a new one.
Strictly speaking,the Spring Festival starts every year in the early days of the 12th lunar month and will last till the mid 1st lunar month of the next year.Of them,the most important days are Spring Festival Eve and the first three days.The Chinese government now stipulates people have seven days off for the Chinese Lunar New Year.