Culture Insider: Traditional Spring Festival customs

[Photo/Xinhua]

Day 30 of the 12th month - Lunar New Year's Eve

Chinese people are supposed to stay up the whole night on the 30th day of the 12th month in the Lunar Calendar

In Chinese mythology, a monster called nian would come out to harm people on New Year's Eve, so people get together, staying up and chatting, hoping for a peaceful passage of time. The custom of staying up (Chinese: shou tai sui) symbolizes the warding off of all diseases and disasters and wishing good luck in the New Year.

Chinese people attach great importance to the Spring Festival Eve, when all family members eat dinner together.