For Chinese, in China and in communities around the world, the lunar new year is the most important and most festive holiday of the year. Following centuries of tradition, family members from near and far still travel to be with loved ones in time to usher out the old year and welcome in the new. Today, all over China, during what is now commonly referred to as the Spring Festival, passenger trains, buses, and river boats are packed with holiday travelers; shops do a flurry of business selling gifts, new clothes, and festive foods; kitchens are bustling with preparations for elaborate feasts; and streets are filled with the sounds of firecrackers and seasonal greetings. Learn about the history and stories behind the various traditions still celebrated during the Chinese New Year Festival. Written by an expert on Chinese culture, this introduction to the culture and traditions of the Chinese New Year. With its beginnings in the Chinese agricultural Calendar, Chinese New Year Festivals will help both Chinese and non-Chinese understand the traditions celebrated for hundreds of years.