{"id":173664,"title":"Complete Guide to Chinese New Year 2026: Traditions and Recipes","modified":"2026-09-19T03:06:55+02:00","plain":"It's almost time for Chinese New Year, and to make sure we're all ready to celebrate it properly, I've put together a guide to what to eat\/prepare during this Lunar New Year. \n\n\n\nThis guide also contains useful information about the festival, customs, and things Chinese people do to say goodbye to the past year and welcome the new one. \n\n\n\nIf you want the suggested menu, head straight to the bottom of the article.\n\n\n\nWhat is Chinese New Year?\n\n\n\nChinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year, is China's most important festive season : it lasts up to two weeks and is the only time of year when China literally shuts down. \n\n\n\nUnlike New Year in Western countries, Chinese New Year generally falls on a day between January 21 and February 20 in the Gregorian calendar, according to the Chinese lunar calendar.\n\n\n\nWhat is the date of Chinese New Year 2026?\n\n\n\nChinese New Year 2026 will begin on February 17, 2026 and last until March 3, 2026. According to the Chinese zodiac, it is the Year of the Horse.\n\n\n\nChinese New Year celebrations last 16 days, from Chinese New Year's Eve to the Lantern Festival. Here are the most important dates in 2026:\n\n\n\n\nChinese New Year's Eve: February 16, 2026\n\n\n\nChinese New Year: February 17, 2026\n\n\n\nThe Lantern Festival: March 3, 2026\n\n\n\n\nIt's a time to spend with family, so food plays a big part in the celebrations. And that's where I come in\n\n\n\nHow do you celebrate Chinese New Year?\n\n\n\nWhile vibrant red lanterns and colorful lights are the main symbols of Chinese New Year for Westerners, Chinese people have several specific rituals and customs to celebrate the arrival of the new lunar year.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n1. Cleaning and decorating the house\n\n\n\nAbout 15 days before the new year begins, the house is thoroughly cleaned to welcome the new year looking its best. After cleaning, each home is decorated with red lanterns and traditional red decorations.\n\n\n\n2. A family meal on New Year's Eve\n\n\n\nOn Lunar New Year's Eve, the whole family gathers for dinner. The feast includes meat, fish, and vegetables. But we'll get to that at the end of the article\n\n\n\n3. Red envelopes\n\n\n\nElders give red envelopes containing money to younger family members. The money is wrapped in red packets to keep evil spirits away from the children.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n4. Firecrackers and fireworks\n\n\n\nIt's common to watch fireworks from midnight to 12:30 a.m. and even later on New Year's Eve. According to legend, fireworks scare away the monster Nian, who is said to emerge at midnight.\n\n\n\n5. Visiting loved ones\n\n\n\nThe first day of the new lunar year is normally spent at home, followed by 15 days spent visiting relatives. People bring each other gifts and give red envelopes to children, as mentioned above\n\n\n\n6. Folk performances and temple fairs\n\n\n\nFolk performances, fairs, and events are held until the 15th day of the first lunar month. This is also when people go to pray at the temple.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nChinese New Year 2026 menu\n\n\n\nThe starter: dim sum and dumplings galore\n\n\n\nAs mentioned above, dumplings and making them are a deeply rooted Chinese New Year tradition. I'd suggest a few kinds of dumplings: the first is very simple, with a pork filling, and the second is slightly more complicated but delicious, with a shrimp filling. As a little bonus, traditional fried wontons are simply AMAZING. \n\n\n\nWe're taking things up a notch with siu mai, but they're still very manageable\n\n\n\n\n    Authentic Japanese Gyoza\n    Delicious traditional Japanese dumplings called Gyoza. Juicy, crispy yet tender at the same time, their flavour will delight even the most discerning palates\t\n4.81\/5 (491)\n\n\n1 hour hour 45 minutes minutes\n\n    \n\n\n    D\u00e9couvre vite la recette compl\u00e8te !\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    Homemade Chinese Pork Dumplings (Jiaozi)\n    \t\n4.97\/5 (27)\n\n\n40 minutes minutes\n\n    \n\n\n    D\u00e9couvre vite la recette compl\u00e8te !\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    Har Gow \u2013 Steamed Shrimp Dumplings (\u8766\u9903)\n    <p>Traditional Chinese shrimp dumplings that you won't find better in any restaurant<\/p>\t\n4.80\/5 (35)\n\n\n30 minutes minutes\n\n    \n\n\n    D\u00e9couvre vite la recette compl\u00e8te !\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    Crispy Fried Wontons (Pork & Shrimp)\n    A delicious recipe for fried Chinese wontons. Crispy, juicy, and super flavorful: guaranteed delight \t\n4.75\/5 (28)\n\n\n1 hour hour\n\n    \n\n\n    D\u00e9couvre vite la recette compl\u00e8te !\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    Authentic Chinese Wonton Soup (\u9984\u9968\u6c64)\n    The best wonton soup recipe you will ever taste. Absolute deliciousness guaranteed.\t\n4.82\/5 (33)\n\n\n40 minutes minutes\n\n    \n\n\n    D\u00e9couvre vite la recette compl\u00e8te !\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    Siu Mai (\u70e7\u5356) \u2013 Cantonese Steamed Dim Sum Dumplings\n    \t\n4.75\/5 (35)\n\n\n4 hours hours 20 minutes minutes\n\n    \n\n\n    D\u00e9couvre vite la recette compl\u00e8te !\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    Steamed Chinese Pearl Meatballs (\u73cd\u73e0\u4e38\u5b50)\n    \t\n5\/5 (25)\n\n\n2 hours hours 30 minutes minutes\n\n    \n\n\n    D\u00e9couvre vite la recette compl\u00e8te !\n\n\n\n\n\nContrary to popular belief, dim sum doesn't refer to dumplings, but rather to a meal made up of a whole range of small plates from Cantonese cuisine. \n\n\n\nWell, we're not going to limit ourselves to Cantonese cuisine, but you get the idea. Here are two vegetable dishes and a shrimp dish to serve to your guests. Note: you can substitute Chinese cabbage, green cabbage, leeks, green beans, etc... for the vegetables\n\n\n\n\n    Chinese Shrimp Pancakes\n    <p>Delicious, juicy little Chinese shrimp pancakes<\/p>\t\n4.84\/5 (36)\n\n\n25 minutes minutes\n\n    \n\n\n    D\u00e9couvre vite la recette compl\u00e8te !\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    Cantonese Choy Sum with Garlic\n    A delicious quick recipe for garlic choy sum\t\n5\/5 (41)\n\n\n13 minutes minutes\n\n    \n\n\n    D\u00e9couvre vite la recette compl\u00e8te !\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    Stir-Fried Kai Lan with Garlic and Oyster Sauce\n    \t\n4.96\/5 (43)\n\n\n15 minutes minutes\n\n    \n\n\n    D\u00e9couvre vite la recette compl\u00e8te !\n\n\n\n\n\nA little Japanese bonus: these rolls made with noodles and rice paper\n\n\n\n\n    Spicy Ramen Spring Rolls \u2013 Crispy Rice Paper Rolls\n    <p>Spicy, cheesy, and delicious Japanese rolls<\/p>\t\n4.78\/5 (18)\n\n\n20 minutes minutes\n\n    \n\n\n    D\u00e9couvre vite la recette compl\u00e8te !\n\n\n\n\n\nThe main course: Noodles, rice, beef, pork, chicken, and maybe....duck?\n\n\n\nIn Chinese tradition, there shouldn't be just one main dish + a side. No, no, you might have one centerpiece dish, but you need lots of small side dishes too\n\n\n\nThe \"centerpiece\" dishes\n\n\n\nThey're big, impressive, and above all, incredibly flavorful. I suggest Hong Shao Rou (Chinese caramel pork), homemade lacquered duck (less difficult than it looks), or slow-cooked satay beef. Apart from the duck, which by definition is limited to a single duck, these dishes are easy to make in very large quantities and ahead of time. \n\n\n\n\n    Beef Satay Skewers with Peanut Sauce\n    A delicious and very simple beef satay recipe\t\n4.82\/5 (61)\n\n\n1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes\n\n    \n\n\n    D\u00e9couvre vite la recette compl\u00e8te !\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    Braised Pork Belly (Hong Shao Rou \/ \u7ea2\u70e7\u8089)\n    <p>Delicious slow-cooked Chinese caramel pork, guaranteed to be melt-in-your-mouth tender and flavorful<\/p>\t\n4.82\/5 (70)\n\n\n2 hours hours\n\n    \n\n\n    D\u00e9couvre vite la recette compl\u00e8te !\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    Peking Duck with Chinese Pancakes from Scratch\n    \t\n4.77\/5 (17)\n\n\n1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes\n\n    \n\n\n    D\u00e9couvre vite la recette compl\u00e8te !\n\n\n\n\n\nThe side dishes\n\n\n\nHere you'll find classic fried rice, Cantonese fried rice, or even... white rice. But also chow mein, traditional Chinese stir-fried noodles, vegetable noodles, beef with onions or spring onions, caramel pork or chicken, and stir-fried chicken. In short, there's no shortage of options! Ideally, make 3-4 of them in small quantities\n\n\n\nThe list starts with rice\/noodles and then moves on to proteins\n\n\n\n\n    Authentic Longevity Noodles - Yi Mein\n    Discover a delicious recipe for longevity noodles, a simple, quick, and extremely tasty noodle dish\t\n4.81\/5 (31)\n\n\n20 minutes minutes\n\n    \n\n\n    D\u00e9couvre vite la recette compl\u00e8te !\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    Authentic Cantonese Fried Rice\n    A delicious Cantonese fried rice recipe just like at the restaurant\t\n4.77\/5 (94)\n\n\n20 minutes minutes\n\n    \n\n\n    D\u00e9couvre vite la recette compl\u00e8te !\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    Chinese Fried Rice (Easy Takeout-Style)\n    The best fried rice recipe on the internet. Guaranteed taste orgasm, but beware, high addiction risk! \t\n4.79\/5 (334)\n\n\n20 minutes minutes\n\n    \n\n\n    D\u00e9couvre vite la recette compl\u00e8te !\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    Authentic Chow Mein (Chinese Stir-Fried Noodles)\n    A delicious chow mein recipe, the traditional Chinese stir-fried noodles\t\n4.98\/5 (537)\n\n\n20 minutes minutes\n\n    \n\n\n    D\u00e9couvre vite la recette compl\u00e8te !\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    Takeout-Style Vegetable Lo Mein Noodles\n    A delicious recipe for restaurant-style vegetable stir-fried noodles\t\n4.83\/5 (242)\n\n\n20 minutes minutes\n\n    \n\n\n    D\u00e9couvre vite la recette compl\u00e8te !\n\n\n\n\n\nProteins\n\n\n\n\n    Chinese beef and onion stir fry\n    The authentic recipe for beef with Chinese onions. A simple, quick and delicious dish\t\n4.81\/5 (211)\n\n\n25 minutes minutes\n\n    \n\n\n    D\u00e9couvre vite la recette compl\u00e8te !\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    Chinese Scallion Beef Stir-Fry (\u8471\u7206\u725b\u8089)\n    <p>Stir-fried beef with spring onions. Quick and easy!<\/p>\t\n4.79\/5 (28)\n\n\n30 minutes minutes\n\n    \n\n\n    D\u00e9couvre vite la recette compl\u00e8te !\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    Sticky Caramelized Pork Belly\n    An ultra-simplified caramelized pork recipe ready in less than 15 minutes\t\n4.80\/5 (303)\n\n\n25 minutes minutes\n\n    \n\n\n    D\u00e9couvre vite la recette compl\u00e8te !\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    Caramel Chicken\n    <p>A caramel chicken recipe you can make in under 20 minutes<\/p>\t\n4.75\/5 (248)\n\n\n20 minutes minutes\n\n    \n\n\n    D\u00e9couvre vite la recette compl\u00e8te !\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    Chinese Chicken Stir-Fry with Garlic Sauce\n    A simple and authentic chicken stir-fry recipe like in a Chinese restaurant\t\n4.95\/5 (17)\n\n\n30 minutes minutes\n\n    \n\n\n    D\u00e9couvre vite la recette compl\u00e8te !\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    Chinese Chicken and Mushroom Stir-Fry\n    <p>A delicious chicken stir-fry with Chinese mushrooms<\/p>\t\n4.82\/5 (49)\n\n\n20 minutes minutes\n\n    \n\n\n    D\u00e9couvre vite la recette compl\u00e8te !\n\n\n\n\n\nDesserts\n\n\n\nA very controversial topic because, generally speaking, we're not that big on desserts in China BUT they do exist, and here are a few recipe suggestions\n\n\n\n\n    Black Sesame Tang Yuan (\u6c64\u5706) \u2013 Sweet Glutinous Rice Balls\n    \t\n4.94\/5 (47)\n\n\n55 minutes minutes\n\n    \n\n\n    D\u00e9couvre vite la recette compl\u00e8te !\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    Tanghulu (\u7cd6\u846b\u82a6)\n    <p>Traditional Chinese sugar-coated strawberries<\/p>\t\n4.86\/5 (28)\n\n\n15 minutes minutes\n\n    \n\n\n    D\u00e9couvre vite la recette compl\u00e8te !\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    Banh Cam: Sesame Balls\n    <p>A Vietnamese dessert found throughout Asia, it's a delight<\/p>\t\n5\/5 (46)\n\n\n3 hours hours 40 minutes minutes\n\n    \n\n\n    D\u00e9couvre vite la recette compl\u00e8te !","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/marcwiner.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/173664","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/marcwiner.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/marcwiner.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/marcwiner.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/marcwiner.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=173664"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/marcwiner.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/173664\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/marcwiner.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5041"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/marcwiner.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=173664"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/marcwiner.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=173664"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/marcwiner.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=173664"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}