What is the cultural depth behind Chinese New Year?

The answer

Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) is the most important holiday in Chinese culture, rooted in over 3,500 years of tradition. The celebration lasts 15 days and triggers chunyun, the world's largest annual human migration, as hundreds of millions of workers travel home to reunite with family. Each year is associated with one of 12 zodiac animals, believed to influence the character of those born under it. Traditions include thorough house cleaning (sweeping away bad luck), giving red envelopes (hongbao) containing money, eating specific auspicious foods like fish (surplus) and dumplings (wealth), and setting off firecrackers to scare away the mythical beast Nian. The Lantern Festival on the 15th day concludes celebrations. Chinese New Year is also celebrated across East and Southeast Asia and in Chinese communities worldwide, with the Lunar New Year now recognized in many Western countries.