Strictlyspeaking,theSpringFestivalstartseveryyearintheearlydaysofthe12thlunarmonthandwilllasttillthemid1stlunarmonthofthenextyear.Ofthem,themostimportantdaysareSpringFestivalEveandthefirstthreedays.TheChinesegovernmentnowstipulatespeoplehavesevendaysofffortheChineseLunarNewYear.

ManycustomsaccompanytheSpringFestival.Somearestillfollowedtoday,butothershaveweakened.

Onthe8thdayofthe12thlunarmonth,manyfamiliesmakelabaporridge,adeliciouskindofporridgemadewithglutinousrice,millet,seedsofJob'stears,jujubeberries,lotusseeds,beans,longanandgingko.

The23rddayofthe12thlunarmonthiscalledPreliminaryEve.Atthistime,peopleoffersacrificetothekitchengod.Nowhowever,mostfamiliesmakedeliciousfoodtoenjoythemselves.

AfterthePreliminaryEve,peoplebeginpreparingforthecomingNewYear.Thisiscalled"SeeingtheNewYearin".

StoreownersarebusythenaseverybodygoesouttopurchasenecessitiesfortheNewYear.Materialsnotonlyincludeedibleoil,rice,flour,chicken,duck,fishandmeat,butalsofruit,candiesandkindsofnuts.What'smore,variousdecorations,newclothesandshoesforthechildrenaswellasgiftsfortheelderly,friendsandrelatives,areallonthelistofpurchasing.