Of all the experiences you can have in China, nothing compares to Chinese New Year. For two weeks the whole country slows down, families travel across China to be together, and homes fill with food, red decorations and noise. Most foreigners only see it from the outside. As an au pair, you get to celebrate it from the inside, as part of a family.
Here's what to expect from Chinese New Year as an au pair, how to join the traditions and how to be the guest every host family hopes for.
Quick answer: Chinese New Year 2027 (Spring Festival) falls on Saturday, February 6, 2027, welcoming the Year of the Goat. Celebrations last until the Lantern Festival on February 20. As an au pair you'll share the reunion dinner, receive or give red envelopes, and live the most important family holiday in China with your host family.
What Is Chinese New Year?
Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival (春节, Chūnjié), marks the start of the lunar year. It's the biggest holiday in China: schools close, many offices stop, and hundreds of millions of people travel home in what is known as the Chunyun, the largest annual human migration in the world.
Every year is linked to an animal of the Chinese zodiac. 2027 is the Year of the Goat. Find your own sign in our guide to the Chinese zodiac.
The Traditions You'll Experience
Cleaning and decorating the home
Before the new year, families clean the house to sweep away bad luck, then decorate with red paper couplets (春联) on the door and the character 福 (fú, "good fortune"), often hung upside down because "upside-down fortune" sounds like "fortune has arrived".
The reunion dinner
On New Year's Eve the whole family sits down for the reunion dinner (年夜饭), the most important meal of the year. Fish is served for abundance, and in Sichuan you'll often find cured pork and spicy sausages prepared weeks in advance.
Red envelopes
Adults give children and younger relatives red envelopes (红包, hóngbāo) with money inside. Today many are sent digitally on WeChat. Don't be surprised if your host family gives you one too.
The Spring Festival Gala
On New Year's Eve, families watch the famous TV gala together, a mix of songs, dances, comedy sketches and acrobatics, while chatting and eating snacks until midnight.
Visiting relatives
In the following days, families visit grandparents and relatives, bringing gifts and food. Expect lots of questions, lots of tea and lots of "eat more!".
Temple fairs and lanterns
In Chengdu, temple fairs and lantern displays fill the city with food stalls, performances and red lanterns. The festivities close with the Lantern Festival, when families eat sweet rice balls (汤圆, tāngyuán).
Your Role as an Au Pair During Spring Festival
Chinese New Year is a family time, and your host family will usually include you in their plans. Some families stay in Chengdu, others travel to their hometown to visit grandparents. Your schedule and days off during the holiday are agreed with your family in advance, and Masons Au Pair is always available if you have questions.
It's also a perfect moment to share your own culture: tell the children how New Year is celebrated in your country, or teach them a song. That exchange is exactly what the au pair program in China is about.
Tourists watch Chinese New Year. Au pairs get invited to the table.
Etiquette: How to Be the Perfect Guest
Do
- Learn a few greetings
- Accept red envelopes with both hands
- Wear something red
- Try every dish you're offered
- Bring a small gift when visiting relatives
Avoid
- Opening red envelopes in front of the giver
- Sweeping on New Year's Day (it "sweeps away" luck)
- Gifts in sets of four
- Talking about death or bad luck
- Refusing food too quickly
Greetings to learn before the big day
- 新年快乐 (xīnnián kuàilè): Happy New Year
- 春节快乐 (chūnjié kuàilè): Happy Spring Festival
- 恭喜发财 (gōngxǐ fācái): Wishing you prosperity
- 身体健康 (shēntǐ jiànkāng): Wishing you good health, perfect for grandparents
Practise them in your Mandarin classes before February. Our guide on how to learn Chinese effectively as an au pair has more tips.
Food You'll Eat During Chinese New Year
Every dish has a meaning. Fish (鱼, yú) sounds like "surplus", so it's served for abundance. Dumplings are popular in the north, while in Sichuan families prepare cured meats and sausages, hotpot and sweet tangyuan for the Lantern Festival. If you love food, read our guide to Chinese food before you arrive.
Practical Tips for the Holiday
- Plan travel early: trains and flights sell out fast during Chunyun
- Expect closures: some shops and restaurants close for several days, while big malls stay open
- Fireworks rules vary: many big cities, Chengdu included, restrict fireworks in central areas
- Set up WeChat Pay: you'll need it for digital red envelopes
- Dress warmly: February in Chengdu is cool and damp, and many homes have no central heating
Read more about the season in winter in China, and see how our community celebrates the end of the year in Christmas as an au pair in China.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Chinese New Year 2027?
Chinese New Year 2027 falls on Saturday, February 6, 2027, and starts the Year of the Goat. The Lantern Festival, which closes the celebrations, is on February 20, 2027.
Do au pairs work during Chinese New Year?
It depends on your host family's plans. Your schedule and days off during the holiday are agreed with the family in advance, and many au pairs simply join the family celebrations.
Will I get a red envelope as an au pair?
Many host families give their au pair a red envelope as a sign of affection. Receive it with both hands, say thank you and open it later, not in front of the giver.
What should I give my host family for Chinese New Year?
A small gift from your country, fruit, tea or sweets are all appreciated. Avoid sets of four and clocks, which are associated with bad luck.
Spend Chinese New Year with a Chinese family
Applications are open. Tell us about yourself and live Spring Festival from the inside in Chengdu.
Apply to Masons Au PairWhat's Your Chinese Zodiac Sign?
Enter your date of birth, spin the wheel and open your red envelope to discover your animal.
The Chinese year starts at Chinese New Year (January or February), so your full birthday gives the most accurate result.
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