Lunar New Year's Eve, or originally known as the 'Spring Festival' is one of the biggest holidays celebrated in Taiwan. The event is dictated by the lunar calendar, taking place on the first new moon between January 21st and February 20th, varying each year. This holiday is a time of family reunions, feasts, gift-giving, and well-wishing for the upcoming year. It marks the end of winter and the welcoming of spring, symbolizing rebirth and new beginnings.
The celebration traditionally starts from Lunar New Year's Eve, where families gather around for the 'reunion dinner', serving dishes that carry significant meanings. Fish, for example, is essential because in Chinese, 'fish' (鱼 yú ) sounds like ‘surplus’. Eating fish is believed to bring a surplus of money and good luck in the coming year. Dumplings are another notable food for this festival because its shape resembles a gold ingot, symbolizing wealth.
Another customary practice during Lunar New Year's Eve in Taiwan is the giving and receiving of red envelopes or 'hongbao', which contain money. It is usually given by the elderly or married couples to young children and unmarried adults. These red envelopes are seen as a symbol of sharing wealth and blessings, as well as warding off evil spirits. Firecrackers are also set off at midnight, as it is believed that the loud noise scares off evil spirits and bad luck.