Lunar New Year is all about family reunions!

▲ To cater to the reunion dinners during the New Year, various restaurants have also launched special holiday menus. (Photo provided by Thai&Thai)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

The festive New Year is here again Up！Every year during the New Year, we always gather with family and friends, sit around the reunion dinner table, exchange auspicious greetings, and officially welcome the new year. 《ETtoday Eastday News Cloud》 has compiled a list of the 6 things most people in Taiwan do during the Lunar New Year. Check out how many you've done today!

Have a Reunion Dinner
The most important part of the New Year is probably the whole family gathering around for the reunion dinner. No matter where you are throughout the year, you’ll try your best to make it home on this day, just to spend quality time with your parents and loved ones, enjoy a great meal together—whether it’s a pre-ordered holiday feast or one lovingly made by mom or grandma. As long as the family is together, it’s the happiest meal of the year!

▲ Reference photo of people paying New Year respects. (Photo by reporter Li Yukang)

Pay Respects
One of the customs of the Taiwanese New Year is paying respects. From New Year’s Eve to the fifth day of the lunar new year, there's something to worship every single day. On New Year’s Eve, people pay respects to the earth god, ancestors, and household deities; on the first day, they pray to the Heavenly God; on the second and third days, they honor ancestors; on the fourth day, they pay tribute to the Kitchen God; and on the fifth day, they worship the God of Wealth. It really can be a busy schedule if you want to do it all properly!

▲ Giving red envelopes is a must during the New Year. (Photo by reporter Li Mengxuan)

Give Red Envelopes
After leaving childhood behind, the New Year shifts from joyfully receiving red envelopes to having to give them to your parents. With one hand holding your year-end bonus and the other immediately handing it out—it does hurt a little to think about it, doesn't it? But it only happens once a year, so let’s bear with it. Honoring your parents is what today is all about!

Stay Up Late on New Year’s Eve
The one day of the year you can stay up late without guilt. It’s rare for the whole family to be together, so chatting, watching series, playing mahjong, and bonding late into the night is definitely a must!

▲ A little gambling is good for the mood. (Photo by reporter Zhou Chengeng)

Play Mahjong, Scratch Cards, and Lotto
Chinese New Year isn’t complete without some friendly competition at the card or mahjong table. Whether it's poker or mahjong, it can easily take up the whole day. A group of friends or family gathering, eating, chatting, and playing cards is just plain fun. In recent years, Taiwan Lottery has launched high-value scratch cards and extra draws of Lotto during the New Year. When you’re cooped up at home, you can take a walk—excuse yourself to the lottery shop—and indulge in a little New Year gambling. It’s all in good fun!

Watch New Year Movies
During the New Year, of course you gather to watch TV. The movie channels air a parade of festive films full of New Year cheer. Spending a few hours with big stars is also an essential part of the annual New Year tradition.