By tradition, Chinese businesses had to pay off all debts by the year-end and thus if they could get it over, it is worth for the celebration of the New Year. Today people still put up red paper and firing firecrackers as way of celebration. The celebration of the Chinese New Year may last only a few days including the New Year's Eve, the New Year season actually starts from the 15th of the last month and ends at the 15th of the first month of the new year. By tradition, Chinese will be busy in buying presents, decorating their houses, preparing food and making new cloths for the New Year. During that period, all transportation, in particular railway, will be busy in bringing Chinese back to their own home town for a family reunion on the Chinese New year Eve.
People also give their doors and windowpanes a new paint, usually in red color.
Paintings of the same theme are put up in the house on top of the newly mounted wallpaper. In the old days, various kinds of food are tributes to the ancestors. The Eve of the New Year is very carefully observed. Supper is a feast, with all members coming together. One of the most popular courses is jiaozi, dumplings boiled in water.