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. After dinner, it is time for the whole family to sit up for the night while having fun playing cards or board games or watching TV programs dedicated to the occasion. They also go to flower market for last moment shopping for flower and foodstuff. Light will be kept on the whole night. At midnight, fireworks will light up the whole sky and firecrackers make everywhere seem like a war zone.