Editor’s note

Today is Chinese Lunar New Year's Eve. The People's Daily is launching a special series called “Chitchat of Chinese New Year,” with seven episodes. With one episode per day from today until February 21, Max, a foreigner who has lived in China for four years, will tell you what Chinese New Year is like and how to spend the most important festival in China.

On Chinese Lunar New Year’s Eve, each family will prepare a huge feast to celebrate the precious homecoming of all family members and to reward themselves and their families for the hard work of the past year.

Chinese will wear something red and put red couplets, red lanterns, and images of the warrior god to protect themselves against “Nian,” a legendary ferocious monster.

On Chinese New Year’s Eve, firecrackers are also essential to scare "Nian" off.