“Gongxi” which sounds like gong shi, means congratulations. This can be said for many occasions, from Chinese New Year to birthdays, promotions, weddings. The Chinese New Year is not a single night like the Gregorian calendar, but rather an ongoing festival that lasts 15 days, starting from the new moon to the first full moon of the year. If you are traveling to China, many stores, banks, and government offices are closed during the first week of this period. The new year is based on the lunar calendar, which means that the date varies slightly from year to year and falling somewhere after January 21 before February 20. The Lantern Festival marks the end of the 15 days of festivities.
About Author
yvonne.liu.wolf
Yvonne Wolf was born in Taiwan and educated in the U.S. and Europe. She has extensive experience living and working internationally (Denmark and Japan). She is fluent in English, Mandarin, and Danish, and has studied Japanese, Spanish, and Greek. Between work and personal travel, she has visited more than 20 countries and well-traveled within the U.S. and Canada. She has worked with organizations and business executives focusing on communication strategies working with Chinese and East Asian partners. Among her many skills is mediating across cultural misunderstandings.