Evolving over a long period of time, it is considered a reunion day for every ethnic Chinese family.

In the Zhou dynasty (1046 – 256 BC), the phrase "Nian (Year)" appeared and certain cultural practices became popular among Chinese such as sending door gods and burning bamboo.

In Lüshi Chunqiu, an exorcistic ritual called "Big Nuo" (大傩) was recorded being carried out on the ending day of a year to expel illness in Qin (state).

During this time, the practice of thoroughly cleaning up houses in the preceding days before the Chinese New Year began to develop.

During the Jin dynasty (266 – 420 AD), people started to do the "Shousui (守岁)" tradition on New Year's Eve.

Especially in southern China, people celebrate Chinese New Year's Eve with a big family meal with traditional dishes.

[8] After dinner, the family members sit together, perhaps talking or playing cards,[8] On Chinese New Year's Eve, people stay up late, until midnight or often until dawn.

[8] The Spring Festival Gala is a TV show which broadcasts live on China's Central Television during Chinese New Year's Eve.

[2] With more and more Chinese families being able to afford television during the 1980s, the spring festival gala has been institutionalized as a crucial practice of Chinese New Year's Eve, as every family member sits in front of the TV, watching the spring festival gala together.

[2] According to ancient Chinese mythology, a devil was believed to be living in the western mountains, who possessed the ability to inflict illness upon those who encountered it.

The most popular door gods are Zhong Kui, Qin Shubao and Yuchi Gong in different areas of China.

The entrance-guarding god was closely related to festivals and peach wood was regarded as a supernatural force with which ghosts could be driven away.

In ancient times, Chinese money was the round copper coin with a square hole in the middle.

[9] Chinese New Year's Eve in Philippines is called Bisperas ng Bagong Taon in Tagalog.

On Chinese New Year's Eve, all doors including cupboards, drawers, cabinets, windows must be left wide open to allow good luck to enter.