You are here Home » News & events » All stories » Why the Lunar New Year is later than the Western New Year Why the Lunar New Year is later than the Western New Year 17 February 2021 Every year in early February, China sees hundreds of millions of people on the move. It is the largest wave of short-term migration in the world. Why are so many people moving at the same time? There is a common motivation behind this— to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Lunar New Year, also named the Spring Festival, is the most important festival in Chinese culture. It takes place on the first day of the lunar calendar. The use of the lunar calendar method is related to the ancient Chinese farming civilisation. In ancient times, people discovered the rule of the alternating seasons of spring, summer, autumn, and winter according to the growth cycle of crops, which gave rise to the concept of the year.