Chinese New Year customs vary from place to place in China because China is a vast country geographically, demographically and ethnically. But the spirit underlying the diverse celebrations of the New Year is the same -- a sincere wish of peace and happiness for family members and friends.

Traditionally the Spring Festival actually begins its course a week before the Chinese New Year (the 23rd of the last month in Chinese lunar calendar), with the practice of offering sacrifice to the Kitchen God, a god sent from Heaven to each family to take charge of the family's affairs and make a report on what the family had done in the past year to Heaven on the date of the 23rd annually.

On this day, images of the Kitchen God are burned as a symbolic act of departure. Often some gold or silver money are also burned for traveling expenses. In some households the lips of the Kitchen God are brushed with honey or sugar solution just before the image is burned -- this will increase the likelihood that only sweet things will be said by the Kitchen God. From the 24th the Kitchen God will be absent from his shrine in the kitchen, and during this time it will be cleaned in preparation for his return on New Year's Eve. This tradition is no longer popular in cities now, but may still be observed in some rural areas.