Spring Festival marks the beginning of the Chinese New Year on the Chinese lunar calendar. The first day of the festival usually falls about one month after the Solar New Year on the Gregorian calendar. According to Chinese tradition, preparations for the festival start from the end of the last lunar month of the previous year. Festival celebrations extend until the Lantern Festival on the 15th of the first lunar month of the New Year. However, a fast-paced and hectic lifestyle makes it difficult for many Chinese to spend an entire month celebrating the festival. This is why the central government decided to declare the first week of the festival a public holiday.