Second Day of Chinese New Year in Taiwan
The second day of Chinese New Year falls on the second day of the first lunar month and is included in Taiwan’s Lunar New Year public holiday. A well-known custom is for married daughters to visit their parents, a tradition that can also add to holiday road traffic.[1][2][3]
Part of Taiwan’s Lunar New Year holiday
Taiwan’s holiday law defines Lunar New Year by the lunar calendar and provides a five-day holiday, beginning the day before Lunar New Year’s Eve and continuing through the third day of the first lunar month. The second day is therefore included in the statutory holiday period, rather than being a separate one-day holiday.[1]
Government agencies follow an annual work calendar issued by the Directorate-General of Personnel Administration. The calendar is for government agencies; some public services and schools may adjust days off to meet operational needs. For workers in private businesses, national holiday leave is governed by labor rules, and an employer and worker may agree to move a holiday to another workday.[1][2]
Family visits and the wider celebration
On this day, a traditional family visit is known as returning to the married daughter’s parental home. Taiwan’s Highway Bureau has described the second day as a traditional day for these visits and notes that families also travel for outings. The custom is a family practice, not a required ceremony, and families may mark the day in different ways.[3]
The Tourism Administration describes Lunar New Year as Taiwan’s most important holiday. Its account of the wider celebration mentions spring cleaning, auspicious characters on doors and windows, rice cakes, and a family reunion dinner on New Year’s Eve. These are customs of the broader holiday period, rather than customs identified specifically with the second day.[4]
What to expect when travelling
Family visits and holiday outings can make intercity roads and routes near tourist attractions busy. In a holiday traffic advisory, the Highway Bureau recommended checking road conditions before setting out, choosing off-peak travel times, and considering public transport. Check current transport information for your travel date, since congestion and service arrangements vary.[3]
Opening hours can differ by business, so check directly with the place you plan to visit. Check government office schedules against the relevant year’s official calendar; services with special operating needs may follow adjusted arrangements.[1][2]
Frequently asked questions
Is the second day a public holiday in Taiwan?
When does it fall?
It falls on the second day of the first lunar month. The corresponding Gregorian date changes each year, so check a calendar for the year you plan to travel.[1]
Do married daughters visit their parents on this day?
Returning to a married daughter’s parental home is a traditional custom associated with the day. Families may observe it in different ways.[3]
Are shops, banks, and public transport open?
Check specific businesses, banks and transport operators before travelling; road traffic may be heavier during family visits and holiday outings.[3]
Sources and references
Sources used for The second day of the Chinese New Year in Taiwan:
- 2027 Work Calendar- Directorate-General of Personnel Administration, Executive Yuan
- 國定假日及補假- Ministry of Labor, Republic of China (Taiwan)
- 大年初二回娘家，各地車潮湧現請耐心駕駛- Highway Bureau, Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Republic of China (Taiwan)
- Traditional Festivals- Tourism Administration, Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Republic of China (Taiwan)