<![CDATA[Chinese New Year is a central tradition in Chinese culture, functioning not only as the lunar new year celebration but also as a means of transmitting cultural values, family identity, and intergenerational bonds. This study aims to describe the stages of the Chinese New Year tradition, analyze its symbolic meanings and embedded values, and interpret its role in reproducing the identity of the Kong (孔) clan family in Xiaoxi Village, Guangdong Province, China. Using a qualitative ethnographic approach, data were collected through participant observation, in-depth interviews with three informants from different generations, and field documentation, then analyzed descriptively and interpretively based on ritual theory, symbolic theory, the Chinese clan system, and cultural identity studies. The findings show that the tradition involves stages such as preparing New Year necessities, house cleaning, putting up Chunlian (春联), ancestor veneration, and the reunion dinner (年夜饭), with Chunlian as the most prominent symbol of hope and fortune. Core values include family reunion (tuanyuan, 团圆), ancestor respect, and Confucian values such as filial piety and benevolence. These findings imply that Chinese New Year traditions serve as an effective mechanism for sustaining clan identity and cultural continuity across generations.]]>
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