In the past, the celebration of Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, involved various customs and traditions. Here is a description in English:

During Chinese New Year, families would thoroughly clean their homes to remove any bad luck from the previous year and to welcome good luck for the coming year. Red decorations were put up everywhere, as red is considered an auspicious color in Chinese culture. People would also hang up couplets and paper cutouts with messages of good fortune on their doors.

At midnight, fireworks and firecrackers would be set off to drive away evil spirits and bring good luck. Lion and dragon dances were performed in the streets, accompanied by loud drumming and cymbals.

In the following days, people would visit relatives and friends to exchange New Year greetings and give out red envelopes filled with money, symbolizing good wishes for the recipient's prosperity. Children, in particular, looked forward to this tradition as they received money from their elders.

Overall, the celebration of Chinese New Year in the past involved a combination of familial gatherings, feasting, traditional customs, and expressions of good wishes for the coming year.