BEIJING - Chinese people will be able to start their week of New Year celebrations - Spring Festival - from lunar New Year's Eve again, a date excluded from the holiday last year.

New Year's Eve has been an official holiday since 2007, but was designated a working day in 2014, precipitating a firestorm of complaint from people who did not have enough time to travel home to celebrate the year's most important holiday with their families.

Most Chinese families stay up late on the eve of the Spring Festival, watching the annual TV gala and carousing with friends and neighbors. Millions of migrant workers head for their hometowns to be reunited with their loved ones.

Lunar New Year falls on Feb 19, 2015 and the week-long holiday starts officially on Feb 18, according to the State Council General Office.

Other important national holidays including New Year's Day, Tomb-Sweeping Day, International Workers Day, the Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Day and National Day, were also confirmed today.