About Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year is the biggest festival of the year in Chinese communities and is sometimes known as the Spring festival. As it is based on the lunar and solar calendars, the date varies from late January to mid-February.

2007 is Year of the Pig and 2008 will be Year of the Rat. Each year in the Chinese calendar is represented by one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac: the Dragon, Snake, Horse, Ram, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig, Rat, Ox, Tiger and Rabbit.

A new red outfit for new year In the days leading up to the Chinese New Year, people clean their houses, repay debts, buy new clothes and have their hair cut. A celebratory meal is held on the eve of the new year, with many traditional dishes served, and fireworks and firecrackers are let off to see in the new year.

With the start of the new year, Lion Dances pass through the streets to bring good luck to the households and businesses they visit. The drums, gongs and cymbals that accompany the Lion Dance are used to scare away evil and bad luck.