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Chinese New Year is the biggest celebration in the Chinese calendar. It is a time for family gatherings, good wishes and giving gifts, a bit like the Christmas festivities in the West. The Chinese lunar year begins with the second new moon after the winter solstice, which can fall anytime from late January until mid-February. This coming Chinese new year in 2012, the second new moon falls on the January 23rd 2012, the start of the lunar year of the Dragon. Celebrations can last from the new moon on the 23rd until the full moon on February 7th. In modern times, most Chinese people do not take the whole fifteen day period as a holiday. In China, there are usually three days of public holidays and people often take a week off.

You do not need to be Chinese to celebrate the Chinese New Year. All around the world in cities with a large Chinese community there will be festivities that everyone can join in with. What better excuse can there be for a party at the start of February?

The following video was made in 2008, the year of the Rat, nevertheless you can take all the tips and hints to throw a Chinese New Year party for 2012 the year of the Dragon.

Chinese New Year Customs
Before the Chinese New Year's eve, which is on January 22nd, 2012, it is a good idea to give your home a spring clean. Make a clean sweep of things, metaphorically speaking. On New Year's day itself, January 23rd, no brooms and dustpans are allowed because you do not want to sweep away the good luck that comes with the new year.  You should not wash your hair on New Year's day because you could wash your luck away. You can get a haircut before the new year. Wearing new clothes, especially something red, will bring you good luck. Red is considered a lucky colour. Lucky Money or 'Lai See' is given in red packets to children by their elders. It is also fortunate for parents to put a couple of packets of lucky money under children's pillow for them to sleep on from New Year's eve until the full moon on the fifteenth day after new year.