The Lunar New Year, also known as the Chinese New Year, is a major holiday in China and other countries with a significant Chinese population, such as Taiwan, Singapore, and Malaysia. It is based on the lunar calendar, which is different from the Gregorian calendar used in the West, and it typically falls between January 21 and February 20.
The Lunar New Year is a time for families to gather together, exchange gifts, and feast on traditional foods. It is also a time for cleaning and decorating the house, as it is believed that this will bring good luck for the new year. Red decorations and lanterns are commonly used, as red is believed to ward off evil spirits.
The Lunar New Year is also a time for dragon and lion dances, fireworks, and parades. These cultural events are usually performed by ethnic Chinese communities and also by many other communities around the world that celebrate Chinese New Year.
The Lunar New Year is celebrated for 15 days and it culminates with the Lantern Festival, on the 15th day of the new year, when people light lanterns and release them into the sky.
The specific date of the Lunar New Year changes each year, as it's based on the lunar calendar. The most common years for the Lunar New Year are the years of the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. Each year is named after one of these animals and is associated with certain characteristics and traits
