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The Chinese New Year is the most important period in the Chinese Year. The celebration of the Chinese New Year, also called the Lunar New Year, starts always the first day of the first lunar moon and takes fifteen days. The last day (the fifteenth day of the celebration) is called "Lantern Festival" and is the first night they can see a full moon.

The Chinese New Year dates back from 2600BC and introduced by the Emperor Huang Ti. The Chinese calendar is based on the cycles of the moon and is also yearly like the Western calendar. The beginning of the year is always different but falls always between the end of January and the middle of February. Every year of the Chinese calendar is named to an animal and there are in total 12 different animals which represent the 12 years of one cycle. A complete cycle is 60 years which represent 5 cycles.

The rat is the first animal of the zodiac calendar and 2008 is the year of the rat. The next animals are in chronically order: ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and boar.
There is a legend saying that all the animals needed to come to the Lord Buddha before he departed from earth. Twelve animals came to him for a farewell and he awarded these animals with the name of a year in the order they came to him.

The Lunar New year contains several celebrations:

DAY ONE
This is the day of the welcoming of the Gods of the heavens and earth. On this day they will visit the oldest members of the family which means mostly parents or grand parents. Most people don't eat meat on the first day of the Lunar New Year because there is a common belief that this will ensure a long and happy life.

DAY TWO
This is the day for praying to their ancestors and all the Gods. Married daughters will visit their parents on this day. It is also the birthday of all dogs and they need to be extra kind to dogs and feed them very well.

DAY THREE AND FOUR
These two days are for son-in laws for showing respect to their parents-in-law.

DAY FIVE
This day is also called Poo Woo and the birthday of the Chinese God of Wealth. It is not allowed to visit friends or family because this will bring bad luck.

DAY SIX TO TEN
This is a period when the Chinese people can visit their relatives and friends on the moment they like. The seventh day is "the day for farmers" and the birthday of humans; the eight day is used for praying to Tian Gong, the God of Heaven; the ninth day for making offers to the Jade Emperor of Heaven.

FROM DAY TEN TO TWELVE
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