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The Chinese New Year or Yuan Tan is the longest and most festively celebrated holiday in China. The holiday holds 15 full days of feasts and celebrations. The New Year for the Chinese falls between January 21st and February 19th. This year on our Gregorian Calendar, the Chinese New Year falls on February 7th. Since the Chinese calendar follows a lunar cycle its dates are slightly different than the Gregorian calendar. For more explanation of how the Chinese lunar calendar works see: http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/ A0002076.html .

Traditionally, the Chinese calendar follows a 12 year repeating cycle. According to tradition, Buddha named each year after an animal. People born in the year of each animal exhibit some of the personality traits and qualities associated with that animal. The Gregorian year of 2007 (4705 on the Chinese calendar) is the year of the Rat. While western culture doesn't assign very many desirable qualities to the rat, the Chinese revere the animal as being charming, passionate, charismatic, practical and hard working. They are adventurous travelers and wise advisors. People born the year of the Rat are particularly known for their attractiveness to the opposite sex . They are believed to be very social having many friends and they love to gossip. Some famous people born in the year of the Rat include William Shakespeare, Olivia Newton John, Mozart, American President George Washington, Winston Churchill and Marlon Brando.

Each day of the New Year celebration carries with it rituals, feasts and celebrations. On the first day, Lap Bak, celebrants abstain from meat to ensure a long and healthy life. The second day consists of prayers given to ancestors and gods. It is also the traditional birthday of all dogs and people are especially kind to these animals on this day. The third and fourth days are reserved for sons -in- laws who are expected to pay homage and respect to their parents - in- laws by bringing them various gifts and honoring them in public. The third day is also considered the day that mice get married so people go to bed early to allow the mice to perform their wedding ceremonies. Po Woo, the fifth day is a time of family reflection. Everyone stays home and refrains from visiting other family members and friends to avoid bad luck. It is the day the Chinese honor the god of wealth. The seventh day is considered the birth day of human beings. People eat foods such as noodles and raw fish to ensure a long

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