Did You Know?
Facts, Figures & Folklore
about the Chinese New Year
Feb. 13 : 01 Day to Chinese NY
Did you know that the Chinese concept of time is cyclical rather than linear?
Each year in the Chinese calendar is ascribed to one of 12 animals signs, which repeats itself every 12 years. This cycle is known as the Sheng xiao, or the Chinese Zodiac. These animals signs are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, ram, monkey, rooster, dog and boar.
This year, 2010, will be celebrated as the Year of the Tiger.
From Bangkok to New York’s Chinatown, the Chinese New Year is the pinnacle celebration for billions of Chinese people around the world. The Chinese New Year is the most important and elaborate holiday in Chinese culture. More than any other Chinese holiday, the New Year stresses the importance of familial ties. Whether it’s family gatherings or citywide celebrations, the New Year is a time rich in traditions and ancient superstitions
The holiday begins on February 14th, 2010, the New Moon on the first day of the Chinese New Year, and continues for 15 days, through the end of the full moon.