Chinese New Year 2011
Dates: February 2 (Chinese New Year's Eve) to February 17 (Lantern Festival)
Spring Festival, also known as Chinese New Year, is the most important traditional festival in China. It begins on the first day of the lunar month (usually in late January or early February) and ends on the 15th day of the first lunar month (lantern Festival).
Chinese New Year is a time for families to be together. Celebrations include having annual reunion dinner on Chinese New Year's Eve setting firecrackers, giving lucky money to children, ringing the New Year bell, sending Chinese New Year greetings, dragon and lion
dancing, and Niu Yangge (traditional dance in northern China).
Chinese New Year foods are very important to Chinese people. All family members come together to eat at this time. Chinese New Year foods are not only delicious but it is traditional to eat certain foods over this festival, such as Chinese dumplings, fish, spring rolls, Nian Gao (sticky rice cake).
Chinese New Year celebrations usually last for 15 days. Chinese people may celebrate the Chinese New Year in slightly different ways but their wishes are almost the sam: to wish their family members and friends a healthy and lucky new year.