Home Life Holidays New Year Lunar New Year 2012

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Happy New Year!

The Lunar New Year dates from 2600 BC, when the Emperor Huang Ti introduced the first cycle of the Chinese zodiac.

Because of cyclical lunar dating, the first day of the year can fall anywhere between late January and the middle of February. On the Chinese calendar, 2012 is Lunar Year 4710.

On the Western calendar, the start of Chinese New Year in 2012 falls on Monday, January 23, 2012 — The Year of the Dragon

If you were born in 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000 or 2012, you were born under the sign of the dragon. Like the dragon, you are one of the luckiest and most dynamic signs in the Chinese zodiac.

Often gifted with outstanding charisma, and confident to the point of swaggering, dragons are often puzzled by those who simply refuse to recognize that they are masters of all they survey.

Dragons also have a reputation for impetuousness, and running off at the mouth without thinking. However, if you're lucky enough to earn their trust and friendship, you'll never find a truer, more stout-hearted friend. Cross them, and woe to those who have experienced a tongue lashing at the hands of a hot-headed dragon!

In 2012, any recent setbacks or obstacles experienced last year can be overcome in a typically dramatic 'year of the dragon' fashion, so dragons can look forward to a year in which to really shine, either personally or professionally.

Famous people born under the Sign of the Dragon? They include Joan of Arc, Sigmund Freud, singer John Lennon, and actors Bruce Lee, Orlando Bloom, Colin Farrell, and Sandra Bullock.

Around the Web, learn more about Chinese New Year celebrations in the U.S. and worldwide, browse festive clip art and e-mail greetings, or read up on holiday customs and folklore.

Let's also not forget the traditional food & recipes surrounding a traditional weeks-long Chinese Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, which concludes with an equally festive Lantern Festival on February 6, 2012.

also see -> Chinese Dragon Boat Festival | Mid-Autumn Festival

How to Make a Chinese New Year Fire Dragon

Chinese New Year around the Web:

Chinese New Year for Kids & Teachers - Fun for everyone at this first-rate resource including links to top holiday history and food sites, plus lesson plans for teachers...and festival-related crafts, coloring pages and clip art for the kids.

Chinese New Year - Great intro, with brief descriptions of traditional celebrations slated for all 15 days of the New Year or Spring Festival, plus more on traditional Chinese New Year foods, decorations, taboos and superstitions.

Chinese New Year - Wikipedia - A wonderful overview of the history, symbols, customs & foods surrounding the 15-day festivities including information on traditional gifts, flowers, fireworks, good luck / bad luck superstitions, how Chinese New Year is celebrated around the world, plus lots of related links and resources.

Lunar New Year in Taiwan - An engaging read, and beautifully illustrated with tales of the origins of the festival, holiday dishes, gift exchanges, the dragon and lion parade, rituals and superstitions.

Chinese New Year: Chinese Calendar - One stop browsing to learn more about the zodiac, the 12 animals that govern specific years, an online tutorial of Chinese calligraphy, a New Year banners how-to, New Year graphics, and lots more.

Teacher Planet - Chinese New Year - Great collection of fun activities and instructional how to's including dragon crafts, paper lanterns & garlands, scavenger hunt sheets, related lesson plans, plus links to clip art & history resources.

Chinese New Year Greetings, E-Cards - A colorful collection of animated and Flash greetings, Spring Festival, and Happy New Year cards.

Chinese New Year Clip Art - Check out kid-friendly images of zodiac signs, dragon parades and more.

A Brief Introduction to Chinese New Year Prints - Traditional, colorful graphics are used to decorate homes for the Lunar New Year. The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology Library provides an introduction and pictures from their exhibition. You can also find pictures of Yangliuqing New Year prints at China The Beautiful.

Lunar New Year Parades & Events Worldwide:

Chinese New Year Global Gala

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Chinese New Year Recipes

The traditional New Year dinner for the imperial house was composed of 99 dishes since the number 9 is an auspicious number! Fish are a good luck food, but take care to serve the fish whole to preserve the good fortune.

In some areas of China it's a popular custom to give oranges because in Chinese, the word "orange" sounds like "Ji", which means "good luck". People present oranges to their friends and relatives to express their respects and good wishes for the coming year.

Chinese Zodiac

Rat | Ox | Tiger | Rabbit | Dragon | Snake

Horse | Sheep | Monkey | Rooster | Dog | Pig