Lunar New Year, a festival typically celebrated in China and other Asian countries begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ends on the first full moon of the lunar calendar, 15 days later. The lunar calendar is based on the cycles of the moon, so the dates of the holiday vary slightly from year to year, beginning sometime between January 21 and February 20 according to Western calendars.
According to one legend, there was a monster named Nian (年). It would come about 
every New Year’s Eve. Most people would hide in their homes. But one boy was brave enough to fight him off using firecrackers. The next day, people celebrated their survival by setting off even more firecrackers. And that practice became a crucial part of the Spring Festival.
On New Year’s day, family members receive red envelopes (lai see) containing small 
amounts of money. Dances and fireworks are prevalent throughout the holidays, culminating in the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated on the last day of the New Year’s celebrations. On this night colourful lanterns light up the houses, and traditional foods such as yuanxiao (sticky rice balls that symbolize family unity), fagao (prosperity cake), and yusheng (raw fish and vegetable salad) are served.
How to Say Happy New Year in Chinese
新 年 快 乐
Xīn nián kuài lè!
Elmo, Abby, Grover, and Nina are celebrating Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival by doing the Dragon Dance with their homemade dragon costume!
Join artist, Heather Grey, as she shows you how to create a lion mask from a paper bag and some paint. Your finished mask can be worn to dance the lion dance in celebration of the Lunar New Year.
Follow Keqiao and Keting Chen as they show you how to lion dance in celebration of the Lunar New Year in 10 simple steps.
The Chinese zodiac, or shengxiao, refers to the circle of 12 animals that measure the cycles of time.
Legend has it that a god called all animals to bid him farewell before he departed. Only 12 of them, namely the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig arrived, with each given a place of honor in a year based on the order of arrival.
Signs or animals are determined by the lunar year in which you were born. Different people born under each zodiac sign are believed to have different personalities that represent animals of the year.
Rat:
Characteristics: Intelligent, adaptable, quick-witted, charming, artistic, sociable.
Ox:
Characteristics: Loyal, reliable, thorough, strong, reasonable, steady, and determined.
Tiger:
Characteristics: Enthusiastic, courageous, ambitious, leadership, confident, charismatic.
Rabbit:
Characteristics: Trustworthy, empathic, modest, diplomatic, sincere, sociable, caretaker.
Dragon:
Characteristics: Lucky, flexible, eccentric, imaginative, artistic, spiritual, charismatic.
Snake:
Characteristics: Philosophical, organized, intelligent, intuitive, elegant, attentive, decisive.
Horse:
Characteristics: Adaptable, loyal, courageous, ambitious, intelligent, adventurous, strong.
Sheep:
Characteristics: Tasteful, crafty, warm, elegant, charming, intuitive, sensitive, calm.
Monkey:
Characteristics: Quick-witted, charming, lucky, adaptable, bright, versatile, lively, smart.
Rooster:
Characteristics: Honest, energetic, intelligent, flamboyant, flexible, diverse, and confident.
Dog:
Characteristics: Loyal, sociable, courageous, diligent, steady, lively, adaptable, smart.
Pig:
Characteristics: Honorable, philanthropic, determined, optimistic, sincere, and sociable.
Why is there no cat?
It's a pity for cat lovers, but here's the story. At that time, the cat and the rat were good friends. The cat said to the rat: "We should arrive early to sign up, but I usually get up late." The rat then promised to give the cat a wake-up call. But on that very morning, the rat was too excited to recall the promise. The result was that the cat was too late for the party.