Chinese New Year Chinese New Year comes in late January or early February. Most families celebrate with a large dinner the night before. However, preparations begin many days earlier. Some of these include:      Cleaning the entire house to get rid of old and unlucky things      Putting away all brooms and brushes (so they don't sweep away good luck!)      Paying back money you owe other people      Taking care of problems and ending arguments between family, friends or co-workers      Buying new clothes and shoes for children, preferably lucky red or gold in color The Chinese Zodiac Each new year is named after a different animals of the Chinese Zodiac -- there are 12 all together that repeat over and over: Year of the Monkey (2004), Rooster (2005), Dog (2006), Pig (2007), Rat (2008), Ox (2009), Tiger (2010), Rabbit (2011), Dragon (2012), Snake (2013), Horse (2014) and Goat (2015). There are many other Chinese New Year traditions. Some of them are listed below: Lucky Money On New Year's Day, children are given red packets or envelopes filled with lucky money or chocolate coins. These packets are called lai see (in Cantonese) or hong bao (in Mandarin) and are handed out to the younger generation by parents, older family members or friends. Firecrackers The snap-bang-pow of firecrackers can be heard all over town. The loud noise is said to scare away evil spirits and bad luck. Dragon Dances The clang of cymbals and the beat of drums mean a dragon dance is nearby. This dance is held to scare away bad luck and start the New Year right. Watch the dragon chase the pearl of wisdom -- a large bright ball that one of the dancers carries on a stick. Flowers Flowers are an important part of New Year decorations. They symbolize rebirth and new growth. Bright pink plum blossoms are especially popular. They stand for courage and hope. White and yellow water narcissus have a sweet smell that brightens up homes even on the coldest days. It is said that if your flowers bloom on New Year’s Day, you will have a year of luck and prosperity! Spring Couplets Lucky words are written on bright red paper scrolls called spring couplets, and hung on both sides of doorways. Each couplet has a different lucky wish. Couplets inside stores might talk about riches and prosperity. Couplets inside of homes might say "Happy New Year," or hope for peace, health and success. Wishes inside of schools might talk about knowledge or education. Tangerines and Oranges Tangerines and oranges are often displayed in homes and stores. Since they are gold in color, they represent luck and wealth. If you visit friends during New Year, you should bring a bag of oranges or tangerines with you, as well as a lai see packet. Tray of Togetherness Many families keep a tray full of dried fruits, sweets, and candies to welcome guests and relatives who drop by. This tray is called a tray of togetherness. It is made up of eight compartments, each filled with a special food item inside. Family and Friends Most people spend the First Day of New Year with their own family and the Second Day visiting friends. Everybody's Birthday The Seventh Day of the New Year is called Everybody’s Birthday. Everyone is considered one year older on of that date. Things to Avoid During New Year There are many traditions about things to avoid on new year. They include:      Don't wash your hair (you might was away good luck!)      Don't yell in a loud voice      Don't break anything (it represents a ruined year)      Don't sweep the floor (you might sweep away good luck)      Don't drop your chopsticks      Don't say the number 4 (it has the same sound as the word for death)      Don't lend or borrow money      Don't use knives or scissors (you might cut your fortune)