1. Chinese New Year 2016 Chinese New Year is a traditional and very important Chinese holiday. It was originally a festival to honor ancestors as well as holy or sacred beings. It is also known as the Spring Festival, which is the literal translation from the Chinese name. It is also referred to as the Lunar New Year because the Chinese calendar is lunisolar. A lunisolar calendar uses both the moon phase and the solar year. Chinese New Year is the longest festival in the Chinese calendar.

2. The Dragon Dragons are of course legendary animals, but they are important to Chinese people who think of dragons as helpful, friendly creatures. They are linked to good luck, long life and wisdom. They are nothing like the fierce, fire-breathing Western dragons that carry off princesses and eat people. Chinese Dragons are associated with storm clouds and life-giving rain. They have special powers so they can fly in the air, swim in the sea and walk on land. The Dragon has features of other animals such as the horns of a stag, the scales of a fish and the footpads of a tiger.