1. Lunar New Year By Maria L Le EDHD 5007

2. It’s a Celebration! Lunar New Year is Celebrated by people in China, Vietnam and Korea. New year lasts about four days. The biggest feature of the New Year’s celebration is the Dragon and Lion Dances, which symbolizes good luck in the new year. Dragon and Lion Dances

3. 2006 – Year of The Dog The animal signs are a 12- year cycle used for dating the years. They represent a cyclical concept of time, rather than the Western linear concept of time. The Lunar Calendar is based on the cycles of the moon, and is constructed in a different fashion than the Western solar calendar. In the Lunar calendar, the beginning of the year falls somewhere between late January and early February.

4. The Story behind the Zodiac Legend According to Chinese legend, the twelve animals quarreled one day as to who was to head the cycle of years. The gods were asked to decide and they held a contest: whoever was to reach the opposite bank of the river would be first, and the rest of the animals would receive their years according to their finish. All the twelve animals gathered at the river bank and jumped in. Unknown to the ox, the rat had jumped upon his back. As the ox was about to jump ashore, the rat jumped off the ox's back, and won the race. The pig, who was very lazy, ended up last. That is why the rat is the first year of the animal cycle, the ox second, and the pig last.

5. Traditions Respect to elders is very important to many Asian cultures. On New Year’s, adults give children red money packets to wish prosperity and good fortune in the coming year.

6. New Year Dresses Every new year, people wear their new traditional dresses to celebrate the new year.

7. New Year Fun! Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean people often go to parades and community events during the New Year. It’s all about the fun! community events

8. New Year Feasts In any kind of celebration, family and friends come together for big feasts. Sticky rice cakes are among the special foods eaten at New Year.

9. Happy Lunar New Year The End