1. CHINESE NEW YEAR

2.  CHINESE NEW YEAR IS A CELEBRATION THAT TAKES PLACE ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE LUNAR CALENDER.  EVERY YEAR ON THE LUNAR CALENDER REPRESENTS AN ANIMAL. THE ANIMALS ARE:RAT,OX, TIGER, RABBIT, DRAGON, SNAKE, HORSE, SHEEP, MONKEY, ROOSTER, DOG, AND PIG. THE CYCLE REAPEATS EVERY 12 YEARS.

3.  ON CHINESE NEW YEAR EVE, CITIZENS INVITE FAMILY MEMBERS OVER AND EAT DINNER. THEIR MAIN DISH IS A WHOLE FISH SO THEY WILL HAVE MORE SAVINGS NEXT YEAR.  ALSO, FAMILIES CLEAN THEIR HOUSE AND DECORATE IT WITH RED. THEY USE RED BECAUSE IT REPRESENTS HAPPINESS.

4.  ON CHINESE NEW YEAR DAY, PEOPLE SPEND LOTS OF TIME WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY. THEY GO TO FESTIVALS AND EAT A LOT OF TRADITIONAL FOOD.  THE FESTIVAL STARTS AT MIDNIGHT WITH A LOT OF FIREWORKS. CHILDREN SHOW RESPECT TO THEIR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS BY BOWING AND SAYING HAPPY NEW YEAR. THEN THEY RECEIVE MONEY IN ENVELOPES FOR GOOD LUCK.

5.  ONE OF THE POPULAR FESTIVALS IS THE LANTERN FESTIVAL. IT TAKES ON THE 15 TH OR LAST DAY OF CHINESE NEW YEAR. PEOPLE HAVE A LANTERN PARADE AND A LION DANCE CELEBRATING THE 1 ST FULL MOON OF THE YEAR.