ChineseNewYear 　　ChineseNewYearisthemostimportantfestivityfortheChinesepeople.ItisalsocalledtheSpringFestivalortheLunarNewYear. 　　Everyyearhasananimal’sname.Theseanimalsaretherat,ox,tiger,rabbit,dragon,snake,horse,ram,monkey,rooster,dogandpig.AChineselegendsaysthatthesetwelveanimalshadarace.Thefirstyearwasnamedaftertherat,thewinner.Theotherelevenyearswerenamedaftertheorderinwhichtheanimalsarrivedintherace.Thecleverratjumpedontotheox’sbackthenattheendjumpedovertheox’sheadtoarrivefirst! 　　TheChinesebelievethatapersonborninaparticularyearhassomeofthecharacteristicsofanimal. 　　OnChineseNewYear’sEveallfamilymembersenjoyabig,deliciousmeal.ItisveryimportantfortheChinesetobewiththeirfamiliesonthisoccasion.Fishisalwayspartofthedinnerbecauseitrepresentsabundance. 　　OnNewYear’sDayallChinesechildrenwearnewclotheswithbrightcolors.Redisconsideredaluckycolor.ParentsandrelativesgivechildrenthetraditionalNewYear’sgiftcalledluckymoney.Thismoneyisputintobrightredandgoldenvelopes.Fillunderthepillow.inthemorningofnewyear,thekidwakesuptoseethe“luckymoney”,expressthatoneselfbecomeoneyearolder.Redisatraditionalcolorforfestivals,celebrations,weddingsandbirthdays. 　　Theliondancersarealwayspartofthefestivities.Thelionhasabigheadandlongbodymadeofcloth.Theliondanceisaccompaniedbydrums,cymbalsandnoisyfirecrackers.Accordingtoancienttraditionsthegreatnoisefrightensawayevilspirits. 　　ThedragonisthemostimportantfigureoftheChineseNewYearfestivitiesandparades.Thedragonisconsideredaluckyfigure.Aparadedragoncanbe20to30meterslong!Sixtyormoremenmoveunderalongcloththatrepresentsthedragon’stail. 　　DuringtheparadechildrenrepresenttheanimalsoftheChinesecalendar.Therearealsoacrobatsandmusiciansinbeautifulcostumes. 　　HappyNewYear!