Lunar New Year 2018: How is the Chinese New Year Celebrated, Why is this the Year of Dog and Find out Which Animal Are You!

While most of us had our celebrations and wished each other greetings of the New Year, the Chinese New Year begins today. Unlike our fixed dates of the calendar towards the end of December, the Chinese New Year varies each year. The Chinese Lunar New Year 2018 has begun today, February 16 and the Chinese festivities go on for two weeks before the actual date. Because it is based on the lunar calendar, the dates vary each year. Although their new year’s day falls somewhere between January 21 and February 20. Today is the first day of Lunar New Year, which starts the year of the Dog.

How is the Lunar New Year celebrated?

It is naturally one of the most celebrated festivals in the country. Along with being a major holiday in the country it is also widely celebrated in the neigbouring countries of Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, to name a few. Usually, people have a good gathering with their families on this day. according to certain traditional beliefs, houses are cleaned to take out all the evils.

Other than that, the common celebrations include the lighting of firecrackers to welcome the New Year’s Day. But they also have a visually appealing explosion of light and sounds, involves bell ringing and there are also traditional lion dances performed. Kids are given red envelopes with some money inside and it is considered a sign of luck. And with the technological innovation, some children have a red envelope app on their phones and their relatives transfer the money digitally! Wow, can you imagine this in India, well why not? The red lanterns are a common prop of their decorations. The people tie them on their doors and windows and when they light up, it is a very pretty sight.

The festivities also included preparing meals, elaborate traditional food gourmet for friends and family. Porridge and meat is a commonly prepared dish during the festival.

Why 2018 is the year of dog?

The Chinese zodiac cycles move in a 12-year cycle of animals. So, each year has a corresponding animal to it and for 2018 it is the dog. According to Asian astrological beliefs, the year you are born in and the animal corresponding to that year tells a lot about your personality. So, anyone born in 2018 will be communicative, serious, and responsible in the workplace.

Even within the dog sign, there are classifications, five to be specific, so each type coming in a 60-year cycle. This year, it is the Earth dog which was last in the year 1958. The other kinds of dogs are Gold, Water and Fire Dogs.

Find out which animal year do you belong to according to Chinese zodiac

2015, 2003, 1991, 1979, 1967​

Since the festival is celebrated in the neighboring countries as well it has different names in different areas. Depending on the country, the holiday may be referred as Chinese New Year, Lunar New Year, New Year Festival, and Spring Festival.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 16, 2018 06:11 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).