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In the U.S., we celebrate the New Year on the first of January. What if I were to tell you that not everyone celebrated the same way that we do? In Chinese culture, the New Year is celebrated on the first of February, an entire month later. Called Chinese New Year by most outside of China, Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival is the most important holiday in China. This festival is also celebrated in Vietnam, North and South Korea, and Tibet.
The reason the Lunar New Year is celebrated February 1st instead of January 1st lies in the late adoption of the Western Calendar, in 1912. Previously, China used the Lunisolar calendar, shown on the right.
Every year, one of the twelve Chinese Zodiac animals is the face of the new year. Each animal has unique characteristics, and people born in certain years are believed to share these traits. This year is the year of the Tiger.
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