Similar to Christmas in the West, Chinese New Year, also called the Spring Festival, is the most important and looked forward to festival of the year. It is loved by people of all ages, and is the most joyful moment of the year.

Chinese New Year follows the lunar calendar and so every year the Chinese New Year falls on a different day. This year, the New Year Day is 14th February. Chinese New Year lasts 15 days long, with preparations beginning long in advance. The festival is filled with traditions, many of which date back to prehistoric times.

It is a time for family. Each year, no matter where they are living, each family member heads back to their hometown to celebrate with their family.

According to the Chinese Zodiac, which is based on a yearly cycle and represents twelve different animals, the year 2010 is the Year of Tiger. Chinese Zodiac is very different from the Western Zodiac that based on dates in a monthly cycle and represents constellations.

According to Chinese tradition, each Zodiac animal has a different personality and characteristics. It is believed that the animal each person is born under dictates their traits, happiness, and success. The twelve animals of the Chinese Zodiac are the Rat, Cow, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.

Known throughout the world, the Dragon Dance is an eagerly anticipated part of China's New Year festivities. This dazzling display incorporates many men working in perfect unison to bring the dragon puppet to life. The Dragon Dance is performed in the hopes that the dragon, the traditional supplier of rain, would ensure plenty of rainfall in the upcoming year.

The Lion Dance usually consists of two people, in which performers mimic a lion's movements in a lion costume. It is usually performed as a ceremony to exorcise evil spirits and to summon luck and fortune.

The exciting and mesmerizing Dragon and Lion dances are must do during public ceremonies of the Lunar New Year, which can be seen in the temple fairs throughout China.

Temple Fairs are an extremely important part of the Chinese New Year for most northern Chinese people. A temple fair, traditionally located in front of a temple, is held in a large area where people can come and watch martial arts, acrobatics, stilt walking, lion and dragon dances, traditional foods, singing, and dancing. They are lively affairs and loved by people of all ages.

The most famous temple fairs are held in Beijing and many people come from all over China to be a part of them. A temple fair often lasts a half month followed by a lantern fair.

There are many foods and snacks which are associated with the Chinese New Year. Some of them are only eaten at this time, and each region of China has its own special new year foods.

In most part of China, Nian-Gao is the most symbolic New Year Food. It is sticky cake made in different shapes and flavors. The word Nian-Gao sounds identical to the Chinese words meaning year and high, which carries the meaning that each year will be better than the last.

If you are traveling China during a Lunar New Year, do enjoy this great culinary occasion.