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Legend has it that in ancient times, Buddha asked all the animals to meet him on Chinese New Year. Twelve came, and Buddha named a year after each one. He announced that the people born in each animal's year would have some of that animal’s personality.

Happy New Year

Celebrations

Dragon personality

The dragon is the only non-existent animal in the Chinese calendar. It is a creature of myth and legend. A symbol of good fortune and sign of intense power, the Oriental dragon is regarded as a divine beast. In Eastern philosophy, the dragon is said to be a deliverer of good fortune and a master of authority.

Traditionally,

red envelopes or red

packets are passed out

during the Chinese New

Year's celebrations. Red

packets almost always

contain money, usually

varying from a couple of

dollars to several

hundred.

Before the start of the festivities, people clean their houses to sweep away

any bad luck.

On New Year’s Eve, houses are decorated with paper scrolls with

good luck phrases. Families gather together and have a large traditional meal. People will stay up until midnight setting o� fireworks to frighten away evil spirits.

On New Year’s Day, children will wake up to find a red envelope filled with money and sweets under their pillows.

Chinese New Year ends with the lantern festival on the fifteenth day. The lanterns are often hand painted with scenes from history or legend. A dragon dance often takes place with a dragon made of paper, silk and bamboo, held by young men dancing and guiding it around to collect money.

This year,

Chinese New

Year falls on Jan. 23.

Year of the Dragon

Chinese New Year is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays and is celebrated for 15 days. This year marks the year of the dragon.

People born in the year of the dragon are:

• Charismatic• Have worldly interests

• Egotistical• Ambitious

• Have active minds• Powerful

• Self-confident• Lucky

SUSAN BATSFORD, GRAPHICS EDITOR, TWITTER @SBATS1; INFOGRAPHIC BY TARA CORRAN/QMI AGENCY Sources: infoplease.com; usbridalguide.com; wikipedia