Spring Festival(Chinese New Year) is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is sometimes called the Lunar New Year, especially by people outside China. The festival traditionally begins on the first day of the first lunar month (Chinese: 正月; pinyin: zhēng yuè) in the Chinese calendar and ends on the 15th; this day is called Lantern Festival. Chinese New Year's Eve is known as Chúxī (除夕, abbr. for 年除夕 Niánchúxī, Chúxì in Taiwan). It literally means "Year-pass Eve". Unlike Christmas, the celebration of Spring Festival lasts for nearly half a month.People come home from different places to enjoy family reunion since for thousands of years, Chinese have attached great importance to family.

Before the New Year,people must do a thorough cleaning work,because it is believed the cleaning sweeps away the bad luck of the preceding year and makes their homes ready for good luck. Brooms and dust pans are put away on the first day so that luck cannot be swept away. Some people give their homes, doors and window-panes a new coat of red paint.Usually on New Year's Eve, the family gather together and enjoy home-made dinner. The second day of the Chinese New Year is for married daughters to visit their birth parents. Traditionally, daughters who have been married may not have the opportunity to visit their birth families frequently. Of course, now it does not make much sense,women are free to visit their parents whenever they want.
On the second day, the Chinese pray to their ancestors as well as to all the gods. They are extra kind to dogs and feed them well as it is believed that the second day is the birthday of all dogs.
It is difficult to finish all festivities in this short article. In order to keep you dear readers awake, I now want to switch to another interesting topic as I have mentioned in the title:Chinese animal zodiac.
The 12 animals that represent for each year are:
Maybe you are puzzled about why these ordinary animals became signs, actually all the animals here(except imaginary dragon) are very important to Chinese people's life and imply the good wish of our ancestors. For example,the rat was welcomed in ancient times as a protector and bringer of material prosperity. It is an animal associated with aggression, wealth, charm, and order, yet also associated with death, war, the occult, pestilence, and atrocities.
Wish everyone a merry Christmas and a happy new year. Welcome to spend Spring festival in China!