When Chinese New Year is Celebrated
Officially Chinese New Year is celebrated on Chuyi (初一 /choo-ee/) the very first day of the new year, Chinese New Year's Day, and Chuxi (除夕 /choo-sshee/), the last day of the previous year, Chinese New Year's Eve.
Traditionally though celebrations can start much earlier than Chinese New Year's Eve. Some people start to celebrate from three weeks before. The date is called Laba (腊八 /laa-baa/) the eighth day of the twelfth Chinese month, while more people celebrate from one week before — the 23rd of the twelfth month.
There are also two different closing dates. Officially it is the day when the one week holiday ends, usually the sixth day of Chinese New Year. Traditionally the ending day is the fifteenth day of the first Chinese calendar month — the Lantern Festival. Read more on day-by-day celebrations for this grandest of Chinese festivals.
2015 — a Goat Year
Chinese New Year 2015 will be the year of the goat. For people born in the year of the goat (1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003 ), 2015 is considered an auspicious year.
"Goats" are said to like to be in groups. They are honest, intimate, and can be easily moved by the misfortune of others... Read more on the personality, career, and love suggestions for those born in the year of the goat and other Chinese zodiac animals by clicking on the links below.
