ChineseNewYearisthemostimportantfestivalforChinesepeopleallovertheworld.ItisalsocalledtheSpringFestivalortheLunarNewYear.
TheexactdateoftheSpringFestivalontheWesterncalendarchangesfromyeartoyear.However,ChineseNewYeartakesplacebetweenJanuary1andFebruary19.
OntheChinesecalendareveryyearhasananimal'sname.Theseanimalsaretherat,ox,tiger,rabbit,dragon,snake,horse,ram,monkey,rooster,dogandpig.AChineselegendsaysthatthesetwelveanimalshadarace.Thefirstyearwasnamedaftertherat,thewinner.Theotherelevenyearswerenamedaccordingtotheorderinwhichtheanimalsarrivedintherace.Thecleverratjumpedontotheox'sback,andthenattheendjumpedovertheox'sheadtoarrivefirst!
TheChinesebelievethatapersonborninaparticularyearhassomeofthecharacteristicsofthatanimal.