Chinese New Year - The Year of Ox

Chinese New Year celebrations start with the new moon of the new year and ends on the full moon 15 days later. The 15th day of the new year is called the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated at night with lantern displays and children carrying lanterns in a parade.

The Chinese calendar is based on a combination of lunar and solar movements. The lunar cycle is about 29.5 days. In order to catch up with the solar calendar, the Chinese insert an extra month once every few years (seven years out of a 19-year cycle). This is similar to adding an extra day on leap year. The Chinese New Year falls on a different date each year due to its lunar basis.

Chinese New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are celebrated as a family affair, when members of the family have a reunion and thanksgiving. The festivities are traditionally highlighted with religious ceremonies held in honor of Heaven and Earth, the gods of the household and the family ancestors.

The following photo story (click on the link below) sheds light on one of the most beautiful festivals of the world:

http://web.me.com/neomartian/Neo_Martians_Notes/Photo_Stories/Pages/Chinese_New_Year.html