The Lunar New Year also called the Chinese New Year, marks the first day of the year on the Chinese lunar calendar. It begins on the second new moon after winter solstice and usually is the new moon of February. Mostly, the Chinese New Year festive period lasts for 16 days, starting from Chinese New Year’s eve to the Lantern Festival. 

This Year, the first day of the Lunar New Year is being celebrated on Friday, 12th February 2021. The festivities will begin on the eve of 11th February 2021 and go on till 26th February 2021.

SIGNIFICANCE

Celebrated as the Spring festival, it marks the end of winters and beginning of spring in East Asia. This time is traditionally celebrated to honour deities and divine energies. It is a time to thoroughly clean the house to sweep away bad energies and ill-fortune and make way for good energies, positivity and luck to come in. It is also an occasion for bringing the family together.

While there are many traditions associated with this celebrated the underlying theme is  togetherness to usher in positivity and good luck.

CHINESE ZODIAC 

The Chinese zodiac calendar, rotates in 60-year cycles based on 12 earthly branches, each represented by an animal year, and five element years — wood, fire, earth, metal and water. Each earthly branch is characterised by a yin or yang force and an element. 

The coming year is the Year of the Metal Ox. An Ox is considered to be an animal of strength and signifies diligence, gratitude, loyalty. It is a year to be positive and honest, to give in your best to then reap the benefits of good fortune.