The Chinese New Year: The Year of the Monkey

The Chinese New Year is as important to Chinese culture as January 1st is to American culture. It is a time when all the hard work they put in is celebrated as they relax with their families and wish for a prosperous upcoming year. Determined by the lunisolar Chinese calendar, the Chinese New Year falls between January 21st and February 20th and is marked by a different zodiac animal each year. This year, 2016 is marked by the Monkey and falls on Monday, February 8th.
If you were born in the years 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, and 2004, then the monkey is also your zodiac sign. But watch out! It is believed that people born in the year of the Monkey might have bad luck in 2016. There is hope, however, because those people are also seen as clever, mischievous, energetic, sociable, intelligent, and have a magnetic personality. Sound like you?
The best part about the Chinese New Year is the celebrations, of course! Traditional celebrations include a reunion dinner with the family, firecrackers, red envelopes, colorful decorations, and my personal favorite, a week off of work! All across the world, there are parades celebrated with intricate floats, vibrant costumes, and exciting performances all following the theme of the zodiac animal for the year. London, England has the largest celebration outside of China itself, but other large cities such as Chicago, New York, and San Francisco also host mind-blowing parades and celebrations in the streets. The immersion of cultures is intoxicating and bona fide fun.
How will you be celebrating the Chinese New Year?
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Image courtesy of Reuters