|Gung Hei Fat Choi! This weekend marks the start of Chinese New
Year celebrations. The New Year in China, (also called “Lunar
New Year”) does not occur on the same calendar day each year –
at least not in the traditional Western sense. The first day of
the New Year coincides with the second new moon after the Winter
Solstice, which means it can begin anywhere from late January to
mid-February, depending on the year. (click to enlarge) Each
lunar year is tied to the Chinese zodiac, which rotates through
twelve different animals: this Sunday February 10th 2013, we
will be saying goodbye to the Year of the Dragon, and ushering
in the Year of the Snake. Chinese New Year celebrations aren’t
limited to mainland China. Anywhere you find a significant
Chinese population, you’ll find Lunar New Year festivals. Hong
Kong, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore,
Taiwan, and Thailand all have large celebrations, and outside of
Asia, cities like San Francisco, Toronto, New York and Vancouver
boast popular parad