The Chinese New Year is the important Chinese Holiday. It is a time for families to reunite while welcoming longevity, wealth, and prosperity. Each year the start and stop of the Chinese New Year falls on a different day because the Chinese calendar is a lunar calendar versus our solar calendar. This year, the New Year started on February 10, 2013 and ends on February 22, 2013 with the Lantern Festival.

2013 marks the year of the snake. The total lunar year runs from February 10, 2013 to January 30, 2014. People born under the sign of the snake are known for their intelligence, wisdom, charm, and materialism. Snakes can be excellent teachers, politicians, mediators, psychologists, and interior designers. Snakes are compatible with the Rooster and Ox.

The Lantern Festival is also known as the Spring Festival. The Spring Festival or Lantern Festival marks the end of the New Year celebrations. The festival has many different stories about the origins of the festival. This year, the end of the celebrations can be viewed at Lan Su Chinese Gardens with the Chinese New Year Lantern viewings February 22 – 24th.

Of key importance is that the Lantern Festival is a time to set the tone for the year that you want to have. The Lantern Festival is an opportunity to make a fresh start, reconcile old grudges and make peace.

For all of us, I wish you a Happy Chinese New Year, a beautiful Spring Festival, and a wonderful year!
Happy New Year