Buddhist, Taoist, Confucian

The most important of traditional Chinese holidays. The New Year celebration is centered around removing the bad and the old and welcoming the new and the good. It's a time to worship ancestors, exorcize evil spirits and pray for a good harvest.

Each year is represented by a Chinese zodiac.

Date details: Corresponds to the New Moon in Aquarius, which can fall from late January to mid-February.

General practices: Burn incense to worship their ancestors, older and senior members of the family give the younger ones good luck pocket money (Ya Sui Qian), New Year’s Eve dinner, lion dance, dragon dance, temple fairs and flower market shopping.

Potential accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, and activities on this date. Many Chinese employees will probably request this day off.