January 29, 2006 is the first day of the Chinese New Year, the Year of the Dog.
The Chinese New Year is an extended celebration which ends with the lantern festival on the fifteenth day of the month. Many of the lanterns are works of art, people hang the glowing lanterns in temples and there are evening parades under the light of the full moon, where people carry the lit lanterns.
Often, the highlight of the lantern festival is the Dragon Dance. The dragon is also a work of art, usually constructed of silk, paper, and bamboo. Perhaps 35m long, it is traditionally held aloft by young men who dance through the streets. In the United States, the New Year festival is shortened and it is always organized for the dragon dance to take place at the weekend.
photo Melissa Clifton
People born in 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, or 2006 are born in the Year of the Dog. They are said to have the same characteristics as the dog, honest and faithful but capable of being stubborn. For those born in the Year of the Dog, 2006 is their year, Chinese astrology suggests that any recent problems can be overcome and 'dog people' will really shine.
Here is a useful list of Chinese New Year parades & events around the World.
