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The Chinese new year, one of the most important traditional festivals is celebrated today.
This day, part of the spring festival from yesterday evening until February 24, starts the year of the goat or sheep.
The web site www.chinahighlights.com says the Spring festival celebrated each year is based on the lunar calendar.
It is a festival for families to be together and has traditionally the Chinese new year eve’s dinner and a Chinese new year’s reunion dinner.
Families also exchange gifts.
There are also the dragon dances that are performed at new year to scare away evil spirits.
During the dance the performers hold poles and raise and lower the dragon.
The web site www.timeanddate.com says many people clean their homes to welcome the spring festival.
On the evening of the spring festival evening, many people also set off fireworks and firecrackers, hoping to cast away any bad luck and bring forth good luck.