The lunar new year is the beginning of a new cycle where the 12 months are calculated according to the phases of the moon. Today, on february 5 2019, the moon has returned to its exact position from 1 year ago and starts a new cycle with the new moon in aquarius (yesterday).
In most asian cultures where christmas is not celebrated, lunar new year is the biggest traditional holiday of the year.
You've probably seen this somewhere before - dancers in dragon costumes performing a show to drum beats, scaring away the evil spirits and bringing good luck.
Traditionally, you wear red on new year's day, eat moon cakes, burn some fireworks (one of the oldest traditions from ancient china) and receive or gift the famous "hong bao's" (red envelopes).
These envelopes are typically filled with money and are given from the elders of the family to the younger generation.
There are 12 signs in the chinese zodiac and every year represents a different sign - so every 12 years, the cycle repeats itself.
I was born in the year of the pig in 1995 - and 2019 is the year of the pig again, when I'm turning 24!
The pig might seem like an unusual, or even dirty / negative animal in western culture.
(Fun fact: Pigs are gourmets! The pig is the last of the 12 zodiac signs, because when Buddha called all pigs to the race to determine their order, the pig took the time to finish its meal first, before heading to the goal!)
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