The 2018 Chinese New Year is on Friday, February 16, 2018 (GMT+8). According to the Chinese 12-year animal zodiac cycle, this is the year of the Dog.
Each Chinese zodiac year begins on Chinese New Year’s Day, which is also the new moon day.
The exact new moon time for year 2018 is at 05:06 on 16 February, 2018 (China’s time zone).
On 4 February, 2018 the Year of Chicken which was celebrated on 28 January 2017 will usher in a New Year of the Dog.
Dog is man’s good friend who can understand the human’s spirit and obey its master, whether he is wealthy or not, and for this reason, the Chinese regard it as an auspicious animal. If a dog happens to come to a house, it symbolizes the coming of fortune.
Chinese New Year Festival in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong or Singapore spans 15-days long until the New Year Lantern Festival, 15th lunar day of the first lunar month.
The Lantern Festival Day is on March 2, 2018.
“With good reason, dogs are dubbed man’s best friend. They’re playful, lovable and loyal,” says Dennis Fairchild, the author of “Healing Homes.” “They wag their tails; they’re optimistic and happy.”
Preparations for the Chinese New Year festival begin around the 8th day of its 12th lunar month while the last day of celebrations falls on the 15th day of first lunar month. This implied that about three weeks is required to prepare for the festival and 15 days to celebrate it.
The schedule for the Chinese New Year Festival and Parade in US major China towns usually is on the weekend before or after Chinese New Year.
Chinese communities in North America celebrate Chinese New Year Festival on different days and in special ways such as carnival, party and parade. These events are usually moved to the next or previous weekend after Chinese New Year’s day in USA. Some special Lunar New Year celebration are held earlier or one week later.
