The Chinese decorate their houses for Chinese New Year.  They hang banners with good luck wishes written on them.  They also hang lanterns.

They cook and clean before the New Year because they think it is bad luck to cook and clean during the first 5 days of the New Year.   Cleaning gets rid of the bad luck from the previous year and makes room for the good luck in the next year.

Some people take baths on New Year's Eve with mint leaves.  They thought it would make them extra clean.

The Chinese wear red clothes on New Year's Day because the colour red shows happiness. They also get their hair cut.  They think by doing this they change the way they look and the evil spirits and bad luck will not recognize them.  

Before the New Year, people settle arguments and pay back money they owe.   

Each new year is ruled with a different animals. A legend says that each animal was chosen by the Buddah. People taken on the traits of the animal that is ruled by their year. I was born in 2009 the year of the ox. My traits are patient, strong and a leader.