Chinese New Year is a colourful and meaningful celebration. Stephanie Vincenti tells us what to expect during the upcoming 'year of the dragon' festivities.

As glowing red lanterns brighten the streets of Kuala Lumpur, firecrackers sparkle in the night sky and talk turns to luck and prosperity, we have entered a time of celebration - Chinese New Year (also known as CNY)! As one of the primary festivals in the Malaysian calendar and the biggest and most important of the Chinese holidays, Chinese New Year is a colorful and enchanting time and Malaysia is a great place to experience it.

Although Kuala Lumpur may go through a quiet spell for a few days as many people go back to their hometowns or quietly visit family and friends in and around the city, over the course of the festive period there are many vibrant and interesting scenes to observe and participate in. Commencing on a different date each year, specified by the first day of the first month in the traditional Chinese calendar, Chinese New Year this year will be held on Monday, 23 January. This day and the following day Tuesday, 24 January will be official public holidays in Malaysia.

FAMILY AFFAIR
NewYear's Eve marks the beginning of the fifteen days of celebration, but preparation for the event will have commenced weeks before. Families will have organized their homes for the big occasion, orchestrating a "spring cleaning" of the whole house. This physical action metaphorically sweeps away any bad luck which may have accumulated over the previous year and sets the family off on the right foot for the year to come. Like holiday celebrations all over the world, there is plenty of shopping to have completed by this day too, food stocked up in abundance, new clothes bought and a hair-cut obtained. The first day of the New Year sees families gather together in celebration; those who live away from their families will make the journey home to celebrate with their kin. Visits to older relatives such as parents and grandparents are important in the first few days of celebration and married family members kindly offer ang pows (small red envelopes containing cash), to their unmarried younger relatives.

Get Involved: Traditionally a family affair, these days it is not uncommon for friends to be invited to share in the New Year festivities. If you as an expat or tourist are given the opportunity to travel homeward with your Chinese pals, then grab it, as this will give you the most authentic experience of this occasion. If you aren't fortunate enough to receive an invitation, visit www.tourism.gov.my where you can find out more about open houses in your area which provide free festive food.

HEAD TO THE STREETS
New Year celebrations conclude on Chap Goh Meh, the fifteenth day and first new moon of the year. This occasion is marked by the traditional Chinese lantern festival which dates back more than 2000 years. There are many different beliefs as to the origin of the lantern festival. Some believe it was a celebration of the birthday of Tianguan, the Taoist god responsible for good fortune and others believe it began as a necessary deception against the wrath of the Jade Emperor in Heaven. Whatever the reason behind this tradition, it is wonderful to see the warm glow of red lanterns through the streets of Kuala Lumpur and sky lanterns floating overhead. As well as the lanterns, it is likely you will encounter firecrackers lighting up the sky as they are also an important part of the celebrations. It is said that traditionally they were used to scare away mythological creatures, now they add to the beauty of the event and celebratory atmosphere.

Get Involved: Visit www.tourism.gov.my to learn more about cultural events such as dancing, sports and games.

EAT YOUR FORTUNE
As with most celebrations, food plays an important part in the tradition and enjoyment of the festivities. However, the benefit to consuming delicious culinary fare over Chinese New Year overrides just pleasure to the taste buds. Chinese tradition states that many foods have symbolic meanings and therefore many "Lucky" foods will be served over the course of the two week celebratory period. These will include unbroken noodles which represent long life, a whole fish offers abundance for the coming year and spring rolls signal future wealth. Along with these special foods, oranges and tangerines are given to children and guests as symbols of wealth and good luck.

Get Involved: Why not take dinner at one of the city's top hotels on New Year's Eve and join the many Chinese families enjoying their "reunion" dinner there? Many restaurants and hotels will offer special menus, buffets and "reunion" dinners on the eve night.

YEAR OF THE DRAGON
Chinese New Year fuses with another important element of Chinese culture this year, the auspicious image of the dragon. The dragon is a legendary creature in Chinese mythology - a symbol of great power, prosperity and success. It is said that the year of the dragon will be marked by excitement, unpredictability, exhilaration and intensity, so 2012 is set to be an interesting year!

In Chinese astrology, the dragon also represents the characteristics and personalities of those born within its year, as each year is personified by an animal. As we move into the year of the dragon, the 5th sign of the zodiac, those born in the years 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988 and 2000 are represented. If you fit into this twelve year cycle of the Dragon then you are said to be innovative, self-assured, brave, passionate, stubborn, and quick-tempered. Viewing a dragon dance is a beautiful and exhilarating spectacle, executed by skilled and experienced performers. The costumes are traditionally made from bamboo, silk and paper and the dragon can stretch more than a hundred feet in length. It is said that the dance of the dragon drives off evil spirits and brings good luck and fortune to people for the following year.

Get Involved: Be sure to see a dragon dance and be transfixed by the bobbing and weaving of the beautifully crafted creature. Visit Chinatown in the days leading up to the New Year or after the first few days of celebration to witness the spectacular sight.