Chinese New Year is Feb. 8, and celebrations are taking place all around the world. Festivals, parades and other events are scheduled from the the day before through the weeks afterward. This fits with tradition - generally, new year celebrations run from the evening before the year begins to the 15th day. These festivities are not only meant to ring in the new year, but to let go of the negativity of the past and move into an exciting, positive future.

In Canada, there will be large and long-lasting celebrations in Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg and other cities as well. Celebrations include feasts, dances and other traditional activities.

About Chinese New Year

"Chinese New Year is based on the lunisolar cycle."

If you're not already familiar with this holiday, you might be a little confused about why there are new year's celebrations in February. It all comes down to different ways of measuring the year throughout history. In the West, the year was based around a solar calendar, which is to say it based the cycle on the earth's position relative to the sun. Ancient China, however, developed a different calendar. This was based on the lunisolar cycle, which takes not only the sun but the moon's phase into account, as well. This means that the new year happens in either late January or early February.

The Gregorian (solar) calendar came to China in the mid-16th century but wasn't widely used until the start of the 20th century. However, people still celebrated the new year during the traditional time. In the mid-20th century, Chinese Communist Party leader Mao Zedong declared that China would no longer celebrate Chinese New Year and would instead focus on the Western new year to simplify relations with the West. By the late 1990s, however, Chinese leaders had reinstated the celebration, which is now officially called the Spring Festival.

The Year of the Monkey

This upcoming celebration will ring in the Year of the Monkey. Chinese years are set to a 12-year rotating zodiac. Each cycle is marked with a different animal, which symbolizes a different spirit, personality or tone for the upcoming year. In the Chinese zodiac, Monkeys symbolize high energy and enthusiasm. Risk-taking, a quick wit and even recklessness are all character traits associated both with people born in the Year of the Monkey, and with the year itself.

Tips for Travel to Canada

Since the Year of the Monkey is a time for diving into your adventurous side, consider planning a trip to Canada! Here are a few tips:

  • Schedule a light first day of vacation to give your body a chance to adjust to the time zone.
  • Look into acquiring trip cancellation insurance, so you don't lose money if an emergency requires you to call off your vacation.
  • If you're planning to tour city to city, expect plenty of travel time between locations.
  • It's customary to tip between 15-20 percent at restaurants in Canada. Many other services, such as taxi cabs, or those you might find in a hotel, also receive tips.