Chinese New Year formally commences at the beginning of Spring. Hence, it is known as the Spring Festival.  It is a time to cast away the bad blood of the previous year and wish for good fortune in the coming year. Unlike the western calendar, the Chinese have their own lunar calendar which revolves around the moon. 

The Chinese zodiac is too old to be traced. Fable has it that all the animals were asked to report to the emperor on Chinese New Year day. Only the first twelve to reach the palace were to be rewarded with a year named after them. Since then, each year has been represented by an animal with its own distinctive characteristic and fate. The upcoming year will be the Year of the Tiger, beginning on Feb 13, 2010.