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Happy Chinese New Year 2022

Today February 1st, it’s Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year.
After the year of the ox, the year of the Tiger officially starts. This is the year of the “Water Tiger”, an event that takes place every 60 years. To the 12 signs of the Chinese astrology are associated the 5 natural elements of Wu Xing: metal, wood, water, fire and earth. The Tiger considered symbol of courage, security and determination will be moderated by wisdom and flexibility which characterize water.
The celebration lasts 16 days, starting with the New Year Eve and ending with the Lantern Festival which corresponds to the first night of full moon on the Chinese calendar and marks the beginning of Spring. During the Lantern Festival, people walk on the streets holding in their hands a red lantern which they entrust they wishes to for the upcoming months.
All the decorations are red, like the “hongbao”, the envelopes containing money that people exchange as gifts, in fact according to the tradition, red symbolizes good omen.
Another typical tradition is the Lion Dance, a parade in streets of the cities where performers mimic a lion's movements in a lion costume and dance to the rhythm of drums and cymbals. The Lion Dance is believed to cast out the evil spirits and favor fortune for the new upcoming year.