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Gung hei fat choy! Today marks the beginning of a fifteen day celebration to mark the Year of the Rat. 7th February is a new moon and the festival will end with the full moon on Friday 22nd February -the Lantern Festival.

Those rats amongst us will now be 1, 13, 25, 37, 49, 61, 73, 85 or 97 years old. Apparently those born in the year of the rat are cunning, ambitious, talkative, clever, energetic, good humoured, charming and honest. The are born perfectionists and are most compatible with people born in the year of the Dragon, Monkey and Ox. Careful with their money, Rats are often financially successful.

This is also the year of Wu Zhi and it is year 4705 by Chinese calculations. Firecrackers are part of the traditional celebrations -thought to scare away the man-eating Nian monster.

Red is the lucky colour seen throughout New Year’s decorations. Homes are often freshly painted in red for the new year. Red envelopes containing money are given to children.

Spring cleaning takes place before the New Year and then the materials are put away in case any more cleaning sweeps away the good luck of the New Year. Eight is a lucky number in China and so posters with couplets of four characters each are hung, displaying greetings for the New Year.

The period before New Year is a time for repaying debts, buying new clothes and having a haircut.

Want to join in the celebrations? Here are a few events being organised around the country.

In 2008 the Chinese New Year festival and parade in central London, celebrating the start of the Year of the Rat, will take place on Sunday 10 February.The parade starts at 11am in the Strand and will go along Charing Cross Road and Shaftesbury Avenue.

In Trafalgar Square from 12 noon until 6pm there will be entertainment including dragon and lion dances and the best of traditional and contemporary Chinese arts, with performers from both London and China.

There will be fireworks displays in Leicester Square, plus cultural stalls, food, decorations and lion dance displays throughout the day in Chinatown.

On 2-3 February, Shropshire will be hosting special performances of the Lion Dance, folk dancing, T’ai Chi and ceramic workshops exploring Chinese writing and design. Visit www.virtual-shropshire.co.uk for more information.

On 9 and 17 February, Chatham, Medway will host an extravagant and colourful procession with dragons, Chinese lions and street entertainment. The Chatham event has emerged from a small community event into the third largest celebration of its kind in the United Kingdom, featuring a grand street parade with dragons, lions and more than 250 people in costumes especially imported from China. Location: Chatham town centre. Contact 01634 843666 for more information or visit www.medway.gov.uk/tourism.

Southampton

10.00am – 4.00pm – Chinese Market at Bargate
11.00am – 12.30pm – Traditional celebrations in Civic Centre car park
12.30pm – 3.00pm – Parade through City Centre

The event will start at 11.00am at the Civic Centre with the Mayor of Southampton performing the traditional ceremony of ‘dim Jing’. This involves the dotting of the eyes of the dragon. It is a symbolic ritual to bring the dragon to life, ward off evil spirits and welcome a prosperous year for all.

This will be followed by:-

Chinese folk songs performed by the Chinese Association
Chinese folk dance
Dragon dance, lion dance and unicorn dance
Martial arts displays
A spectacular Chinese firecrackers display

The Dragon Parade will start from the Civic Centre at 12.30pm moving on through the City Centre stopping at various Chinese Restaurants on the way. It will eventually finish at Grosvenor Casino. For more information please see http://www.southampton.gov.uk/leisure/events/chinese-new-year.asp

Manchester 10th Feb 08; Location: Albert Square and Chinatown; Time: 12:30 – 18:00

The Golden Dragon Parade leaves Albert Square at around 12.30pm and winds its way towards Chinatown. Around the streets of Chinatown, there will be special stalls and fairground rides, plus the chance to sample the delights of the surrounding restaurants and oriental shops. The official celebrations end with a stunning firework finale at around 6pm.

Feel free to tell us about your event in the comments box below.