Roughly one third of the global population celebrates the 15-day Lunar New Year festival, with parades, fireworks, gift-giving and family dinners. It is the most important of the Chinese holidays.
This year will be the Year of the Rabbit, which symbolises happinness and good fortune. The even-tempered animal is hoped to bring a calmer presence to this year - a nice change from the destructive global influence of the firey-tempered tiger in 2010.
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In the Chinese zodiac, the rabbit is fourth in a cycle of 12 animals that represent each Chinese New Year, with the Year of the Rabbit falling February 3, 2011, to January 22, 2012.
The other animals in the zodiac are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, snake, horse, ram, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig.
