Lunar New Year is an important traditional festival celebrated by people throughout the world. Celebrations vary regionally in China, and other countries with Chinese populations, but they centre on family. A family reunion dinner is held, with specially prepared food. Incense is burned for ancestors; friends visit each other with gifts, and cards are exchanged. To promote good fortune, gifts of money wrapped in lucky red paper envelopes are given. Traditional lion and dragon dances are performed, and fireworks are a feature. The celebrations conclude with the annual Lantern Festival.

The Dragon is the 5th sign in the zodiac cycle. The Dragon symbolises power, honour, good luck and success in traditional Chinese culture, and those born under this sign are said to be noble, ambitious and gifted. Chinese legend states that in the beginning, dragons lived alongside human beings as the first creatures, providing protection and guidance. China's first imperial dynasty was said to have dragon blood coursing through their veins, leading to the notion that Chinese people are "descendants of the dragon”.

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