The origin of Chinese New Year (or Lunar New Year) is centuries old and is the longest and most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. The Chinese New Year tradition is to reconcile, forget all grudges and sincerely wish peace and happiness for everyone.

In China, it is known as "Spring Festival" and begins on the first day of the first month in the traditional Chinese calendar and ends with the Lantern Festival which is on the 15th day.

Go here for 2012 Chinese New Year Festival Events Calendar for Sydney
Go here for some great ideas for Chinese New Year crafts and activites

On the Eve of Chinese New Year, supper is a feast with families. Food will include such items as pigs, ducks, chicken and sweet delicacies. The family will end the night with firecrackers. Early the next morning, children will greet their parents by wishing them a healthy and happy new year, and receive money in red paper envelopes.

Regional customs and traditions to celebrate Chinese New Year vary widely. Windows and doors will be decorated with red colour paper-cuts and couplets with popular themes of "good fortune" or "happiness", "wealth", and "longevity".

It is also a tradition that every family thoroughly cleans the house to sweep away any ill-fortune in hopes to make way for good incoming luck. And being the Year of the Dragon which is considered to be the luckiest, we should all get those brooms out!