It’s celebrated on the second full moon after the winter solstice for some reason, probably tradition and lasts for fifteen days. This year is the year of the rat and 4706. Their New Year is all about wrapping up the old year and welcoming a bright future, filled with good things, good times and good food, it is celebrated with dragon or lion dances, fireworks, family gatherings, a special meal, and giving red envelopes with money inside symbolizing good luck and prosperity. (Photo from Wikipedia.) It concludes with a lantern festival. Sounds fun, my oldest son Frank went on a mission to Taiwan so he experienced two Chinese New Years.So for those Americans who have broken their New Year’s resolutions, it’s time to make new Chinese New Year’s ones. I actually agree with a children’s author Byrd Bailey (book “I’m in Charge of Celebrations) that New Year’s should start with the first day of Spring. A time for newness and starting over again. There is an air of spring possibilities in the air in So. Utah even though the ground hog saw his shadow and predicted 6 more weeks of winter, spring comes early in our southwestern desert community and the temperatures will be warming to 70 degrees in about 10 more days. Why would any one want to live anywhere else?