Gung Hay Fat Choy! This is the Chinese greeting for the New Year celebrated in the beginning of the year. From ancient times to the present, Chinese people have been welcoming in the New Year and chasing away the evil spirits by setting off firecrackers. Large crowds gather in the narrow streets of Chinatown in New York, San Francisco and other cities where Chinese have settled. A huge cloth dragon sways back and forth around the street corners, chasing a red sunball or a white pearl-ball. Following the dragon are people playing drums and gongs, and lion dancers with paper lion heads on sticks. As they dance, store and business owners come outside to give them money.

In China, New Year is the most important holiday, and it is observed by Chinese all over the world.

The holiday has added significance because every Chinese celebrates his/her birthday on New Year, regardless of the month in which he or she was actually born.