KUNG Hey Fat Choi, that's Happy New Year to the non-Chinese speakers among you.
This weekend marks the official celebrations for Chinese New Year.
Anyone at a loose end is recommended to make a trip into Liverpool city centre for a highly colourful, and extremely loud, welcome for the year of the Goat/Ram.
Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival - celebrating the earth coming back to life - as it is better known in the East is one of the oldest and most important festivals in China, although it may be a little tricky to plan you annual holidays around to celebrate it.
Unlike the Western New Year which always falls on December 31 - January 1 every year (in line with the Gregorian calendar), Chinese festivals are determined by the lunar/solar calendar.
Confused?
No need really, it just means that the New Year celebrations begin with the New Moon on the first day of the new year and end on the full moon 15 days later.
Unlike the more alcoholically exuberant western celebrations which bid adieu to the old, and usher in the New Year, the Spring festival is more of a family affair.
It is traditionally seen as a time of reunion and thanksgiving. It is no coincidence that part of the celebrations involve a spiritual ceremony to honour Heaven and Earth, the gods of the household and the family ancestors.
Preparations for the festival begin during the last few days of the last moon.
New clothes are bought, hair is cut, homes are thoroughly cleaned and outstanding debts are repaid.
Decorations are very important. Vertical scrolls of Chinese calligraphy characters are hung on red paper - symbolising fire - to encourage happiness, luck and prosperity for the coming year, and to ward off ghosts and evil spirits.
Friends and relatives will give and receive red envelopes containing 'lucky money' as a sign the year will be prosperous.
New clothes - preferably red - represent a new beginning for the coming year. The nicer the clothes and accessories, the more luxurious the year ahead will be.
Black and white clothes are usually avoided as they are the traditional colours of mourning.
Incense is often burned in many homes as a mark of respect to a family's ancestors.
Rich family banquets are served in brightly lit homes, and are traditionally followed by loud fireworks to drive away evil spirits, or Nian, from home and family members.
