Chinese New Year is one of the biggest celebrations of the year in the Far East. Teach your family about this millennia-old holiday with fun crafts and a menu that put a decidedly Asian flavor on the evening.

The Chinese year 4,706 starts on February 7, 2008, and runs through January 25, 2009 in the Gregorian calendar (the one America uses). In the Chinese zodiac, it's the year of the rat. This animal signifies leadership, and people born in the year of the rat are associated with traits of organizational skills, ambitiousness, and intelligence.

To find out what sign you and your children were born under, check out Wikipedia.

Dinner Recipes

Mix and match any or all of these Chinese recipes for your celebration. If you have an Asian market nearby, you can also pick up some oriental snacks and sweets.

• Pork Pot Stickers
• Dipping Sauces
• Chinese Cabbage Salad
• Sweet Orange Chicken
• Fried Rice
• Almond Cookies

Crafts and Activities

It's traditional to wear and decorate your house with lots of red on Chinese New Year. A favorite part of the festivities for children is adults giving them money in red envelopes. These crafts will add a feeling of authenticity to your home during the evening.

• Biggest Party in the U.S.: San Francisco's Chinatown
• Movie: Mulan
• Dragon Ribbon
• Dragon Mask
• Chinese Banner