The customs may have changed a little outside of China, but the spirit of Chinese New Year is the same: wishing peace to friends and family, seeing out the old year and celebrating the new. Famous though it is, Chinese New Year involves rituals that are loaded with symbolism and sometimes mystifying to outsiders. If that sounds like you, here is our introduction to the sights and sounds of Chinese New Year.

Firstly, the date of Chinese New Year is based on the ancient lunar calendar - over 4000 years old. The first day of the first month in this calendar is also the beginning of spring, which is why Chinese New Year is also called Spring Festival.

Many of the traditions of Chinese New Year come from the story of Nian, a great monster who preyed on the people on New Year's Eve. An old man subdued Nian and told the people to put red paper decorations in their windows and doors to scare off the monster in case it ever came back. Nian now means "year".

Preparations begin about one month before the big day and business is brisk as people stock up on food, treats and new clothes. In China the transport system starts groaning under the weight of people journeying to be with family. This is the time to get a haircut and pay off debts. Houses are thoroughly cleaned, "clearing out the old to make way for new luck". The Kitchen God, traditionally the guardian of the hearth, inventor of fire and censor of morals, is bid farewell with a dinner of special treats to sweeten the report on the family that he/she will deliver to heaven.

On New Year's Eve, doors and windows are hung with red paper-cut decorations (remember Nian?) and red scrolls inscribed with black ink. The messages may read "happiness", "longevity", "wealth" or "satisfactory marriage with more children"! Food was traditionally offered to the ancestor's altar, before the living got down to the all-important family feast. If a person is absent from the feast an empty seat is left for them. After dinner, no one can sweep out the house, for good luck will be swept out too, and every light must be left on.

On New Year Day, children are given lai see, lucky red envelopes containing cash, and everyone visits family and friends with special treats. Oranges are appreciated as they symbolise wealth. Old grudges are swept aside as everyone displays their best behaviour and refrains from swearing, lying, shouting or breaking anything.

The first days of the New Year are "everybody's birthday", celebrated with the famous lion dances, acrobatics, more firecrackers, theatrical shows and other amusements.