The PRC uses the Gregorian calendar for civil purposes, but the Chinese lunar calendar is also important in China. The Chinese Lunar New Year — known as Spring Festival today in China — is the biggest holiday in China, and many festivals are held according to the Chinese lunar calendar, the longest chronological record in history dating back to 2600 B.C. Like the Gregorian calendar, the Chinese Lunar Calendar is a yearly one, but the start of the lunar year is based on the cycles of the moon so that New Year Day can fall anywhere between late January and the middle of February. Each lunar year is associated with one of 12 zodiac animals, and 2004 is the Year of the Monkey.

The following are the Chinese Lunar New Year dates 2004 -2015:

·Monkey       January 22, 2004      

·Rooster       February 9, 2005

·Dog             January 29, 2006      

·Boar/Pig      February 18, 2007

·Rat               February 7, 2008      

·Ox               January 26, 2009

·Tiger            February 14, 2010      

·Rabbit          February 3, 2011

·Dragon        January 23, 2012

·Snake           February 10, 2013

·Horse           January 31, 2014

·Sheep           February 19, 2015