It is traditional that the money god (the middle picture below) hands out red envelopes containing money or vouchers.
Red is a symbol of good luck and prosperity, so this colour is popular during the Chinese New Year celebrations.


At 12 noon firecrackers are set off in the middle of Trafalgar Square (these are loud, so you should protect your ears).
These are said to wake the new year's dragon from its sleep, and to scare away evil spirits.


This is followed by a formal ceremony at which British and Chinese officials give short speeches connected with the relationship between Britain and China.
The Mayor of London usually attends or sends a recorded message.

Each speaker usually finishes by wishing the crowd a "Happy Chinese New Year!"
In Cantonese this is Kung Hei Fat Choi (sometimes written Gong Hey Fat Choy). Hear how this is pronounced here: http://goodcharacters.com/mp3/gongxifachaimp3.swf
In Mandarin it is Xin Nian Kuai Le. Hear how this is pronounced here: http://goodcharacters.com/mp3/happynewyearmp3.swf. Xin means "new", "Nian" means "year" and "Kuai Le" means "happy".


Before the lion dance, officials take part in a dotting of the eyes ceremony (known in Chinese as the Hoi Gong ceremony).
They use a calligraphy brush to paint red ink on a new lion's costume.
The lion starts off with its eyes and mouth firmly closed. First the mirror on lion's forehead is dotted to awaken its spirit and give it life.
Next the eyes are dotted to give the lion sight, and this is followed by dots on the nose, tongue, ears, horn, back of head, spine and the tail.
A red ribbon is tied on the top of the lion's head. This is a symbol of courage and honour and shows that the lion is tamed. It is also a reminder to the lion to do only good deeds.


Once the lion is fully awake it performs a lion dance. If this is done well it is believed to scare off evil spirits and bring good fortune, happiness and prosperity.
Lions have never existed in China, and the costumes used in the dances are not very similar to real lions (for example, these ones have a horn on the top of the head, and a beard).
In traditional Chinese culture they are seen as peaceful creatures which are divine animals of nobility and dignity. They symbolise strength, courage and wisdom.


This is followed by a dragon dance. In Chinese mythology dragons are associated with good luck, long life and wisdom.
During the dance the performers hold poles and raise and lower the dragon.
One person carries a 'Pearl of Wisdom' on a pole and he entices the Dragon to follow him to the beat of a drum, as if searching for wisdom and knowledge.


After the lion and dragon dances, the barriers around the centre of Trafalgar Square are removed and the crowd is allowed closer to the stage to watch the other performances.

Each year members of one or two cultural groups (from one of China's regions) are invited to come to London to perform on stage.

These troupes include singers, with a wide range of styles ranging from folk to opera.


Classical Chinese dance dates back over 5,000 years, when dancers performed at the Royal Court of the ancient dynasties.
Dances were often inspired by folk stories and myths, by moral themes, or by the natural or divine world.
Originally dances were passed down through communities, but over the past 100 years classical dance has been documented and taught formally.
Some folk dances have incorporated elements of folk operas and techniques from ballet training and Chinese martial art forms.
The regional dance troupes each have their own unique styles and colourful costumes.

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