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The doodle — which features firecrackers, fried dumplings and traditional Chinese decorations — marks the turning of the Chinese zodiac from monkey to rooster. Each year of the Chinese zodiac is associated with both an animal and one of five elements. 2017 is the year of the fire rooster, which according to lore is "trustworthy, with a strong sense of timekeeping and responsibility."
Lunar New Year — which is sometimes called Chinese New Year even though it is celebrated across East Asia — falls on the first new moon between Jan. 21 and Feb. 20 each year, Google explains. It's a time for families to clean their houses, gather together and enjoy festive meals. And just like Christmas, it's also, notoriously, a time when older relatives bug singletons about why they don't have a boyfriend or girlfriend, young couples about when they're going to get married, and newly weds about why they don't hurry up and have a baby already.
Along with grandmotherly prodding, Lunar New Year is marked by firecrackers and lion dances, in which revelers don papier-mâché masks and flash silken tails to crashing cymbals. The din and the prominence of the color red were traditionally thought to scare off the nian, a mythical beast said to attack ancient villages every New Year’s Day.
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http://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/special-report/chinese-new-year/
Date
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Activities
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Transport
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Business
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January 12 – January 26
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Millions homeward-bound, cleaning, shopping
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Crazy busy
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End of year company events; winding down of operations
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January 27 (New Year's Eve)
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Pasting red couplets, hanging red lanterns, the New Year reunion dinner, setting off firecrackers, giving red envelopes to kids, staying up late to watch CCTV’s New Year Gala
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Better, but local transport can be busy
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Most shops close by the afternoon
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January 28 (New Year’s Day)
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At midnight a barrage of fireworks and firecrackers like WW3, more firecrackers in the morning (before opening the door) and early evening (before dinner); giving kids red envelopes
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Quiet
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No bank or government office is open. Only big shopping malls are open.
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January 29 (Chinese New Year day 2)
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Visiting friends or relatives, firecrackers for greeting guests and before dinner
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Quiet
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Almost no bank or government office is open. Only big shopping malls are open.
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January 30 (Chinese New Year day 3)
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Visiting friends and relatives in the city or friends and family in nearby villages
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Local travel and town and village buses are busy, but travel to other cities and domestic flights are ok.
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Some banks and government offices are open, but business is limited and hours are much shorter. Only some big shopping malls are open.
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January 31 and February 1 (Chinese New Year days 4 and 5)
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The statutory holiday period is over. Some people will keep visiting friends and relatives; some will go back to work.
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Very busy
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Most banks and government offices will be open, but business is limited and hours are shorter. Most shops will be open.
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February 2 (New Year day 7)
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For some it’s the first day back at work.
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Very busy
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Some shops, companies, and offices will reopen on this day, because 6 is a lucky number in Chinese culture.
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February 3–11 (New Year days 8–15)
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Return travel; Lantern Festival is on month 1 day 15 (February 11)
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Crazy busy
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Some businesses may choose CNY day 8 (February 15) to reopen, as 8 is also a lucky number. The non-superstitious may reopen on day 7 (February 14).
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YAC January Celebration of Birthdays
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