10 Things You Might Not Know About Chinese New Year

(via Mental Floss) Some celebrants call it the Spring Festival, a stretch of time that signals the progression of the lunisolar Chinese calendar; others know it as the Chinese New Year. For a 15-day period beginning February 16, China will welcome the Year of the Dog, one of 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac table. Sound unfamiliar? No need to worry: Check out 10 facts about how one-sixth of the world’s total population rings in the new year.