Chinese New Year is celebrated across the world with the biggest celebrations outside of Asia taking place in London

This year, Chinese New Year - The Year of the Monkey - begins on Monday February 8 and lasts until Jan 27th, 2017.

The new year, also known as the Spring Festival, is marked by the lunisolar (âm dương) Chinese calendar, so the date changes from year to year.

The festivities usually start the day before the New Year and continue until the Lantern Festival, the 15th day of the new year.

Each Chinese New Year is characterised by one of 12 animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac ( hoàng đạo). The Chinese zodiac is divided into 12 blocks (or houses) just like its western counterpart, but with the major difference being that each house has a time-length of one year instead of one month.

This year it's the Year of the Monkey, the ninth animal in the cycle. The next Year of the Monkey will be in 2028.

The personality of the Monkey

People born in the Year of the Monkey are characterised as quick-witted, curious, innovative and mischievous, but it is also believed to be one of the most unlucky years in the Chinese calendar. (người sinh tuổi con Khỉ có đặc tính là nhanh nhẹn, tò mò, sáng tạo và tinh nghịch nhưng cũng là năm kém may mắn nhất của năm trong lịch trung quốc)

The general image of people in this zodiac sign is of always being smart, clever and intelligent, especially in their career and wealth.

They are lively, flexible, quick-witted and versatile (yêu đời, linh hoạt, nhanh nhạy và tháo vát, năng động). In addition, their gentleness and honesty (dịu dàng và trung thực) bring them an everlasting love life ( tràn đầy sức sống). Although they were born with enviable skills, they still have several shortcomings ( thiếu sót), such as an impetuous temper (tính hấp tấp, không cẩn thận) and a tendency to look down upon others. (kiêu căng)

• Strengths: sociable, innovative, enthusiastic, self-assured ( hòa đồng, sáng tạo, nhiệt tình và tự tin)
• Weaknesses: suspicious, cunning, selfish, arrogant, jealous ( nghi ngờ, xảo quyệt, ích kỷ, kiêu ngạo, ghen)

• Lucky Signs for the Monkey

  • Lucky numbers: 1, 7, 8
  • Lucky colours: white, gold, blue
  • Lucky flowers: chrysanthemum, alliums
  • Lucky directions: north, northwest, west

When does the party start?

Celebrations in London, which are set to be the biggest outside Asia, are set to begin on Valentine's Day, Sunday February 14th.

Performers play the dragon dance during the Chinese New Year parade  Photo: KeystoneUSA-ZUMA/Rex Features

Thousands of people are expected to mark the occasion in London's Chinatown, where a parade traditionally takes place. It is expected to start at 10am, travelling along Charing Cross Road and Shaftesbury Avenue in the West End before reaching Chinatown, but exact details are yet to be released.

In previous years the parade has included an official opening ceremony and entertainment such as acrobatics, traditional dance and music.