February 16th is the first day of the Year of the Earth Dog. (At least one member should be excited about this year.) Since tonight's the Eve, I'll be out celebrating.
Anyone wanting to get into the spirit of the holiday can do so by having a big dinner with family or friends. Putting fish on the menu is considered lucky (because 年年有鱼 sounds like 年年有余--or, "Fish every year" sounds like "Surplus every year"), and if you happen to have a Chinese restaurant serving it nearby, 年糕 (New Year's cake) is a sort of sticky cross between a pudding and a noodle that's also considered lucky. (Some Korean restaurants would maybe serve that, too.) Since my friends are more Northern, some time after midnight we'll be making dumplings (饺子--these look like the old form of Chinese currency, 元宝). These are also supposed to be lucky. Luck is a big part of the New Year.
Just at midnight, it's custom to make a lot of noise. Bang on pots, light firecrackers and set off fireworks. Obviously, only do this if it's not going to disturb everyone around you.
Anyone who's part of the TCS All-Nighters Club can take comfort that they're already observing the custom of 守岁--staying up all night well into the next morning to ensure your older family members' longevity. This is also considered an especially good time to avoid fighting and crying and the time to resolve conflicts, in order to set the tone for the next year, since a year that starts in strife or sorrow will stay that way the whole year. Resolutions aren't really that common, though Western influence means that more and more students have started resolving to get better grades.
Obviously, there are tons of other traditions, and if you all have questions about them, drop them here. I won't be answering them until late tomorrow, because I am definitely observing 守岁.
Since I just finished cleaning and decorating, and since fireworks, are already starting outside, I'm going to get ready now to join the fun.
Happy New Year, everybody!