Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival or Lunar New Year, is the most important traditional Chinese festival of the year, celebrated by billions of people in many countries. The 4,000-year-old tradition is characterised by family reunions, paying tribute to ancestors, time spent at home and banquets of abundant tasty food. In China, most people take at least one week off work, with many taking two. The first day of the Chinese calendar falls on the new moon between 21 January and 20 February and this year, the auspicious day occurred on 28 January, marking the start of the Year of the Rooster.