Although the year is already well underway in the American culture, Friday, Jan. 31 brought the opening of a new year to who have been awaiting its arrival. Across the globe, those of Chinese descent rang in the year 4712.

As the oldest and most important celebration in the Chinese calendar, the new year’s beginning is packed with a rich variety of traditions and festivals that take place in the week leading up to the official start of the year.

On New Year’s Eve, families often gather together for a large celebratory feast in honor of new beginnings called Nain Ye Fan (or “Evening of the Passing”). As relatives gather together for this important meal, they decorate the house in paper scrolls with good luck sayings such as “health,” “wealth,” and “longevity” written on them. In addition, following general tradition, all brooms and dustpans are closed away for the evening in order that the good luck not be swept away. The sky is often lit with red fireworks to ward away unwanted bad luck and spirits and on the morning of the New Year, children wake to find red envelopes full of candy and money left under their pillows by their parents and grandparents.

The celebration ends on the fifteenth day with the festival of lanterns, symbolizing the fresh start of the year. It is a time of happiness and merriment, of joy and renewal—much like the American celebration.

Although we may not all be of Chinese heritage, it is important that we keep our worldview wide and take interest in the celebration of our fellow humans. By doing this, we help to bring our world closer together and emphasize diversity in the world around us.

Because the Chinese calendar closely follows the phases of the moon, 4712 will continue until the Gregorian date Feb. 18, 2015. Until then, happy 4712!