The decorations have gone up. Around the world, millions of lanterns, red spring couplets, paintings and paper cuttings festoon doors and windows of homes, restaurants and public buildings. Houses have been cleaned ready for a new season. And everywhere are messages of hope and good luck. 

This is Lunar New Year, the biggest festival on the planet. Every winter, more than a sixth of the world's population marks the occasion with street parties, parades, food and family celebrations. 

It is not only observed in China and in Chinese communities around the world - but in many other countries around Asia including Vietnam and Singapore. The huge number of people heading home make it the world's largest annual migration.

The festivities last for 15 days, starting with huge firework displays on New Year's Eve, and ending with a spectacular lantern festivalSome of the lanterns are designed to be launched into the sky for good luck..

The date of the Lunar New Year is different every year. This is because the calendar is based on the movement of both the Moon and the Sun, and in some years it has 13 months, with up to 384 days. As a result, New Year can fall anywhere from 20 January to 21 February.

In contrast, the GregorianIt is named after Pope Gregory XIII, who introduced it in 1582. calendar used in the West is based only on the movement of the Sun, giving it more regularityIt does, however, need leap years to keep it synchronised.. 

The Chinese calendar is divided into 12-year cycles, with each year corresponding to a sign of the zodiacThe term derives from a Greek word for a sculpture of an animal.. Today marks the beginning of the year of the Tiger. The next 11 will be those of the Rabbit, the Dragon, the Snake, the Horse, the Sheep (or Goat), the Monkey, the Rooster, the Dog, the Pig, the Rat and the Ox.

The year you were born is believed to give you certain personality traits. Tiger people are thought of as brave, natural leaders, who crave excitement and attention and are generous but short-tempered.

In addition, everyone's personality is affected by one of five elements: metal, water, wood, fire and earth. People born in 2010 are Metal Tigers, meaning that they are rebellious but sympathetic. Anyone born in 2022 will be a Water Tiger - close to their family and good at dealing with people.

Every time your animal year comes around, it brings you extra energy. But it also has consequences for those born in other years, depending on how their zodiac sign relates to yours.

The Rabbit, being the sign immediately after the Tiger, is particularly affected by it. Adding the Tiger year's energy to the Rabbit's characteristic intelligence and passion for education should result in lots of new ideas.

To complicate things further, each sign represents a particular month and point of the compass. The Tiger's month is February, and the fact that this New Year falls in it should give Tiger people even more energy. And because the Tiger's compass point is north-east, you are warned not to build onto the north-east corner of your house, in case this blocks that energy.

Some astrologers base detailed advice on these ideas. Rat people are supposed to take it easy in 2022, focus on their health and not make any major decisions.

Yes: The Moon has an enormous influence on the Earth -affecting the height of tides, for instance - so it makes sense that our lives and personalities should be shaped by what happens in the heavens.

No: It is ridiculous to suppose that millions of people have similar personalities just because they happen to be born in the same year. You would be mad to let decisions be made for you by an astrologer.

Or... We can judge easily enough whether things that astrologers predict for us match our own experience, and in some cases they may. But we cannot possibly know about everyone who shares a zodiac sign.