The third day of celebrations, the Lion Dance begins and continues until the fifth day. Men dress in lion costumes and dance in a parade. The Dragon Dance is also held on the third day of the New Year. Paper-mache dragon heads are made with long fabric bodies. It takes several men to maneuver the dragon through the streets.
Families open their doors to let the dragon bring luck into their homes.
The color red is a lucky color and can be found prominently throughout the celebrations. The Chinese also believe believe that each year was named after one of twelve animals. Each animal has different habits, strengths and weaknesses. The year you were born tells you which animal you resemble according to Buddha. In Greece, St. Basil fills the children's shoes with presents at midnight.