The Chinese Gardens will be a focal point for the 2011 Chinese New Year celebrations in Sydney

The Chinese Gardens at Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour with Sydney CBD in the background. The Chinese Gardens will be a focal point for the 2011 Chinese New Year celebrations in Sydney.

About the Year of the Rabbit - Chinese new year Australia

People born in the Year of the Rabbit are kind and loving, with grace, culture and beautiful manners. Although they may appear frail, Rabbits are in fact strong-minded and strong willed. They pursue their ideals in a precise and orderly fashion and, as cautious characters, act slowly and deliberately. They often make ideal diplomats or politicians. 2011 is the Year of the Metal Rabbit, with Metal giving Rabbits a more resilient demeanor.

Zodiac Years – Rabbit

1927

1939

1951

1963

1975

1987

1999

2011

Rabbit lucky gemstone

Pearl

Rabbit lucky colour

Green

Most compatible signs for Rabbits

Sheep, Dog and Pig

Most incompatible signs for Rabbits

Rooster and Horse

Famous People who were born in the Year of the Rabbit

Slim Dusty (singer)
David Moore (photographer)
Orson Welles (director)
Ingrid Bergman (actress)
Bart Cummings (racehorse trainer)
Arthur Miller (playwright)
Ray Barrett (actor)
John Howard (former Prime Minister)
Brett Whiteley (artist)
Phillip Adams (broadcaster)
Angelica Huston (actress)
Dusty Springfield (singer)
Evonne Goolagong Cawley (tennis player)
Geoffrey Rush (actor)
Angelina Jolie (actor)
Tina Turner (singer)
Alexander Downer (politician).

Chinese New Year Traditions and Customs

Like most festivals Chinese New Year also has many traditions and customs. Here are the Top 11 traditions and customers for Chinese New Year celebrations in 2011.

1.                   Greet people with "Kung Hei Fat Choy", or "Gong Xi Far Tsai" (Happy New Year) to bring good fortune and prosperity.

2.                   Come together with family and friends to celebrate over traditional New Year foods, keeping an empty seat to symbolise the presence of family members who can't be there.

3.                   Eat traditional foods such as fish, dumplings and the vegetarian Buddha's delight to usher in wealth, happiness and good fortune. Many of the dishes served over New Year have Chinese names that can represent other words such as prosperity, bounty and luck.

4.                   Clean your house and sweep out the bad luck of the previous year.

5.                    Before New Year, say farewell to the Kitchen God, the guardian of the family hearth. As he reports to heaven on the behaviour of the family over the past year, make sure to feed him sweet foods and honey, either as a bribe, or to seal his mouth and prevent him from saying bad things.

6.                   Pay off all debts and cast all grudges aside.

7.                   Do not use knives or scissors on New Year's Day as this may cut off fortune.

8.                   On New Year's Day wear new clothes and be on your best behaviour, as actions on this day set the tone for the year to follow.

9.                   Let the old year out by opening every door and window in the house on the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve.

10.               Ward off bad luck by draping red cloth on your doorway.

11.               Give red lai-see "lucky money" envelopes to pass on prosperity and good luck.