Welcome to the year 4706. Go ahead, write it on a cheque today, see what happens.

The Lunar calendar flipped over last night and we are now into 4706, better known as the Year of the Rat.

It’s not just the Chinese celebrating this Lunar New Year, many Koreans and other east Asians use a hybrid Lunar / Solar calendar to keep track of time.

If you’re wanting to celebrate this weekend, here’s what’s going on:

- Thursday: The Vancouver Police Department’s lion-dance team performs at Vancouver City Hall at noon.

- Thursday night: Kilts Night at Doolin’s Irish Pub. Free pint of Guinness if you wear a kilt.

- Now til Sunday: Aberdeen Centre, the city’s largest Asian shopping centre, has many events

- Friday through Sunday: Chinese New Year celebration at International Village, 88 West Pender St.

- Sunday: Parade through the streets of Chinatown starting at the Millennium Gate at noon.

Other traditions to know about Chinese New Year:

- wear red, it’s lucky

- it’s a time for cleaning your house and starting fresh. get rid of the bad luck and start new.

- buy new clothes (preferrably red), get a haircut

- give each other red envelopes with money (Lai See)

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