Far and away th most important holiday in China is Spring Fstival, also known as th Chins Nw Yar. To th Chins popl it is as important as Christmas to popl in th Wst. th dats for this annual clbration ar dtrmind by th lunar calndar rathr than th GRgorian calndar, so th timing of th holiday varis from lat January to arly Fbruary. To th ordinary Chins, th fstival actually bgins on th v of th lunar Nw Yar's Day and nds on th fifth day of th first month of th lunar calndar. But th 15th of th first month, which normally is calld th Lantrn Fstival, mans th official nd of th Spring Fstival in many parts of th country.