Today is the Chinese New Year, the first day in the Year of the Snake

Today is the Chinese New Year, the first day in the Year of the Snake. According to tradition, Chinese homes are given an annual housecleaning today that sweeps the dirt of the past year out of every corner of the house. Children are given good-luck money wrapped in red paper, and everyone is supposed to be on their best behavior—no cursing, fibbing, or yelling. And for today, no one will use knives, scissors, or other sharp objects, for fear of cutting short the luck of the New Year.