EVERY dog has its day - and that will come later this month when York celebrates the Chinese New Year.

The city will host its third annual Chinese festival to see in 2006 - the Year of the Dog.

The city council, charities and local businesses have teamed up to throw their weight behind the festivities - which organisers say should be the biggest and best yet.

The Walmgate-based National Centre For Early Music (NCEM) will co-ordinate the citywide celebrations in the run-up the Chinese New Year's Day on Sunday, January 29. Director Delma Tomlin said: "We have created some fantastic opportunities for everyone to get involved this year.

"You can take part in lantern and kite-making workshops, listen to Chinese music, join in music and dance workshops, and visit an Oriental Market in Coppergate."

Among the colourful events planned are:

Kite-making workshops at Tang Hall Community Centre and Clifton Moor Church, on January 14, and the NCEM and St Oswald's Church Hall on January 15;

Lantern-making classes at Acomb, Tang Hall and Clifton libraries, on January 14, 21 and 28 respectively, and at the NCEM, on January 29;

Two short operas by the UK Beijing Opera Society at the NCEM, on January 21;

Lectures on Chinese poetry and literature at the Friargate Theatre, on January 26

A performance by acclaimed Chinese guitarist Xuefei Yang at All Saints' Church, North Street, on January 28

A demonstration by young cooks at the Oriental Market in the Coppergate Centre on January 28 and 29.

The festival will culminate in a Chinese New Year's Day event in the Museum Gardens, on January 29, starting at 3pm.

The colourful spectacle will feature dancers from the Choi Jung Im Dance Company and the lion-dancing dynamic troupe Oceans Apart. Also playing a starring role will be a 100ft Chinese dragon created by pupils at Copmanthorpe, Our Lady's RC and Huntington primary schools. Among the organisations which have contributed to this year's festival are Arts Council England, the Millennium Commission, Yorkshire Culture, City of York Council, Yorkshire Forward, Norwich Union, First Stop York, the University of York and Harrowell Shaftoe Solicitors.

:: This is the year of the dog

EACH year in the Chinese calendar is named after one of 12 animals. In 2004, it was the Year of the Monkey, and 2005 was the Year of the Rooster. The animals, in chronological order, are: rat, ox, tiger, hare, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. Every 12 years the cycle repeats itself. Legend has it that people born in dog years are responsible, compassionate, reliable and honest - but can be pessimistic, anxious, overwhelming and nosy. Famous "dogs" include Sir Winston Churchill and Elvis Presley.

Updated: 09:33 Thursday, January 05, 2006