Ref. 28731-09MICHELLE Tan and her husband Jackie are celebrating one of the biggest days in the Chinese calendar today.

The couple, who manage The Great Wall Chinese restaurant and takeaway in Wootton Bassett, toasted in the Year of the Monkey last night with a couple of bottles of Chinese beer.

Although Michelle, 41, arrived in the UK last January, she says this is her first real taste of Chinese New Year with her new husband, Jackie, 50, who she met shortly after arriving in the town.

And while Wootton Bassett can't boast the same bright lights of her native Shanghai, the happy couple are determined to get into the festive spirit.

"It is very different celebrating the New Year here in the UK with no family," said Michelle, who has a 10-year-old son still living in China from a previous marriage.

"I miss my family a lot but we will still be celebrating tonight."

In China, New Year is the most important day of the year. Firecrackers are let off in the street and it's a national holiday. Children and unmarried people are given little red envelopes containing "lucky money".

The Tans are planning a feast of seafood and chicken when the restaurant shuts its doors later tonight.

Michelle said: "Fish especially is a Chinese symbol of good fortune although it is bad luck if you eat all of it.

"We'll also be having oranges, because their colour represents gold a symbol of wealth in the family."

The husband and wife are trying to observe as many of the ancient traditions and superstitions as possible but certain ones such as not cleaning on New Year's Day will prove difficult to keep in a restaurant.

"Many Chinese people believe you will be brushing away the good luck by cleaning today we'll be making sure we don't spill anything."

Although looking forward to seeing what the New Year has in store for them, they're not looking forward to the phone bill.

Just like at a western New Year, they will be calling home with good wishes.

Kevin Shoesmith