Just to elaborate a bit further...usually, there's a good deal of cleaning and grooming going on before the actual day. You get your haircut, trim your nails, etc...you also do a thorough cleaning of the house making sure to take out the garbage before New Year's day, thus symbolizing the new beginning of the year. Personally, I've always been fond of this ritual.
Here's a fun link to a site regarding the upcoming year of the Metal Tiger
2010 horoscope the year of the white Tiger, free horoscopes 2010 for a year ahead, yearly astrology forecast for 2010 year of the metal Tiger.