When is Chinese New Year? Is it on the same date every year? Thanks!

Nope, changes every year, but is sometime in January or February. February 12, 2002 marks the beginning of the Year of the Horse. It's the Year of the Snake this year, and it began January 24, 2001.

Another question: is it celebrated throughout Asia or only in China?

Anywhere there are Chinese people! Even outside Asia, really. They celebrate it here in Malaysia, with a few days off. I'm not sure about other places, but in Malaysia it is very much a family celebration - you CAN see the Lion dances if you look for them in advance, but mostly people stay home with their families and friends and EAT. But if you can get invited for a meal - whoohoo! Go for it!

as an american, i used to call it 'chinese new year'--until i went to vietnam. there it's 'lunar new year' or tet, the single most important holiday of the year. also learned that lunar new year marks the start of the calendar in korea as well.