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Gail Hennessey
That's Happy New Year in Chinese! 2024 is the Year of the Dragon.The Dragon is considered to be most powerful of all the 12 zodiac creatures.Those born under this Chinese zodiac sign are said to have much good fortune. Dragon people are hard workers, a bit self-demanding, intelligent and ambitious. Dragon people like to travel and are very curious On the Chinese calendar, called Yan Tan, the new year is 4720. Chinese New Year is not always held on the same day each year. It depends on when the second new moon of the winter solstice occurs. In 2024, Chinese New Year starts on February 10th. It is the beginning of a 15 day celebration!
Some of the following are good luck foods and customs:
Long, uncut noodles are a symbol of long life and friendship.
Giving oranges and tangerines are symbols of wealth and good luck.
Dumplings are eaten as a symbol of a happy family.
Wearing red is thought to bring good luck. Kids look forward to receiving red envelops(with money gifts)!
People put up lights and decorate windows and doors with red and gold paper. Messages of good fortunes are written.
The Chinese word for fish is similar in sound to the word for plentiful, so fish are important in the Chinese New Year.
Using knives or scissors on New Year's Day are considered bad luck as they may cut your good luck for the new year.
It is also considered bad luck to wash your hair on New Year's Day.
It is considered good luck to hear a bird sing on New Year's Day.
The number 4 sounds like the Chinese word for death, so people try not to use the number on New Year's Day.
Fireworks are shot off on New Year's Eve to send away the old year and welcome the new.
Before the new year, it is a custom to clean the home from top to bottom to sweep away any bad luck from the previous year.
It is considered bad luck to own money from the previous year, so people try to pay any bills before the New Year.
It is bad luck to clean on New Year's Day. You might sweep away any good luck!
At exactly midnight on New Year's Eve, all windows and doors are opened to send away the old year and welcome in the new.
If a flower opens on New Year's Day, it is considered good luck.
The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac
Several stories are told about how twelve animals came to be honored with a year in the Chinese calendar. One is that Buddha was having a party and invited all the animals of the world to come. It was very cold and only twelve animals braved the weather to attend the party. Buddha was so grateful to those that attended his party, that each that came got a year named in their honor. The rat was the first to get to the party, with the ox being second. If you look at the 12 year calendar, which animal arrived last? Man didn't brave the weather to come to the party and is the reason that a year isn't given to man on the calendar.
Several stories are told about how twelve animals came to be honored with a year in the Chinese calendar. One is that Buddha was having a party and invited all the animals of the world to come. It was very cold and only twelve animals braved the weather to attend the party. Buddha was so grateful to those that attended his party, that each that came got a year named in their honor. The rat was the first to get to the party, with the ox being second. If you look at the 12 year calendar, which animal arrived last? Man didn't brave the weather to come to the party and is the reason that a year isn't given to man on the calendar.
There are twelve animals in the Chinese calendar and everyone has a year in their honor. The year just ending was the year of the rat. Other animals include: pig, monkey, snake, dragon, goat, rabbit, dog, tiger, rooster,and horse.
Fun Sites on Chinese New Year:
Mr. Donn Check which animal you were born
Chinese New Year is a great time to study the country of China!
Want the entire unit on China with notes, activities and additional resources? Check out my materials posted here:Let's Explore China
Country in Focus: China(A Webquest)
See all my resources at my TpT STore:Gail's TpT Store
Although I have tried to review each link, please check the site to see if it is appropriate for your grade level. Also, please monitor that students stay at the link. Should you find something questionable, please let me know. Thanks!