We has designed
this special page to provide an introduction to the traditions of Chinese new
year, links to websites with more detailed information, and links to arts
crafts, and curriculum for teachers and children. All text and links were
checked to be appropriate for young audiences. Enjoy!
Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year, is celebrated in late
January or early February with the second new moon after the first day of
winter, the day of shortest day and longest night. In 2006 (of
the Julian calendar used in the most of the Western world), Chinese New Year's
Day is January 29th. It will be the year 4704 in the Chinese calendar and the
Year of the Dog in accordance
with the Chinese
zodiac with 12 animal signs.
Chinese New Year is the most exciting time of the year for
people in China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, as well as many Chinese
Americans in the United States. Chinese-Americans and many other
Asian Americans observe a variety of traditions, including family visits,
colorful new clothes, big meals with particular good luck foods , gifts of
oranges and apples, red envelops of money, and firecrackers. People greet one
another with "Gong Xi Fa Cai" in Mandarin or "Gung Hay Fat
Choy" in Cantonese. Both mean "Happiness and Fortune (to you)!"
On New Year's eve, families get together for a New
Year's Eve banquet and say good-bye to the past year. The last course eaten is
fish because the word for fish in Chinese (yu) sounds like the word for
"great plenty." The adults give all the children bright red
"lucky money" envelops with money inside. Mothers and fathers paste
short poems called "spring couplets" on the doorways and gates of the
house to welcome the New Year. These couplets are written on red paper
because the color red
means happiness. Everyone stays awake as long as they can, playing games,
telling stories, and making wishes to see the old year old.
On the first day of the new year, people put on new
clothes to symbolize the discarding of the old year and its misfortunes. They
take gifts to family and friends that usually include special rice flour cakes
and fruits such as kumquats and oranges or tangerines. Many adults,
particularly married ones, also follow an ancient custom of giving small red
packets of money (called hung-bao or lay shee) to children, unmarried adults,
and employees or servants. Among the most spectacular festivities of Chinese
New Year are the dragon dance and lion dances.
As many as 50 or more people support long dragons and lions
while dancing in processions, often outdoors through city streets. The dancers
perform to the beating of gongs and drums, while other celebrants perform
acrobatic displays. The celebrations end with the lantern festival, an event in
which store merchants hang lighted paper lanterns outside their shops and
children often parade in festivals, carrying lanterns of various shapes and
patterns. To make a paper dragon or lantern, try other children's crafts, or
pick a classroom curriculum,
please click the link here.
Lantern Festival
On Day 15 of the New Year (the first full moon of the year),
lanterns made of wood, bamboo, silk, paper, and even sesame seeds are carried
through the streets in the Lantern Festival to guide wandering ghosts home.
Later, people watch for a 100-foot long paper and silk dragon to come out of
hibernation, to show its strength and goodness. Lanterns come in all shapes and
sizes, including crab and bird shapes. Some lanterns called "pacing
horses" spin when they area heated from the flame of a candles or an
electric bulb. In Northern China, where winters are very cold, lanterns are
even carved from blocks of river ice.
Chinese Zodiac
Each year of this 12-year calendar is ruled by one of 12
animals. Five cycles of 12 years make up one complete cycle of 60 years - the
basis of the Chinese calendar. A legend about the zodiac animals is that they
all raced to cross a river. The rate rode on the ox's back and jumped off just
at the right time, winning the race. The ox came in second, and the pig came in
last, because he never rushes. The race results determined the order of the
animals in the zodiac: Rat (1984, 1996, 2008), Ox (1985, 1997, 2009), Tiger,
Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.
According to Chinese culture, every person's traits follow their animal birth
sign. But the Chinese perception of these animals may be different than your
American perception. For instance, Rats are considered organized, logical, and
careful; and Pigs are happy, good-natured, outspoken and trusting.
Click here to check out your
zodiac sign.
Year of the Dog (2006, 1994, 1982, 1970,
1958, 1946, 1934, 1922…)
People born in the year of the Dog are honest and faithful to those you love,
although you also can be somewhat eccentric and very stubborn at times! For dogs in 2006, any recent setbacks or obstacles can be overcome so look
forward to a year in which to really shine, either personality or
professionally.
Good luck foods eaten
around Chinese New Year are plentiful and delicious!
-
Whole fish - represents
togetherness and abundance
- Whole chicken - presented
with a head, tail and feet to symbolize completeness. A chicken is for
prosperity.
- Lotus seed - signifies having
many offspring or children
- Black moss seaweed - its
name, "Fa" tsai, is a homonym for exceeding in wealth
- Dried bean curd - another
homonym for fulfillment of wealth and happiness
- Bamboo shoots - a term which
sounds like "wishing that everything would be well"
- Fresh bean curd or tofu is
not usually included on the menu as it is white and unlucky for New Year.
The color signifies death and misfortune.
- Uncut noodles - eaten because
they symbolize long life
- Tangerines with leaves intact
assure that one's relationship with the other remains secure
- Other traditional Chinese New
Year delicacies include Nian Gao, sweet steamed glutinous rice pudding and
Zong Zi, glutinous rice wrapped up in reed leaves. Northern Chinese people
make and eat Jiao Zi, steamed dumplings filled with meat and vegetables, a
cold weather favorite, while Southerners make sweets with coconuts and
peanuts.
Chinese Americans:
North Carolina's Triangle area is the proud home of hundreds of thousands of
first, second, and third generation Chinese-Americans. Nationwide, there were
more than 2.4 million Chinese Americans in the U.S. according to the year 2000
U.S. Census. Chinese-Americans make up 21% of the nation's 12 million Asian
Americans and 1.02% of the U.S. population as a whole. For more demographic
information, please visit www.census.gov.
More details about Chinese New Year are available:
Chinese Festivals
Celebration of the Chinese New Year
Chinese Zodiac
The Chinese Calendar
Chinese New Year's Cake
Crafts and Activities for Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year Crafts
Chinese New Year Zodiac Wreath
Parade Dragon Puppet
Paper Dragon
