Happy Chinese

New Year!

The Chinese New Year

In China, the Chinese New
Year is known as the Spring
Festival or Lunar New Year
It's a different date every
year, usually between Jan.
21 and Feb. 20
It lasts 15 days, ending on
the date of the full moon
It marks the end of the
winter season and the
beginning of the spring
season

Chinese New Year

Customs
On Chinese New Year's Eve families get together
for a reunion dinner and light firecrackers - the
loud noises are supposed to scare away evil
spirits
People clean their houses on the days leading
up to Chinese New Year to sweep away bad luck
and clear the way for good luck (however, they
do not clean on the actual day of New Years)
They decorate their windows and doors with red
couplets displaying themes of happiness,
wealth, and longevity; they also hang lights that
are similar to Christmas lights

Chinese New Year

Customs
They wear red because it is
associated with joy and
happiness, and it is like fire
which supposedly fends off
bad luck
On New Year's Day, children
greet their parents in the
morning by wishing them a
happy new year, and receive
red envelopes containing
money

New Year Foods

Food plays a major role in Chinese New
Year celebrations
Chinese people often eat lucky foods,
which are lucky because of either their
appearance or what they sound like in
Chinese
For example, spring rolls symbolize wealth
because of their resemblance to gold bars

New Year Foods

We often eat foods like chives,
dumplings, fish, apples,
oranges, and New Years cake
Chives (Ji ci) are
supposed to stand for a long
life (Chng chng ji ji)
Dumplings (Shu jio)
symbolize wealth
Fish (Y) also symbolizes
wealth, because the word for
fish and the word for wealth
homonyms

New Year Foods

Apples (Png gu)
symbolize safety and
peacefulness (Png
png nn)
Oranges symbolize
luck
New Years cake
represents
achievement and
promotions

New Year Decorations

Mandarin oranges
Pineapples
Carrots
Lanterns
Gold coins
Red paper signs
Firecrackers
Chinese Knots

Lets play a game!