Learn about Chinese New Year 2016!
(It's on Monday, 8th February)
This year is the year of the MONKEY!
The Monkey is the ninth of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac.
Each year is related to an animal sign according to a 12-year-cycle.
If you're born in a year of the Monkey, you're a Monkey!
2016 — A Monkey Year
For people born in a year of the monkey (1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004), 2016 is considered a bad year.
It's a public holiday for Chinese. Usually people have 7 consecutive days off from Chinese New Year's Eve to the sixth day after Chinese New Year's Day.
The most important days of celebration are:
Chinese New Year's Eve (February 7, 2016; 除夕 Chúxī /choo-sshee/ 'Excluded Evening' on the Chinese calendar): the day of family reunions
Chinese New Year's Day (February 8, 2016; 初一 Chūyī /choo-ee/ 'First One' on the Chinese calendar): the day of (close) family visits and New Year greetings
Chinese New Year Food:
As the biggest holiday on the Asian calendar approaches, households around the world are stocking their pantries and fridges full of foods like oranges, dried coconut, noodles and whole fish to ensure an auspicious beginning to the lunar New Year.
This is how families dress for the celebrations.
Luck symbols
Crafts
Have fun making a MONKEY PAPER CUT. You could use it for decoration or to make a card.
Watch the video!
Origami
Are you good at Origami?
Are you good at Origami?
Click on here and watch the video how to make Twin Monkeys:
Chinese New Year Reading Comprehension
Chinese New Year Traditions
Chinese New Year is celebrated all over the world. In China, it's a time when families take holidays and get together. They gather at each other's homes for visits and meals, and often have a special feast on New Year's Eve.
Before the new year, it is a tradition to clean house to sweep away all the bad luck from the old year. Often, at midnight on New Year's Eve, people open all the doors and windows to let the old year leave.
People dress in bright red clothes to celebrate a happy year. They decorate their houses and write poems on red paper. The color red is for fire, which according to legend, can drive away bad luck. It is also a tradition to bang gongs and set off fireworks to celebrate and to frighten off evil spirits.
At Chinese New Year people give money to children in red envelopes. The red color is for good luck, and the amount of money can be anything from a few coins to a larger amount. Lucky money envelopes are also known as Red Packets or Red Envelopes.
Chinese New Year is a 15-day holiday. It begins on the first day of a new moon and ends with the Lantern Festival, which is held 2 weeks later on the night of the bright full moon.
Before the new year, it is a tradition to clean house to sweep away all the bad luck from the old year. Often, at midnight on New Year's Eve, people open all the doors and windows to let the old year leave.
People dress in bright red clothes to celebrate a happy year. They decorate their houses and write poems on red paper. The color red is for fire, which according to legend, can drive away bad luck. It is also a tradition to bang gongs and set off fireworks to celebrate and to frighten off evil spirits.
At Chinese New Year people give money to children in red envelopes. The red color is for good luck, and the amount of money can be anything from a few coins to a larger amount. Lucky money envelopes are also known as Red Packets or Red Envelopes.
Chinese New Year is a 15-day holiday. It begins on the first day of a new moon and ends with the Lantern Festival, which is held 2 weeks later on the night of the bright full moon.
Read the story. Then pick the right answer.
1. Chinese New Year is celebrated only in China.
True
False
It doesn't say in the story.
2. How much Lucky Money do most children get?
at least one dollar
$50
It can be any amount.
3. According to tradition, why do people clean house before New Year's?
to welcome the spirits
to get ready for the feast
to sweep away bad luck from the old year
4. Why do people bang on gongs?
to call people to dinner
to start the Lantern Parade
to frighten off evil spirits
5. Why do people open the doors and windows on New Year's Eve?
to let the old year leave
to get fresh air into the house
to let out the cooking smells
6. What is in a New Year's Red Envelope?
candy
lucky money
a poem on red paper
7. What does the color red represent?
blood
fire
wealth
8. Why do people wear red at New Year's?
Red is a lucky color and drives away bad luck.
Red is the color of the Chinese flag.
It's the color of a sunset.
The Legend of the Zodiac
The Chinese calendar follows a 12-year pattern, the Zodiac, with each year named after an animal. There are many legends about how the animals were chosen for the Zodiac. One of the more popular legends is this:
Long ago, the Jade Emperor, who ruled the Heavens, wanted twelve animals to represent the twelve calendar years. So he invited all animals to take part in a swimming race. The first 12 animals to cross the river would appear on the Zodiac in the order they finished the race.
At that time, the Cat and the Rat were very good friends and planned to go to the race together. The day came and the Cat decided to have a nap so that he could be in good form. He asked his friend: "Could you please wake me up when it's time for the race?"
"Have a good nap. I will wake you up," said the Rat. But when the time came, the Rat wanted to win so badly, he left the Cat sleeping and went alone.
In the race, the Ox, the best swimmer, took the lead. When the Ox was near the end, the sly Rat jumped on the Ox's head and then right onto the riverbank to finish first!
The Jade Emperor was very pleased and named the first year of the Zodiac after the Rat. The second year of the Zodiac was named after the Ox. The Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig followed and found their places on the calendar.
When the Cat found out what the Rat had done, he was very angry. The two became enemies. Because of the Rat, the Cat is not one of the twelve animals of the Zodiac. It is why cats have chased rats ever since!
Long ago, the Jade Emperor, who ruled the Heavens, wanted twelve animals to represent the twelve calendar years. So he invited all animals to take part in a swimming race. The first 12 animals to cross the river would appear on the Zodiac in the order they finished the race.
At that time, the Cat and the Rat were very good friends and planned to go to the race together. The day came and the Cat decided to have a nap so that he could be in good form. He asked his friend: "Could you please wake me up when it's time for the race?"
"Have a good nap. I will wake you up," said the Rat. But when the time came, the Rat wanted to win so badly, he left the Cat sleeping and went alone.
In the race, the Ox, the best swimmer, took the lead. When the Ox was near the end, the sly Rat jumped on the Ox's head and then right onto the riverbank to finish first!
The Jade Emperor was very pleased and named the first year of the Zodiac after the Rat. The second year of the Zodiac was named after the Ox. The Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig followed and found their places on the calendar.
When the Cat found out what the Rat had done, he was very angry. The two became enemies. Because of the Rat, the Cat is not one of the twelve animals of the Zodiac. It is why cats have chased rats ever since!
Chinese New Year - It's All About the Food
Chinese New Year is a time when families and friends get together. Food plays a very important part in the celebrations.
At the New Year's Eve dinner, families often have eight or nine different dishes. This is because eight and nine are lucky numbers. The Chinese word for eight rhymes with the word for good fortune. The word for nine means long-lasting.
Many foods at the feast have a special reason for being included: dumplings, because they look like golden nuggets; a whole fish or chicken to represent togetherness and good fortune; long noodles, to bring long life; oranges, because they are perfectly round and are symbols of good luck. Also, the Chinese word for orange sounds a lot like the word for wealth. It is a New Year's tradition to take oranges when visiting people's homes.
Sticky rice cakes and sweets are also served. There is a legend about a Kitchen God who reports to the Jade Emperor in heaven on whether families have been good or bad during the year. According to legend, when families serve the Kitchen God foods that are sticky and sweet, his mouth gets stuck together and he can't report any bad things about the family to the Jade Emperor.
At the New Year's Eve dinner, families often have eight or nine different dishes. This is because eight and nine are lucky numbers. The Chinese word for eight rhymes with the word for good fortune. The word for nine means long-lasting.
Many foods at the feast have a special reason for being included: dumplings, because they look like golden nuggets; a whole fish or chicken to represent togetherness and good fortune; long noodles, to bring long life; oranges, because they are perfectly round and are symbols of good luck. Also, the Chinese word for orange sounds a lot like the word for wealth. It is a New Year's tradition to take oranges when visiting people's homes.
Sticky rice cakes and sweets are also served. There is a legend about a Kitchen God who reports to the Jade Emperor in heaven on whether families have been good or bad during the year. According to legend, when families serve the Kitchen God foods that are sticky and sweet, his mouth gets stuck together and he can't report any bad things about the family to the Jade Emperor.
