Chinese new year for kids

Chinese New Year for kids

The 23rd of January marks the beginning of the Chinese Year of the Dragon. How will you be celebrating with your family?

by Steven McKinnon, Mindful Mum, 21st January 2012

What is Chinese New Year?

Chinese New Year is the most significant holiday in the Chinese calendar, where it is known as the ‘spring festival’. People celebrate the beginning of the new season as it symbolises new life and marks an end to winter.

How is Chinese New Year celebrated?

Celebrations start in the first day of the lunar cycle, and end on the fifteenth day, when the moon is at its brightest.

Before celebrations for New Year begin, however, it is considered prosperous to completely clean one’s house; this symbolises sweeping away any bad luck that the previous year may have brought. After the house has been cleaned, brushes, dustpans and brooms are all put away, as cleaning at any time after this might sweep away the good luck that comes with the new year.

It is traditional for families to hang red lanterns outside their houses and to wear new red clothing, as it is believed that doing so will ward off any evil spirits. Fireworks are also set off for this reason. On New Year’s Eve, families will reunite and enjoy a large traditional meal together.

The fifteen days of Chinese New Year

On the first day of the New Year, children will wake up to find red envelopes – known as ‘leisee’ – filled with money and sweets under their pillows. The family will then eat a meal together and perhaps light fireworks later on, although some regions have banned this practice.

The second day sees married daughters return home to visit their families, and the third day of Chinese New Year is known as chì kǒu, which means ‘red mouth’. This is considered to be the day for the God of Anger, and it is considered not to be a good day to socialise or visit friends.

The fourth day sees food and wine prepared in a welcome ceremony for the God of Stove, who returns from Heaven. The fifth day is the God of Wealth’s birthday, and any businesses that resume on this day will hold a hoi nin prayer so they will be blessed with good luck.

The sixth day is known as the death anniversary of Clear-Water Grand Master, a monk in the Sung dynasty who prayed for rain during droughts. The seventh day of Chinese New Year is known as the birthday of humankind. People toss raw fish salad on this day and wish for prosperity and luck.

The eighth day is known as The Completion Day and sees people returning from holiday and re-commencing work. The ninth day is the birthday of the Jade Emperor, or the King of Heaven, and is celebrated by eating noodles, fruit and vegetables, and drinking green tea. His birthday is celebrated on the tenth day of Chinese New Year as well.

The eleventh and twelfth days of Chinese New Year don’t have any particular traditions, while on the thirteenth day, people eat vegetarian food and remember the Chinese God of War, General Guan Yu.

The fourteenth day sees preparations taking place for the following day’s lantern festival, and rehearsals will take place for any shows taking place the next day. The fifteenth day of Chinese New Year is the lantern festival, which may include parades, music and shows, as well as Chinese lanterns being released into the air.

Chinese Zodiac

The Chinese Zodiac is comprised of twelve different animal signs, and every year is alternately named after each animal. 2012 is the year of the Dragon.

The other animals in the Chinese Zodiac are:

the Rat
the Ox
the Tiger
the Rabbit
the Snake
the Horse
the Goat
the Monkey
the Rooster
the Dog
the Pig

It is said that people take on the characteristics of the animal that corresponds with the year they were born on!

Chinese New Year around the world

There are numerous other countries across the globe that celebrate Chinese New Year. A few are included below:

In Korea, a three day holiday takes place, and traditions include playing board games and flying kites.
In the United Kingdom, an annual Chinese New Year parade takes place in London on the Sunday after New Year’s Day. This year, it will be held on January 29th.
In the USA, many cities with a significant Chinese populace hold Chinese New Year parades, such as New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
In Singapore, the New Year is celebrated on the 3rd and 4th of January this year, and is marked by a huge parade.
People in Hong Kong mark Chinese New Year with an International Chinese New Year parade that features diverse acts from around the globe, capturing the spirit of a carnival.

Celebrating Chinese New Year with your child

Why not try some of these ideas to celebrate Chinese New Year with your little one? Feel free to let them help as well!

Make your own Chinese lantern

What you will need:

Two sheets of red paper
Scissors
Glue or sticky tape
Pens and pencils for decorating

Method:

Fold one of the sheets of paper in half (lengthways).
Cut lines along the folded length, but not all the way to the unfolded edge.
Unfold the paper, and add any decorations you want.
Roll the paper into a tubular shape and stick the ends together with the glue or tape.
Cut a strip of paper from the second sheet of paper and stick it over the lantern to make a handle.
Repeat as often as you like!

Make your own dragon float

Dragons are a common sight at Chinese New Year parades, and 2012 is the Year of the Dragon, so why not make your own?

What you will need:

3 egg boxes
Paints and paintbrushes of your choice (we recommend red, as this symbolises good luck!)
Red, yellow and orange paper
Glue or sticky tape
Felt pen
Scissors
Two treasure tags

Method:

Cut out two cups from one of the egg boxes for your dragon’s eyes, and paint them.
The other egg boxes are your dragon’s body and head, so draw and paint any patterns you want on them and leave to dry.
Use the treasury tags to fasten the head and body together.
Cut out some flames from your coloured paper; you could try cutting out some yellow flame patterns and sticking them onto orange flame patterns, which in turn could be glued onto red flame patterns.
Using the sticky tape or glue, stick the flame shapes onto your dragon’s mouth and stick the eyes on his head.