Hello everybody!                                  

Do you know something about the Chinese New Year?'

Let´s find out about it, OK??

The Chinese Lunar Calendar is 2,640 years older than ours and never begins on January 1st, and it doesn´t begin on the same date each year either.

It can begin any time between January 21st and February 18th, depending on the date of the New Moon in Aquarius, that´s why it´s also called Lunar New Year.

Each year is named for an animal. Every 12 years this cycle begins again. The Chinese say that the animal ruling the year you were born will influence your life.

In 2010, Chinese New Year has just begun, it began on 14th Februray and will be the year of the Tiger. Interesting, isn´t it?

Do you want to know which animal are you? Just click the link below:

Chinese Zodiac

HOW IT IS CELEBRATED

Chinese New Year starts with the New Moon on the first day of the new year and ends on the full moon 15 days later.

 The 15th day of the new year is called the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated at night with lantern displays and children carrying lanterns in a parade.

New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are celebrated as a family affair, a time of reunion and thanksgiving.

The presence of the ancestors is acknowledged on New Year's Eve with a dinner arranged for them at the family banquet table. The spirits of the ancestors, together with the living, celebrate the New Year as one great community.

FOOD

Probably more food is consumed during the New Year celebrations than any other time of the year. Vast amounts of traditional food is prepared for family and friends, as well as those close to us who have died.

On New Year's Day, the Chinese family will eat a vegetarian dish called jai.

NEW YEAR´S DECORATIONS

Chinese families decorate their living rooms with vases of pretty blossoms, platters of oranges and tangerines and a candy tray with eight varieties of dried sweet fruit.

 On walls and doors are poetic couplets, happy wishes written on red paper. For instance, "May you enjoy continuous good health" and "May the Star of Happiness, the Star of Wealth and the Star of Longevity shine on you" are especially positive couplets.

LET´S WATCH A VIDEO NOW. Click the link below:

My favourite day: Chinese New Year

Did you like it?

 Hope you have enjoyed it. Let´s look at some pictures now.

See you tomorrow at school.