3. Chinese New Year
• Friday, January 31
• “Lunar New Year,” or the “Spring Festival”
– (春節 in Chinese).
• Besides China, it is celebrated in Hong
Kong, Indonesia, Tibet, Macau, Malaysia, Phili
ppines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and
Vietnam
4. Each Chinese year has an animal symbol.
It is said that a person is like the animal that represents the
year they were born .
7. New Year Traditions
• The Chinese believe that as
they enter a new year, they
should put behind them all
things of the past.
– They clean their house
– Get new clothes
– Get haircuts
8. Colors
• Red and Gold are very important colors to the
Chinese New Year
• Red: means power and happiness
• Gold: means health and good fortune
9. Gifts!
• Many people
exchange gifts
during the Chinese
New Year
• A popular gift is
small red envelopes
filled with money.
This money is
supposed to be good
luck.
10. The dragon
The dragon is another popular symbol for Chinese New Year.
It means strength, goodness, and good luck.
11. Parade
• Every year there is a parade and a few special
dances.
• This is the dance from Chinese New Year in
Singapore.
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQKmjp_o-Es
13. Food!
A whole fish represents “bounty”, or having enough food in the New Year
14. Food!
“Tray of Prosperity”
candied melon (growth
and good health),
red melon seeds
(joy, happiness, truth)
lychee nuts (close
family ties)
kumquats (wealth)
coconut (togetherness)
peanuts (long life)
lotus seeds (many
children)
15. • Here are some photos that Ms. L took last
year during the Chinese New Year Parade in
New York City
• If you want to see the parade this year, it is
this Sunday, February 2.
