This Sunday 22nd January is Chinese New Year. We have been discussing how Chinese New Year is celebrated and we created a collage of a Chinese dragon.
Chinese New Year or ‘the Spring Festival’ marks the end of Winter and the beginning of Spring. The New Year celebrations last fifteen days, ending with the Chinese Lantern Festival. Each year is named after an animal and this year will be the year of the rabbit. Before the start of the festivities, Chinese people spring clean their houses to sweep away any bad luck. It’s also traditional for children receive red envelopes full of money. Lion and dragon dances are also common during the Chinese New Year and it is believed that the loud drumming and clashing of cymbals will chase away bad luck and evil spirits.
This is how you say HAPPY NEW YEAR in Mandarin and Cantonese:
- 新年快乐 Xīn nián kuài lè !
- 恭喜发财 Gong hei fat choy!
