The Children's Voice

Celebrating Chinese New Year

You might think your neighbors are dressed in red, festive clothing a little too early for Valentine’s Day, but they might just be celebrating the Chinese New Year. This year, Chinese New Year begins on February 5th and continues for 15 days, culminating in the Festival of the Lanterns. Celebrations for the Lunar New Year include customs bringing good luck, good fortune, wealth, prosperity, and happiness.

Each year a Chinese zodiac animal is the symbol for the year. The 12 Chinese zodiac animals are: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. This is the year of the pig.

During the 15 days, most people eat fish dishes, since a fish is a symbol of good luck, wealth and a healthy life. Dumplings, oranges, dried fruit, long noodles, and sweets are also considered lucky food.

Dragons are a large part of the Chinese New Year with performers in parades wearing masks or holding large dragon puppets. An easy and cute Chinese dragon is pictured below. Downloadable dragon face templates are available on the Internet or draw your own. Color the face and cut it out. Cut colored construction paper into strips and fanfold them to make them pop out. Glue them to the back of the dragon face. Glue a piece of cardboard on the back of the dragon face and tape a dowel rod to the back. Now, you have a dragon mask!

Cute pigs for the new year can be made by folding pink paper into cootie catchers. Cut out oval noses of contrasting pink for the noses and ears. Add white circles for eyes and add details with black marker.

Interested in celebrating the Chinese New Year? The 8th Annual Dragon Parade Lunar New Year Festival 2019, will be held on February 17 @ 11:00 am - 4:00 pm. at 728 N. Thornton Ave., Orlando, FL 32803. Contact information (407) 205-2808

Article reference: https://www.kids-world-travel-guide.com/chinese-new-year.html

Please send future column ideas to Dr. Deb at drdeborahfrey@yahoo.com