The Chinese New Year begins on January 31, 2014. This is the “Year
of the Horse.” People born under that sign are said to be “hardworking,
admirable and ambitious.” The Chinese Lunar Calendar names each of the 12 years
after an animal. Legend has it that Buddha summoned all of the animals to come
to see him before his death. Only 12 came to pay their respects. As a reward,
Buddha named a year after each animal in the order that they arrived: the
Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and
Pig. The Chinese believe the animal ruling the year in which a person is born
has significant influence on personality saying, “This is the animal that hides
in your heart.”
One tradition that seems to be shared by all is the handing out of red
decorated envelopes known as “hongbao” in Mandarin, “laisee” in Cantonese, and
“angpow” in Hokkien. On the morning of New Year’s Day, married people begin the
distribution of the envelopes filled with crisp new money to children and
single members of the family, and in some cultures, it is extended to friends and
neighbors. The amount of money contained in the envelope usually ends with an
even number as according to Chinese custom, odd numbered money gifts are
traditionally associated with funerals. The new money symbolizes good fortune.
The recipient puts his or her hands together and shakes them while wishing you
“Kung Hei Fat Choi” (if you are from Southern Chinese and Cantonese-speaking
communities) roughly translated “Wishing you a happy and prosperous New Year,”
or “Gonghe xinxi” (if you are from Mandarin speaking communities) meaning
“Respectful congratulations and blessings for the New Year” in return as he or
she accepts the envelope with both hands.
Westerners wanting to bring luck into their homes can follow tradition by remembering on the first day of Chinese New Year not to clean house, cut your hair or take a shower because you will wash away any good luck that might befall you. It promises to be the luckiest day of the year!
Here are some videos you may want to share with your students:
Chinese New Year Story “Nian”
Have students read the English
subtitles (they can listen to Chinese)
Have students answer these
questions as they listen to the story:
a.
Why did the Chinese people use a
lot of bright lights and red colors?
b.
Why did the people make loud
noises and use fireworks during the New Year?
Gong Xi
Students sing along to the video
and listen to the Chinese with the English subtitles
Students can sing the repetitive
melody -
“Gong Xi, Gong Xi, Gong Xi Ni,” (gongo-si, gong-si, gong-si nee)
Lesson Plans
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Lesson Plans
Take the
Chinese New Year Quiz:
How did
you do?
Also,
here are some great books!
Happy New Year! The Year of the Horse!
