Chinese New Year is the New Year celebration for the Chinese. While the exact dates change each year, it typically starts at the end of January and lasts for 15 days. There is a big parade at the beginning of Chinese New Year. These photos were taken in Paris this year; Paris has two parades to celebrate Chinese New Year, one in China Town, and the other near the City Hall.
Chinese legend says that long ago in China a beast, called the Nian, came to a village at the beginning of spring each year and scared everyone, especially the children. The villagers were fed up of the beast and decided that the following year they would scare the beast away. In order to do this, they decorated their houses red, wore red clothing, and made a lot of noise with drums and firecrackers. They also had parades with dancing dragons and lions, made by the people, to scare the beast away. Inside the dragons mouth is a bell that makes noise when you move his head. There is also a red, yellow, white, and blue ball on the front of the dragon that controls the dragon and makes a nice show for the people watching the parade when the dragon dances.
Adults wear traditional clothing for the Chinese New Year parade like those shown in the picture below.
Children wear masks with doll faces to celebrate Chinese New Year.
The Chinese Zodiac
Legend says that long ago in China an Emperor wanted to find a way to measure time. He called all the animals to the river bank and told them that the first 12 to cross the river the fastest would have a permanent place in the Chinese Zodiac. And so the race was on.....
When the race began, the ox carried the rat across the river so the rat came first.
The tired tiger arrived after the ox and just before the rabbit.
The clever rabbit hopped across the river and came fourth.
Even though she could fly, the helpful dragon only came fifth.
The snake slithered in after the dragon, and then came the horse.
The goat, the monkey and the rooster worked together and finished eighth, ninth and tenth.
The dog took a bath and so didn't arrive until after the rooster.
Last of all came the pig who had stopped on the way to eat and sleep.
Depending on the year you were born, you are represented by one of these animals, and are believed to have certain characteristics of these animals.
For example, Mathilda was born in 1996 and is a rat. Rats are happy, sociable, and intelligent. These characteristics suit Mathilda well.
Tabatha was born in 2000 and is a dragon. Dragons are generous, moody, lucky, and artistic. This is true for Tabatha because she loves art, and is lucky when playing board games.
Ariel was born in 1998 and is a tiger, like his teacher Jennifer. Tigers are brave, confident, and bossy. Ariel feels that these characteristics correspond with him.
2009 is the Year of the Ox. The ox is the sign of prosperity shown through fortitude and hard work. It is noted for its means to alleviate chaos and perpetuate stability. You must gain respect through your actions if you want to fare well in the Year of the Ox.
A special thanks to our friends in Taiwan who sent us much of this information, and gave me the idea to teach Chinese New Year to my students.
