CHINESE NEW YEAR

Facts

As the Chinese use the Lunar calendar for their festivals the date of Chinese New Year changes from year to year. The date corresponds to the new moon (black moon) in either late January or February. Traditionally celebrations last for fifteen days, ending on the date of the full moon. In China the public holiday lasts for three days and this is the biggest celebration of the year.

Food Serving a whole chicken during the Chinese New Year season symbolizes

family togetherness. Noodles represent a long life; an old superstition says that it's bad luck to

cut them. Spring rolls and clams represent wealth because of their shapes, which

resembles that of gold bars and bouillon. It is very common to serve a lettuce wrap filled with other lucky food

because it means rising fortune Tangerines and oranges are passed out freely during Chinese New Year

as the words for tangerine and orange sound like luck and wealth, respectively.

Fish also play a large role in festive celebrations. The word for fish, "Yu," sounds like the words both for wish and abundance. As a result, on New Year's Eve it is customary to serve a fish at the end of the evening meal, symbolizing a wish for abundance in the coming year. For added symbolism, the fish is served whole, with head and tail attached, symbolizing a good beginning and ending for the coming year.

Dumplings are served are traditionally eaten on new years eve Steamed cakes signify sweetness and a rich life for the whole family. It

also means family unity and abundance.

Desserts Sticky Cake (Nian Gao) this is China's most famous cake Peking Dust fresh chestnuts are ground into fine pieces to represent

the dust of the Mongolian dessert, and paired with whipped cream Almond Cookies no Chinese New Year celebration would be complete

without cookies! Egg Custard Tarts served at Chinese bakeries and dim sum

restaurants during the new year Sesame Seed Balls (Zeen Doy)these are tasty balls of glutinous rice

flour that filled with red bean paste and rolled in sesame seeds and fried.

Niango (rice cakes) Sago tarts are made with lotus seeds. Lotus seeds are often given to

married couples to wish them good luck Five –spice peanuts ,Peanuts symbolize longevity in Chinese culture.

In this easy recipe the peanuts are coated in a syrupy mixture with brown sugar, corn syrup and five-spice powder.

pictures

ANIMALS

The animals of the Chinese New Year are the monkey, snake, horse, rooster, dragon, ram, tiger, rabbit, dog, pig, rat and ox.

The Lunar calendar is a 12 year cycle, eg tiger, rat, rabbit and so on.

The Rat is full of charm, Ox keeper of tradition, Tiger is brave, Rabbit is wise, Dragon never cautious, Snake seductive and mysterious,

Continued

Horse is wild and free, Ram is gentle and docile, Monkey clever and quick-witted, Rooster is independent, Dog noble and true, Boar pure of heart. 2012 is the year of the DRAGON!! 2013 will be the year of the SNAKE!!!

Pictures of the animals!!!

The history

Welcome to the history of Chinese new year.

Chinese new year originated in San Francisco when they discovered gold.

Out of 5O,OOO people most of them were Chinese and seeking a better life.

The History

In 1849 with the discovery of gold 50,000 had come to San Francisco to secure their future

By the 1860s the residents of San Francisco, Chinatown were eager to share their culture with others

The Chinese decided to do the American style of celebration “parade”

So they decided to walk down what today is Grant Avenue with lanterns , masks , flags and drums

The History

Celebration and traditions

The beginning of the Chinese New Year started with the fight against a mythical beast called Nian Red envelopes are given to children and unmarried adults the money in the envelope is used by them to buy holiday treats. People paint doors and windows red and hang up paper cut outs The family starts out to say greetings from door to door, first to their relatives and then to their neighbours. After dinner the family stays up plays cards ,or watches TV togetherDuring the whole day and night lights are left on and all windows are left open After the Chinese New Year, families and friends to parade to a public place with lanterns in hand for a feast and riddle-guessing games.  At midnight, fireworks will light up the whole sky

Do’s and don’ts on new years day

Greet each other with “ Gung Hey Fat Choy which means “ Wishing you prosperity and wealth”.

Wear brand new clothes preferably in red. Children wear new clothes and new shoes. Don’t wash your hair Don’t sweep the floor Don’t drop your chopsticks Don’t mention death Don’t borrow or lend money Don’t break any dishes

Fire works were first made by putting gun powder in bamboo sticks to scare of Nian

Offer a Sacrifice to the Kitchen God - Many families have a poster of the Kitchen God in their kitchen. The custom is to offer a ceremonial sacrifice to the Kitchen God, to make sure that he gives a good report on the family's behavior when he returns to heaven. Sticky Cake (Nian Gao) is popular, or children may rub honey on him.

Families put lights up outside their homes, rather like our Christmas lights.

Everyone paints their doors and windows red

Customs

Thank you For Watching Any questions!!!

Any questions!!