Fun on the Web Feb 16, 2018 - Chinese New Year

Gung Hay Fat Choy or Gong Xi Fa Ca!That means Happy Chinese New Year.  That’s the traditional Chinese New Year greeting that means “wishing you prosperity” in Mandarin.

This is the most important of Chinese holidays, celebrated by billions of ethnic Chinese around the world. It’s a 15 day celebration end with the Lantern Festival. Each year is represented by one of twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac. For Chinese New Year 2018 - The first year of the earth dog since 1958.

Anyone born in an earth dog year will be communicative, serious, and responsible in the workplace.

Before the New Year's celebration, people will normally do a complete cleaning of the house, settle debts, and put on the traditional New Year decoration. A lunar month is around 2 days shorter than a solar month. In order to "catch up" with the solar calendar, an extra month is inserted every few years. This is why, according to the solar calendar, the Chinese New Year falls on a different date each year.

Chinese New Year celebrations, also known as the Spring Festival, in China start on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month of the Chinese calendar lasts for about 23 days. In other countries it may be just a 15 day celebration. Each day holds a special significance that varies according to local traditions. It is celebrated with lion dances, fireworks, family gatherings, family meals, visiting friends and relatives, giving red envelopes of "lucky money" to friends and relatives (use numbers ending in 8), and decorating with poems on red paper.

For more info on each day's celebration and the foods eaten see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year

The Year 2018 is the 4715 th Chinese year. For a great explanation of this and the Stem-Branch Calendar look here: http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/

More on the Chinese Zodiac https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/chinese-zodiac/

Interesting Sites in China https://www.thesun.co.uk/living/2446290/cycle-old-city-walls-cruise-yulong-tai-chi-how-to-do-china-right/

Games for the kids http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/chinese-new-year/games/

There are many excellent sites to learn more about this ancient culture
http://www.chinesenewyears.info/chinese-new-year-history.php
https://www.thoughtco.com/chinese-new-year-guide-687556
http://www.history.com/topics/chinese-new-year


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