ChineseNewYear

　　ChineseNewYearisthemostimportantfestivityfortheChinesepeople.ItisalsocalledtheSpringFestivalortheLunarNewYear.

　　Everyyearhasananimal’sname.Theseanimalsaretherat,ox,tiger,rabbit,dragon,snake,horse,ram,monkey,rooster,dogandpig.AChineselegendsaysthatthesetwelveanimalshadarace.Thefirstyearwasnamedaftertherat,thewinner.Theotherelevenyearswerenamedaftertheorderinwhichtheanimalsarrivedintherace.Thecleverratjumpedontotheox’sbackthenattheendjumpedovertheox’sheadtoarrivefirst!

　　TheChinesebelievethatapersonborninaparticularyearhassomeofthecharacteristicsofanimal.

　　OnChineseNewYear’sEveallfamilymembersenjoyabig,deliciousmeal.ItisveryimportantfortheChinesetobewiththeirfamiliesonthisoccasion.Fishisalwayspartofthedinnerbecauseitrepresentsabundance.

　　OnNewYear’sDayallChinesechildrenwearnewclotheswithbrightcolors.Redisconsideredaluckycolor.ParentsandrelativesgivechildrenthetraditionalNewYear’sgiftcalledluckymoney.Thismoneyisputintobrightredandgoldenvelopes.Fillunderthepillow.inthemorningofnewyear,thekidwakesuptoseethe“luckymoney”,expressthatoneselfbecomeoneyearolder.Redisatraditionalcolorforfestivals,celebrations,weddingsandbirthdays.

　　Theliondancersarealwayspartofthefestivities.Thelionhasabigheadandlongbodymadeofcloth.Theliondanceisaccompaniedbydrums,cymbalsandnoisyfirecrackers.Accordingtoancienttraditionsthegreatnoisefrightensawayevilspirits.

　　ThedragonisthemostimportantfigureoftheChineseNewYearfestivitiesandparades.Thedragonisconsideredaluckyfigure.Aparadedragoncanbe20to30meterslong!Sixtyormoremenmoveunderalongcloththatrepresentsthedragon’stail.

　　DuringtheparadechildrenrepresenttheanimalsoftheChinesecalendar.Therearealsoacrobatsandmusiciansinbeautifulcostumes.

　　HappyNewYear!