The Year of the HorseBy Deborah J. Smith

Chinese people name their years after 12 animals.

This year is the Year of the Horse. Children born this year will be independent, fun,

cheerful and full of energy. They will also be determined and keep on with a job until it is

done.

What sign are you? (for Foundation Units)Are you a rat, a tiger or an ox?

Children already 5, or who have their birthday before Jan 26th , were born in the Year of the

Rat

Everyone else in Nursery & Reception is born in the Year of the

Ox.

Nursery children with birthdays between Feb & August were born in the Year of the Tiger.

Chinese New Year is a holiday celebrating the beginning of a New Year. It starts on Jan 31st & lasts for more than 2 weeks.

Before the first day of Chinese New Year, families clean their homes from top to bottom to clear out any bad luck from the last year and to get the house ready for good luck in the new year.

But be careful: all the cleaning has to be finished before New Year's Day so there's no chance of accidentally throwing out the good fortune of the new year.

Also, before New Year's Day, you're supposed to buy new clothes or cut your hair in order to have a fresh start. And never, ever wear black during Chinese New Year - it's bad luck. Red is the colour of good luck, so wearing lots of red is encouraged.

Families decorate their houses with lights outside their homes- a bit like our Christmas lights.

On New Year’s Eve, decorations (hui chun) made from red and gold paper are hung on the doors. They are to bring good luck, happiness and long life for the coming year.

On New Year's Day, grown ups give children lucky red envelopes called Hong Bow containing money or sweets and everyone says "Kung Hei Fat Choy!“ HAPPY NEW YEAR!Remember- don’t open the envelope until the grown up has left the house ! It’s bad luck!

On New Year's Day, there are parades, with music and dancing.

Children get little presents, like dragon puppets and lanterns.

There are long lines of dancers who carry dragons on long sticks. They leap and twist so that the dragon looks like it is

moving.

The most exciting bit is when the lion dancers come on.

Lettuce heads with money in are hidden in hard to reach places along the parade route and the dancers must climb and jump to reach them.

On New Year’s Day, families come together and have a huge meal.

There are eight or nine dishes because those are lucky numbers. The meal includes dumplings (because they look like gold nuggets), oranges, and long noodles (for long life).

At the end of the meal, sticky cakes and sweets are served. They are part of a story about the Kitchen god who is a bit like Santa Claus.

It is his job to tell to tell the Jade Emperor in heaven whether the family has been good or bad this year.  The family gives the Kitchen God sweet, sticky foods so that his lips will stick together and he won't be able to tell tales on them!  

After dinner the family plays cards with all the lights turned on until midnight.  At midnight, fireworks and crackers are set off.  

On the last day of the Festival, the family make wishes and light lanterns. They hope that the wind will carry them up to the Jade Emperor, who will grant their wishes.  

"Kung Hei Fat Choy!“ Have a happy and prosperous New Year!