What is Chinese New Year?
Like every culture has its own celebrations, traditions, festivities, holidays, and shenanigans, for Chinese, the most important holiday and celebration throughout the year is the Chinese New Year. More than 20 percent of the world celebrates the Chinese New Year! Chinese New Year is a Chinese celebration of the new year. Like how we celebrate New Year's on the 1st of January, Chinese celebrate their new year based on their traditional Chinese calendar or Lunar Calendar. The new years for Chinese roots from various ancestral customs. Every year, the first day of Chinese New Year begins on the new moon that appears between the 21st of January and the 20th of February. If you ever pay a visit to China, you will hear them referring to the festival as 'Chunji,' which means the Spring Festival! Yes, the Chinese New Year is also known as the Spring Festival since it signifies new beginnings and fresh starts.

Lunar Calendar Reading Passage
The lunar calendar is really old. The Chinese have consulted it in religion, dynasties, and social culture since the Shang Dynasty, in the 14th century B.C. The lunar calendar changed according to who was in power.

Thoughts
Serves as a nice organize to chart out the traditions, celebration, and facts about this event.

Chinese Zodiac Match-Up
The Chinese Zodiac, called Sheng Xiao, is based on a twelve-year cycle. Each year in the is associated with an animal sign. It is calculated according to Chinese lunar calendar.




Zodiac
Trace the letters. Fill in the missing vowel. Circle the word with the long vowel sound. Draw a box around the word with the vowel that is different from the others.

The Chinese Dragon
In China, the dragon is a symbol of wisdom, power, and wealth. The Chinese also believe that dragons bring good luck.



Traditions Reading Passage
Families also traditionally get together to make the dumplings, and sometimes hide a coin in one of the dumplings.


Birth Year
Find your birth year on the chart on the next page. Read the characteristics associated with that sign/animals. Does it sound like you?

Decorate the Lantern
Decorate and color the Chinese lantern. What is your hope for this Chinese New Year?
