Celebrating Chinese New Year: A Fun Guide for Kids

Have you ever heard of Chinese New Year? It's a big, exciting celebration that happens every year, but it's not on the same date as our regular New Year! In fact, it can fall anywhere between January 21st and February 20th. That's because Chinese New Year follows a special lunar calendar.

What Makes Chinese New Year So Special?

Think of Chinese New Year as a super long birthday party for the whole country! It's a time to celebrate the beginning of a new year, leave behind the old, and welcome good fortune. People wear red clothes, because red is a lucky color in Chinese culture. They decorate their homes with red lanterns, and set off fireworks to scare away bad luck.

Animals of the Zodiac

Each year is represented by a different animal from the Chinese Zodiac. There are twelve animals in total, and they cycle in a specific order. For example, this year is the year of the Rabbit. Next year will be the year of the Dragon!

Animal	Years	Personality Traits
Rat	1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020	Clever, resourceful, adaptable
Ox	1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021	Hardworking, reliable, patient
Tiger	1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022	Brave, confident, charismatic
Rabbit	1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023	Gentle, kind, compassionate
Dragon	1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024	Powerful, energetic, ambitious
Snake	1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025	Wise, intelligent, charming
Horse	1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026	Free-spirited, energetic, popular
Goat	1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027	Kind, compassionate, artistic
Monkey	1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028	Clever, playful, curious
Rooster	1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029	Confident, hardworking, responsible
Dog	1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030	Loyal, honest, friendly
Pig	1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031	Kind, generous, compassionate

Fun Activities for Chinese New Year

There are so many fun things to do during Chinese New Year! Here are a few ideas:

• Decorate with red lanterns and paper cutouts.
• Make dumplings or spring rolls.
• Learn a Chinese New Year dance or song.
• Watch a lion dance or dragon dance performance.
• Give red envelopes (hongbao) filled with lucky money to friends and family.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Chinese New Year is a special time to celebrate, share traditions, and enjoy delicious food with loved ones. We hope you have a wonderful Chinese New Year filled with good luck and happiness!