The Chinese New Year of the Rabbit starts today, 3 February 2011. The year will be 4709 on the Chinese Calendar. Chinese New Year is also known as the Spring Festival.
Chinese New Year is the main Chinese festival of the year and it is not a religious event.
As the Chinese use the Lunar calendar for their festivals the date of Chinese New Year changes from year to year. The date corresponds to the new moon (black moon) in either late January or February. Traditionally celebrations last for fifteen days, ending on the date of the full moon. In China the public holiday lasts for three days and this is the biggest celebration of the year.
The Chinese calendar is different from that used in the United Kingdom. It is made up of a cycle of twelve years, each of them being named after an animal. This is very like our signs of the zodiac. Some people believe that people born in a particular year such as the year of the Dog will have some of the characteristics of that animal.
To find out which animals make up the Chinese zodiac and which one you are supposed to be like,
click here and put in your birthday.
There are several legends about how animal names were chosen for the years.
Read one of the stories here.
Over a sixth of the people in the world celebrate Chinese New Year. Customs vary in different parts of the world, but everywhere the main idea is the same. It is a time to remember the family and wish everyone peace and prosperity in the coming year. Find out more about the
customs.
Mum and Dad had dinner at a Chinese Restaurant last night and brought back some souvenirs given to them by the owners, a Chinese keyfob and some chopsticks. Here's me wearing the keyfob on my collar.
|
What A Handsome Fella - Can that be Meeeee??? |
|
Happy Chinese New Year From Casper Bear |
I am a Tiger
Sensitive, emotional and adventurous. Confident, risk takers and dislike taking orders. Good at seeing problems, but less able to see the solutions. Often seek a shoulder to cry on when feeling down. Warm and generous to the people they love.
What Are You?
Have a Greeeeeaaaat Day!!
Lotsa Licks