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Friday 31 January 2014

CHINESE NEW YEAR

Kung Hey Fat Choy!

2014 is the Year of the image: tiger image: tiger

The Chinese year starts on a different date each year. In 2014, it starts on 31st January .

The Chinese Dragon

The dragon is an important part of the new year celebrations and is paraded through the streets. It represents wisdom, strength, benevolence, and good fortune.
image: dragon
Chinese Dragon


Why does the date of the Chinese New Year change every year?

The Chinese use the Lunar calendar for their festivals. The Lunar calendar is based on the time the moon takes to go around the Earth. (The Western calendar is based on the time it takes for the Earth to go around the Sun.)

The lunar cycle is about 29.5 days. In order to "catch up" with the solar calendar the Chinese insert an extra month once every few years.

Chinese year always starts between January 21st and February 21st, inclusive, and takes place at sunset on the day of the second (sometimes rarely on the third) New Moon following the winter solstice (21 or 22 December).

How long do the New Year celebrations last for?

Chinese New Year celebrations last for two weeks and end with Teng Chieh, the lantern festival, on the full moon about 15 days later.

The Chinese Calendar


Each year in the Chinese calendar is represented by one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, the Dragon, Snake, Horse, Ram, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. Some people believe that people born in a particular year such as the year of the Rat will have some of the characteristics of that animal. It is said that "The animal hides in your heart."
My Chinese zodiac sign is the rat. What about you? Look for your birth year in the zodiac calendar and see what animal your sign is. Write a comment and tell me about your birth year and your sign. 


10 comments:

  1. Hello Mary.
    I'm Hugh from class 3B. I'like this question. My chinese zodiac sing is the rooster.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Mary,I'm Alex from class 5B.The animals of the Chinese zodiac are:a pig,a dog,a rooster,a monkey,a sheep,a horse,a snake,a dragon,a rabbit,a tiger,a oxen and a rat.In 2014 the animal of the Chinese zodiac it's a horse.Bye,bye Mary.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hello Mary i'm Molly from class 6b.
    My Chinese zodiac sign is the horse because i born in the 2002 year.
    I really like this post it's very interesant and nice.
    Good bye
    xxxxxxxxxxxxx

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hello I'm Nora from class 5A.
    My chinese zodiac sing is the Sheep.
    My year of birth is the 2003.
    I like the chinese calendar.
    It's interesting and the picture is funny.
    Goodbye Marry.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Mary, l'm Monica from class 4rt.My chinese zodiac sing is the monkey.

    ReplyDelete
  6. HI MARY I'M ELSIE FROM CLASS 6B MY CHINESE ZODIAC SING IS THE HORSE, BECAUSE I BORN AT 24TH OF JANUARY OF 2002 BYEE BYE

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Mary.I'm Alex from class 5B.My chinese zodiac sing is the sheep.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Mary i´m Mario of 6a and your chinese calendar is very interesant.My brother funnys my beocus look my sign chines.I´m the horse.hihihihihiihihihihihi jajajajajajajajajajaj i´m the horse jaja good bye

    ReplyDelete
  9. hi merry im eva 5b my chinse zodiac is the Oxen

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hello I'm Hughes from class 6B.
    I'm a monkey I'm from year 2004.
    Bye,bye.

    ReplyDelete

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