The current cycle started January 25th, 2020 with A Year of the Rat, then 12February21 (ox), 1February2022 (tiger), 22January2023(rabbit), 10February*2024(dragon), 29January2025 (snake), 17February*2026 (horse), 6February2027 (goat), 26Jan28 (monkey), 13*February2029 (rooster/chicken), 3February2030 (dog) and 23January2031 (pig).
Wednesday, January 03, 2024
Thursday, March 16, 2017
Year of the (Fire) Rooster started 28 February 2017.
The next Chinese New Year's start son: February 16th, 2018* (Year of the Dog) and February 5th, 2019 (Year of the Pig or Boar.)
The cycle resumes on January 25th, 2020 with A Year of the Rat, then 12February21 (ox), 1February2022 (tiger), 22January2023(rabbit), 10February*2024(dragon), 29January2025 (snake), 17February*2026 (horse), 6February2027 (goat), 26Jan28 (monkey), 13*February2029 (rooster/chicken), 3February2030 (dog) and 23January2031 (pig).
* - when it is close to February 14th, Valentine's Day, at least in the USA, you may want to coordinate with your children's teachers a bit more in advance.
The next Chinese New Year's start son: February 16th, 2018* (Year of the Dog) and February 5th, 2019 (Year of the Pig or Boar.)
The cycle resumes on January 25th, 2020 with A Year of the Rat, then 12February21 (ox), 1February2022 (tiger), 22January2023(rabbit), 10February*2024(dragon), 29January2025 (snake), 17February*2026 (horse), 6February2027 (goat), 26Jan28 (monkey), 13*February2029 (rooster/chicken), 3February2030 (dog) and 23January2031 (pig).
* - when it is close to February 14th, Valentine's Day, at least in the USA, you may want to coordinate with your children's teachers a bit more in advance.
Friday, January 25, 2013
Folded animals
I found this nice site with free printables for folded paper animals. The images should be printed on cardstock so that they will stand on their own. The instructions are not in English but seem "obvious", at least for the ones I have tried so far, while also looking at the picture of a completed animal. It was not created with the Chinese zodiac in mind, but the following animals are represented:
- 2008, 2020, 2032: Rat (years: 1996, 2008, 2020, 2032)
- Ox (years: 1997, 2009, 2021, 2033)
- Tiger (1998, 2010)
- Rabbit/Hare (1999, 2011)
- Dragon (years: 2000, 2012, 2024)
- Snake (years: 2001, 2013, 2025)
- Dog (years include: 1994, 2006, 2018)
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Chinese New Year or Spring Festival (Chun Jie)
Chinese New Year or Spring Festival (Chun Jie) is the start of the lunar calendar and the coming of spring. It is the largest Chinese celebration, celebrated by Chinese worldwide – on the second new moon after the winter solstice. Chinese New year primarily involves family, friends and food.
Celebrations used to last 4 weeks but now it is 3 to 4 days, although there are events listed for 15 days, ending with Lantern Festival on (lunar) 1/15, a full moon night. Many people in China get 5 days off to celebrate – although they may have to work the weekend before or afterward to make up for that.
The next Chinese New Years start on February 3, 2011; January 23, 2012; Feb. 20, 2013; Jan. 31, 2014; Feb. 19, 2015; Feb. 8, 2016; Jan. 28, 2017; February 16, 2018; and February 5, 2019. If you want to do something at school, tell your child's teacher sooner rather than later - especially when it is so close to Valentine's Day they need to plan how to spend their time. Some parents are unable to go in when the teacher can support it and just send in (red) hong bao "goodie bags" as if it was a birthday. If you go in a lantern craft or parade, or a dragon to parade under is wonderful. Bring in some background music if you can.
How did Chinese New Year come to be celebrated? According to an ancient legend, once a year people were tormented by a beast called a Nian (a ferocious creature with an extremely large mouth) which was capable of swallowing several people in a single bite. Relief from the Nian came only when an old man tricked the beast into disappearing. Or scared it away with loud noises and red. In reality, New Years festivities probably evolved from a desire to celebrate the end of winter and the fertility and rebirth that come with the spring, much like the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia. Today, New Year is about family reunions and wishing everyone good fortune in the coming year. (Nian is Mandarin for year. Xin Nian Kuai Le!)
Some Chinese traditions for welcoming the New Year and creating good fortune in the year ahead:
The Chinese Lunar Calendar names each of the twelve years after an animal. (Someone said perhaps that the years should more properly be numbered from 0 to 11!) The cycle is: rat/mouse, ox/cow, tiger, hare/rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, ram/sheep/goat, monkey, rooster/chicken, dog, pig/boar. That is within a larger 60 year cycle that started in 1984.
The year of the rat starting in 2008 began the current 12 year cycle, 2020 will start a new one.
Remember if someone was born between January 19th and February 21st, you can not tell their zodiac year unless you know the date of the Chinese New Year for their birth year. You may not want to discuss this in preschool classes – unless you are prepared for a very noisy room of animal sounds.
Some Chinese believe the animal ruling the year in which a person is born has a profound influence on personality, saying: "This is the animal that hides in your heart." Others use the zodiac just for fun. One legend has it that the Lord Buddha summoned all the animals to come to him before he departed from earth. Only twelve came to bid him farewell and as a reward he named a year after each one in the order they arrived. Another legend says that the years are named, in order, for the animals that raced for the Green Emperor.
There are a number of sites on the web with more information on the Chinese zodiac, Chinese New Year, and Chinese date converters. There are also solar to lunar date converters available for Palm Pilots.
Updated: March 2007, January 2011
Celebrations used to last 4 weeks but now it is 3 to 4 days, although there are events listed for 15 days, ending with Lantern Festival on (lunar) 1/15, a full moon night. Many people in China get 5 days off to celebrate – although they may have to work the weekend before or afterward to make up for that.
Xin Nian Kuai le! Gong xi Fa cai!
Chun Jie Kuai le! Gung Hay Fat Choy!
Every community has different ways of celebrating. In American many Chinese families are known to celebrate on the nearest weekend, being sure to clean the house, decorate with red, share a meal together, and perhaps wear traditional clothes.Chun Jie Kuai le! Gung Hay Fat Choy!
The next Chinese New Years start on February 3, 2011; January 23, 2012; Feb. 20, 2013; Jan. 31, 2014; Feb. 19, 2015; Feb. 8, 2016; Jan. 28, 2017; February 16, 2018; and February 5, 2019. If you want to do something at school, tell your child's teacher sooner rather than later - especially when it is so close to Valentine's Day they need to plan how to spend their time. Some parents are unable to go in when the teacher can support it and just send in (red) hong bao "goodie bags" as if it was a birthday. If you go in a lantern craft or parade, or a dragon to parade under is wonderful. Bring in some background music if you can.
How did Chinese New Year come to be celebrated? According to an ancient legend, once a year people were tormented by a beast called a Nian (a ferocious creature with an extremely large mouth) which was capable of swallowing several people in a single bite. Relief from the Nian came only when an old man tricked the beast into disappearing. Or scared it away with loud noises and red. In reality, New Years festivities probably evolved from a desire to celebrate the end of winter and the fertility and rebirth that come with the spring, much like the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia. Today, New Year is about family reunions and wishing everyone good fortune in the coming year. (Nian is Mandarin for year. Xin Nian Kuai Le!)
Some Chinese traditions for welcoming the New Year and creating good fortune in the year ahead:
- BEFORE New Year’s: Clean your home, sweep away the bad luck of the year that's ending, get new clothes, get your hair cut. Plan out the food! Round food (fruits like oranges which are also gold color) are good. Fish, long life noodles, … Pay off any debts so you can start the year fresh. Decorate your home in red, the Chinese color for good luck.
- During the first days of New Year: DO NOT clean your home. You do not want to risk sweeping away the good luck of the New Year. Don’t wash your hair the first day, or get it cut in the first week or so.
- An important tradition on New Year's Eve is for families to gather together and spend the evening preparing jiaozi or boiled dumplings. According to Chinese Culture Guide Jun Shan, it is common to hide a coin in one of the dumplings. Whoever gets the dumpling with the coin will supposedly have good luck in the coming year. (perhaps only in his community?)
- Try to see as many of your family and friends as possible during the New Year celebration to spread good wishes for the coming year.
- Give out money packets - On New Years day, children receive “lai see” or “hong bao”- red packets decorated with gold symbols and filled with "lucky money”. If your bank has crisp new bills they are best to use.
- Serve and eat as many lucky foods as possible on the New Year. Some of these foods are whole fish, noodles and mandarin oranges. If you're not ready to cook Chinese food, most Chinese restaurants offer special New Year menus.
- Don't cry on that day or raise your voice to your children or you'll be setting a tone of discord for the coming year.
- Some fruit or flowers or candy for your Chinese teacher would be appreciated.
- Lanterns and couplets written on red paper are common decorations. Fu means fortune, and it is shown here on a lantern and also in cursive.
The Chinese Lunar Calendar names each of the twelve years after an animal. (Someone said perhaps that the years should more properly be numbered from 0 to 11!) The cycle is: rat/mouse, ox/cow, tiger, hare/rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, ram/sheep/goat, monkey, rooster/chicken, dog, pig/boar. That is within a larger 60 year cycle that started in 1984.
The year of the rat starting in 2008 began the current 12 year cycle, 2020 will start a new one.
Remember if someone was born between January 19th and February 21st, you can not tell their zodiac year unless you know the date of the Chinese New Year for their birth year. You may not want to discuss this in preschool classes – unless you are prepared for a very noisy room of animal sounds.
Some Chinese believe the animal ruling the year in which a person is born has a profound influence on personality, saying: "This is the animal that hides in your heart." Others use the zodiac just for fun. One legend has it that the Lord Buddha summoned all the animals to come to him before he departed from earth. Only twelve came to bid him farewell and as a reward he named a year after each one in the order they arrived. Another legend says that the years are named, in order, for the animals that raced for the Green Emperor.
There are a number of sites on the web with more information on the Chinese zodiac, Chinese New Year, and Chinese date converters. There are also solar to lunar date converters available for Palm Pilots.
Updated: March 2007, January 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Year of the Rabbit: February 3rd
Are "rabbits" the happiest. gentlest of the zodiac signs?
Are crafts for the "Year of the Rabbit" the most adorable?
Rabbit Crafts
Preschool & up:
DLTK has 3 different "toilet paper roll" rabbits for ages 3 and up:
Coloring Pages
how about some fun kirgami? Rabbit driving
cut paper: Rabbit with carrot
Advanced crafting:
Many of the crafts from other years are also applicable. Do search the site for ideas!
Are crafts for the "Year of the Rabbit" the most adorable?
Rabbit Crafts
Preschool & up:
DLTK has 3 different "toilet paper roll" rabbits for ages 3 and up:
- Rabbit (Easter) Toilet Paper Roll Craft
- Rabbit TP Roll Craft #2
- Rabbit TP Roll Craft #3
Coloring Pages
- Child Book always has something: www.childbook.com (Thanks Ray!)
- Rabbit Coloring Pages
- (interactive/online) Chinese New Year Coloring Pages from Apples4theTeacher: Get out your interactive crayon and color these symbols of Chinese New Year, including: Year of the Rabbit, map of China, and flag of China. Color pages are printable and suitable for framing.
- Stand up Bunny (ages 4-9)
- Paper Simple Cute Rabbit
- This refrigerator magnet bunnny is supposed to be easy enough for those who don't crochet to crochet!
- Bead & wire bunny charm
- Beaded safety pin crafts (hardest part can be finding pins without the circle crimp in the middle):
how about some fun kirgami? Rabbit driving
cut paper: Rabbit with carrot
Advanced crafting:
- 3D origami: ballerina bunny
- do you have time & patience for quilling, a craft that started in Europe during the Renaissance: Quilling Bunny
Many of the crafts from other years are also applicable. Do search the site for ideas!
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Jackie Chan CNY contest: 2011
The Kids Corner Happy Chinese New Year Contest is on again!
Color or draw a Chinese New Year of the Rabbit greeting! Jackie will choose three winners in three categories: Kids ages 0 - 12, ages 13 - 17, and age 18 to adult. Each winner will receive a t-shirt autographed by Jackie Chan! Contest ends on February 2, 2011 at midnight.
Original drawings will be posted at the Kids Corner and Jackie will choose the winners. To enter, scan and email your drawing to their webmaster. Visit their site for details and to see past winning drawings.
Color or draw a Chinese New Year of the Rabbit greeting! Jackie will choose three winners in three categories: Kids ages 0 - 12, ages 13 - 17, and age 18 to adult. Each winner will receive a t-shirt autographed by Jackie Chan! Contest ends on February 2, 2011 at midnight.
Original drawings will be posted at the Kids Corner and Jackie will choose the winners. To enter, scan and email your drawing to their webmaster. Visit their site for details and to see past winning drawings.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Mid-Autumn Festival coming
September 22, 2010 this year.
For more information including lesson plans & a way to request handouts, visit my Mid-autumn-festival blog.
For more information including lesson plans & a way to request handouts, visit my Mid-autumn-festival blog.
Friday, February 19, 2010
CNY 2010 Essay contest (selected states only)
Verizon is having an essay contest for the Lunar New Year. They are giving away $5,000, a global phone & gift cards. The contest is for ages 13-24. The only requirement is that you are a student. Please go to http://www.verizoninsider.com/education/ for more details.
No purchase necessary. Entries become property of Verizon Wireless. Entry period for contest begins 2/6/2010 and ends 3/12/2010. Open to legal U.S. residents whose primary residence is in one of the following states, and who are between the ages of 13 and 24 years old at the time of entry, and who are students enrolled at an accredited high school or college at the time of entry: AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NV, NM, OR, TX (City of El Paso only), UT, WA and WY. For Official Rules visit www.verizoninsider.com/education. Void where prohibited.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Origami Tigers
There are a variety of origami tiger patterns, starting with the simple "fold a face" and decorate.
I like this two piece one, although a more traditional 2 piece tiger is shown in these YouTube videos: part 1 and part 2. There are pictures of some fierce paperfold tiger "faces" and masks online, if you don't think they would be too de-motivating.
Paperfold tigers!
Tiger (Origami-Instructions.com)
(Standing) Tiger (TP Kong) Diagrams for all 19 steps 3D Tiger crease pattern, but no instructions or diagrams (N Miyajima)
3D Tiger crease pattern (H Komatsu), no English on the site
Winged Tiger/Tigre alado (JA Voyer), diagrams for all 44 steps Origami Tiger (pictures, no instructions)
You may also want to check out these dragon origami instructions.
(or if you need some tiger coloring pages to keep the youngest busy while you fold.)
For more see my Musical Mandarin Paperfolding entry.
I like this two piece one, although a more traditional 2 piece tiger is shown in these YouTube videos: part 1 and part 2. There are pictures of some fierce paperfold tiger "faces" and masks online, if you don't think they would be too de-motivating.
Paperfold tigers!
You may also want to check out these dragon origami instructions.
(or if you need some tiger coloring pages to keep the youngest busy while you fold.)
For more see my Musical Mandarin Paperfolding entry.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Monday, February 09, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Saturday, January 03, 2009
Some 2009 Chinese New Year events (NJ-centric)
NJPAC, Newark: Golden Dragon Acrobats, Sunday, February 22, 2009
From bending into improbable shapes to forming human pyramids on moving bicycles, this internationally acclaimed troupe celebrates Chinese culture with time-honored traditions that date back 25 centuries.
MHCS New Year Dance Party, January 24, 2009 (Saturday), Murray Hill Chinese Center (Contact Number for info & RSVPs: 908-660-4091, Email: principal@mhcs-nj.org), North Building, Watchung Hills Regional High School, 108 Stirling Road, Warren, NJ 07059
NTDTV Chinese New Year Spectacular 2009: (Visit http://nyspectacular.com/ for more information.)
Prudential Hall, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Newark, NJ. Ticket Prices: $118, $88, $77, $65, $40, $29.I am sure that virtually all of the local weekend Chinese schools will be having events, but you may have to contact each school to learn details.
There are many events in New York City, including:
Chinese New Year Festivities: Lion Dance *,February 1, 2009 (Sunday), 11:00 am - 12:00 pm, China Institute in America (125 East 65th Street, New York, NY 10065, Tel. 212.744.8181)
MOCANYC.org (70 Mulberry Street 2nd floor @ Bayard St. NY, NY 10013)
From bending into improbable shapes to forming human pyramids on moving bicycles, this internationally acclaimed troupe celebrates Chinese culture with time-honored traditions that date back 25 centuries.
MHCS New Year Dance Party, January 24, 2009 (Saturday), Murray Hill Chinese Center (Contact Number for info & RSVPs: 908-660-4091, Email: principal@mhcs-nj.org), North Building, Watchung Hills Regional High School, 108 Stirling Road, Warren, NJ 07059
NTDTV Chinese New Year Spectacular 2009: (Visit http://nyspectacular.com/ for more information.)
Prudential Hall, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Newark, NJ. Ticket Prices: $118, $88, $77, $65, $40, $29.
- Mon, January 26, 2009 7:30 PM
- Tue, January 27, 2009 1:30 PM
- Tue, January 27, 2009 7:30 PM
- Sat, January 24, 2009 8:00 PM
- Sun, January 25, 2009 2:00 PM
- Sun, January 25, 2009 7:00 PM
There are many events in New York City, including:
Chinese New Year Festivities: Lion Dance *,
MOCANYC.org (70 Mulberry Street 2nd floor @ Bayard St. NY, NY 10013)
- Lunar New Year Arts Festival, Children’s Museum of the Arts, 182 Lafayette Street (b/w Grand & Broome), $10/each, Sun, Jan 18 from 12 noon – 5pm
- Lunar New Year Customs and Symbols, Thu, Jan 22 from 7pm – 8:30pm
- Lunar New Year Papercutting, Sat, Jan 24 from 2:30pm – 4pm
- Stories and Music of the Lunar New Year, Thu, Jan 29 from 4pm – 5:30pm (Join the Museum of Chinese in America and Seward Park Library for a fun after school storytelling, music, and art workshop featuring author, musician, and artist Mingmei Yip.)
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
2009 Lunar Calendar
Our annual pdf file showing the year's phases of the moon is ready. If you would like a copy, please post a comment with your email, or email me.I love the look but it really helps show how each month of the Chinese calendar begins with a new moon. If there is a full moon, one knows it is the 15th of the lunar calendar. Children - and adults - always want to look at it when I take it anywhere.
Share ideas about how you use it!
Monday, December 01, 2008
Resources for Chinese New Year
Books appropriate for Chinese New Year.
My pages of CNY resources:
Books do not change significantly from edition to edition but websites can and do. I am in no way responsible for the content of other websites, but here are some I liked when I last saw them:
Wikipedia's Chinese New Year entry
Prof. Roth's Chinese New Year page
Web holidays's Chinese New Year
Chinese Culture Center's New Year Page
Last Updated: January 2009.
My pages of CNY resources:
- Chinese New Year overview (lunar 1/1)
- Lantern Festival (lunar 1/15)
- Mostly Food
- Crafts
- Upper El Crafts
- Paperfolding
- Chinese Games
- Chinese Zodiac
Books do not change significantly from edition to edition but websites can and do. I am in no way responsible for the content of other websites, but here are some I liked when I last saw them:
Wikipedia's Chinese New Year entry
Prof. Roth's Chinese New Year page
Web holidays's Chinese New Year
Chinese Culture Center's New Year Page
Last Updated: January 2009.
Saturday, November 01, 2008
and the cycle rolls on...
Mid-Autumn Festival is behind us, and even the Diwali, the first festival of lights in the fall that I know is fading behind us. This means that many Hindus have started their new year and the countdown to Chinese New Year continues.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Autumn Moon 2008
The 2nd most celebrated Chinese festival is Mid-Autumn Festival, and it's only about one moon away now. This year lunar 8/15 falls on September 14th, 2008
You may want to start looking for mooncakes at the Chinese grocery store, review Mid-Autumn Festival information, decide whether you want to go into your child's school to celebrate, or even start talking to their teachers (the sooner the better on that one since it is "early" this year. I suspect many teachers might be happiest with just a special snack as they will be still getting their own routines set). Or, surprise some friends online with e-cards. You can set up today to be delivered on September 14th!
We still have a pdf file of 2008 showing how the phases of the moon compare to the 2008 calendar. If you would like a copy, please post a comment with your email, or email me.
You may want to start looking for mooncakes at the Chinese grocery store, review Mid-Autumn Festival information, decide whether you want to go into your child's school to celebrate, or even start talking to their teachers (the sooner the better on that one since it is "early" this year. I suspect many teachers might be happiest with just a special snack as they will be still getting their own routines set). Or, surprise some friends online with e-cards. You can set up today to be delivered on September 14th!
We still have a pdf file of 2008 showing how the phases of the moon compare to the 2008 calendar. If you would like a copy, please post a comment with your email, or email me.
Saturday, August 02, 2008
"August Moon Names"
As I read the Chinese calendar, we are still in the lunisolar term "major heat" but almost to the "start of Autumn". Some non-Chinese websites say that the Chinese call this month "Harvest Moon".
According to India's National civil calendar, today starts the month of Shraavan.
In the Hebrew calendar, we are in the month of Av.
On the Islamic calendar, we are in the month of SHa`baan.
Keith's Moon Page has a list of Full Moon Names that include: Native American, Chinese, New Guinean Colonial American, English Medieval and Neo-Pagan. Sadly, he lists the full moon names by months, when we know most of the cultures did not date them that way. The Crystal Forest monthly moon name suffers from the same dating problem. I still love to see all of the different names together.
English Medieval: Corn Moon
Celtic: Dispute Moon
Colonial American: Dog Day's Moon
Native American (Cherokee): Harvest Moon
Native American (Choctaw): Women's Moon
Native American (Dakotah Sioux): Moon When All Things Ripen
Neo Pagan: Lightening Moon
According to India's National civil calendar, today starts the month of Shraavan.
In the Hebrew calendar, we are in the month of Av.
On the Islamic calendar, we are in the month of SHa`baan.
Keith's Moon Page has a list of Full Moon Names that include: Native American, Chinese, New Guinean Colonial American, English Medieval and Neo-Pagan. Sadly, he lists the full moon names by months, when we know most of the cultures did not date them that way. The Crystal Forest monthly moon name suffers from the same dating problem. I still love to see all of the different names together.
English Medieval: Corn Moon
Celtic: Dispute Moon
Colonial American: Dog Day's Moon
Native American (Cherokee): Harvest Moon
Native American (Choctaw): Women's Moon
Native American (Dakotah Sioux): Moon When All Things Ripen
Neo Pagan: Lightening Moon
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Got storage?
Is anyone - preferably in Northern NJ - interested in some Chinese New Year decoration, etc. ? especially from Year of the Pig? Some of us have collected more than we can store and would be willing to pass them on.
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