The Year of the Dragon

Chinese new year is a holiday that celebrates the beginning of a new year, according to the lunar calendar. The start of the new year changes every year. For 2012, the new year started on January 23. From what I have read, most families who observe Chinese New Year celebrate for 2 weeks. You can find some more info here and here.

On Tuesday, February 7 we will:

• Read "Dragon Dance" by Joan Holub
• Make Chinese lanterns and or fans.
• Enjoy a snack of oranges and noodles.
• Oranges for luck and wealth; long uncut noodles represent longevity and long life.
• Look at the Chinese Zodiac to see what animal was assigned the year you were born.

Ideas for Home:

• Incorporate some homemade Chinese food into your meals at home. We are going to try Dumplings. Find more recipes here and here.
• CLEAN!! One of the traditions I love about Chinese New Year, is the custom to clean the whole house from top to bottom. This clears the house of last year's bad luck or misfortunes and makes way for good luck in the new year. So give your kids the dusters, brooms, and sponges and have FUN!!! Turn on some music and do "Dance cleaning" or maybe you can come up with some "cleaning characters" and act out how that character cleans.
• Make Festive Ribbon Dragons. These are really neat, I can't wait to make these!
• Explore the Chinese Zodiac

Have fun playing and let you little ones be your guide!

"Children are great imitators. So give them

something great to imitate."