Week 2 Chinese New Year 新年

This week we learnt about Chinese New Year and the associated food and rituals. Chinese New Year is the biggest holiday celebrated among Chinese people. It is often referred to as the spring festival 春节 (Chūnjié) because it signals the beginning of spring. It is a time when families and friends get together to farewell to the old and welcome the new. The celebration ends on the 15th day on the lunar calendar, which is also call 元宵节  (Yuánxiāo Jié) 

Though reading the story of 年 Nián monster, we know that red colour decoration and clothing, as well as loud noises such as firecrackers will ward off nian monster

We made a Chinese New Year blessing Door Sticker with 福 (Fú) character, which symbolises the arrival of luck.

We also learnt a Chinese New year song 恭喜恭喜 (gōngxǐ gōngxǐ ), an auspicious greeting during Chinese new year, literally means congratulations. Here is the lyrics

恭喜恭喜

每条大街小巷,

                                                   Měi   tiáo      dà     jiē     xiǎo  xiàng

每个人的嘴里,

                                                   Měi     gè     rén    de     zuǐ     lǐ

见面第一句话,

                                                     Jiànmiàn    dì       yī       jù     huà

就是恭喜恭喜,

                                                       Jiùshì       gōngxǐ        gōngxǐ

恭喜恭喜恭喜你呀,

                                              Gōngxǐ      gōngxǐ        gōngxǐ       nǐ     ya

恭喜恭喜恭喜你

                                                    Gōngxǐ        gōngxǐ        gōngxǐ      nǐ

You can sing along here

Happy Chinese New Year! 新年快乐!