Exciting Ways to Teach Kids about Chinese New Year 2017 - Celebrate the Festivities with Fun and Educational Activities!

Celebrate Chinese New Year 2017 with your kids! Learn about traditions, symbols & activities for a fun and educational holiday season.

Are you ready to celebrate one of the biggest holidays in China? That's right, it's Chinese New Year 2017! This year will be the Year of the Rooster, which means it's time to get ready for some fun and excitement. Whether you're Chinese or not, this holiday is a great opportunity to learn about a new culture and try out some new traditions. So grab your red envelopes and your firecrackers, and let's get ready to welcome in the new year!

First things first, let's talk about why Chinese New Year is such a big deal. For starters, it's the most important holiday in China, and is celebrated by millions of people around the world. It marks the beginning of a new lunar calendar year, and is seen as a time of renewal and fresh beginnings. Plus, there are tons of cool traditions and customs associated with the holiday, from decorating with red lanterns to eating dumplings and noodles for good luck.

One of the most exciting parts of Chinese New Year is the dragon dance. This is a traditional performance where a group of people carry a long dragon made out of fabric and paper, and dance through the streets. It's believed that the dragon brings good luck and wards off evil spirits, so people love to watch and participate in the dance. Plus, it's just really cool to see a giant dragon weaving its way through the crowd!

Another fun tradition is the giving of red envelopes. These are small red packets filled with money, and are given to children and unmarried adults as a symbol of good luck. It's always exciting to see how much money you'll get in your envelope, and it's a great way to start off the new year with a little extra cash in your pocket.

Of course, food is also a major part of Chinese New Year celebrations. There are all sorts of traditional dishes that are eaten during the holiday, each with their own special meaning. For example, dumplings are eaten because they look like little bags of gold, while noodles are eaten for long life and prosperity. And let's not forget about the sweet treats, like rice cakes and sesame balls!

Now, you might be wondering why the Year of the Rooster is such a big deal. Well, in Chinese culture, each year is associated with one of twelve animals from the zodiac. The rooster is the tenth animal in the cycle, and is said to be energetic, confident, and outspoken. People born in the Year of the Rooster are said to have those same qualities, and this year is seen as a time to embrace those traits and go after your goals.

So what can you do to celebrate Chinese New Year? There are tons of activities and traditions to choose from! You could make your own red envelopes and fill them with candy or small toys, or you could try your hand at making some traditional Chinese snacks. You could also decorate your house with red lanterns and paper cutouts, or even make your own dragon dance puppet and put on a performance for your family and friends.

At the end of the day, Chinese New Year is all about coming together with loved ones and celebrating the start of a new year. So whether you're Chinese or not, take this opportunity to learn about a new culture and try out some fun traditions. Who knows, you might just find a new favorite holiday!

Introduction

Hey kids, it’s that time of the year again – the Chinese New Year! This year, it falls on January 28th and it’s the year of the Rooster. It’s a time for family reunions, delicious food, and lots of fun traditions.

The Red Envelope

One of the best parts of the Chinese New Year for kids is receiving red envelopes filled with money from their elders. It’s a symbol of good luck and prosperity. So, make sure to be extra nice to your grandparents and other relatives this year!

Cleaning House

Before the New Year, it’s a tradition to clean the house from top to bottom. It’s believed that this will sweep out any bad luck and make room for good luck to enter the home. So, get your cleaning gloves on and help out your parents!

Decorations

Another fun part of the Chinese New Year is decorating the house. Red is the lucky color, so you’ll see lots of red lanterns, banners, and decorations everywhere. You can even make your own decorations by drawing and coloring pictures of roosters and other symbols of the New Year.

Food

The Chinese New Year is a time for feasting, and there are lots of delicious foods to try. Dumplings, fish, and noodles are all traditional dishes served during the New Year. And don’t forget the sweet treats like rice cakes and red bean paste buns!

The Lion Dance

One of the most exciting parts of the Chinese New Year is the lion dance. This traditional dance is performed by two people in a lion costume and it’s believed to bring good luck and scare away evil spirits. So, make sure to watch a lion dance performance if you get the chance.

The Dragon Dance

Another fun performance to watch is the dragon dance. This is where a group of people hold up a long dragon costume and dance to the beat of drums and cymbals. It’s a sight to behold and definitely worth seeing!

The New Year’s Eve Dinner

On New Year’s Eve, families gather together for a special dinner. It’s a time to celebrate and be thankful for the past year, and to welcome in the new one. So, make sure to enjoy the delicious food and spend time with your loved ones.

Fireworks

No Chinese New Year celebration is complete without fireworks. It’s believed that the loud noises and bright colors scare away evil spirits. So, make sure to go outside and watch the fireworks light up the sky!

Conclusion

The Chinese New Year is a time for joy, laughter, and lots of traditions. Whether you’re receiving red envelopes, watching lion dances, or feasting on delicious food, there’s something for everyone. So, have fun and enjoy the festivities!

Let's Get This Party Started!

Chinese New Year is one of the biggest celebrations in China, and it's a super fun time for kids! The festivities usually start at the end of January or beginning of February and last for 15 days. Woohoo! It's like having two weeks of Christmas, but with more fireworks and dumplings.

Firecrackers: The Noisy Tradition

One of the most exciting parts of Chinese New Year is setting off firecrackers! It's believed that the loud noise scares away any evil spirits lurking around, so it's basically like a giant monster-repellent party. Plus, it's super fun to light them up and watch them explode into a million little sparks.

It's Time to Clean House... Literally!

Before Chinese New Year, families will spend days cleaning their homes from top to bottom. This tradition is called sweeping the dust, and it's believed to sweep away any bad luck from the previous year. So, if you're lucky, your parents might make you help with some spring cleaning too. Yay...

Red Envelopes = Cold Hard Cash (Yay!)

During Chinese New Year, it's traditional for married couples and elders to give red envelopes filled with money to children and unmarried adults. It's like getting a bonus paycheck just for being cute and single! The amount of money inside varies, but it's always a nice surprise.

Food, Glorious Food! (And Lots of It!)

Food is a huge part of Chinese New Year, and there's always an abundance of delicious dishes to enjoy. From dumplings to noodles to fish, each dish has a special meaning and is meant to bring good luck for the upcoming year. So, don't be shy - grab a pair of chopsticks and dig in!

New Year, New Outfit

It's tradition to wear new clothes during Chinese New Year, so get ready to show off your fresh threads! Red is considered a lucky color, so many people will wear something red or with red accents. Just make sure to pick an outfit that's comfortable enough for all the eating and running around you'll be doing.

The Year of the Rooster: Cock-a-Doodle-Doo!

Each year in the Chinese zodiac is represented by an animal, and 2017 is the Year of the Rooster. Roosters are believed to be confident, hardworking, and punctual (which means they're never late for breakfast). So, if you were born in the year of the rooster, get ready for some extra attention this year!

Lion Dancers: The Furry Entertainers

During Chinese New Year, you might see lion dancers performing in the streets. These performers dress up in big lion costumes and dance around to the beat of drums and cymbals. It's super cool to watch, and some people believe that the lion dance can ward off evil spirits.

The Great Family Reunion

Chinese New Year is a time for family reunions, and it's common for people to travel long distances to be together. If you have relatives who live far away, you might get to see them during the holiday. Just be prepared for lots of hugs and cheek pinching from your elders.

Don't Forget to Wish Everyone a Happy New Year (Loudly and Proudly)

Finally, don't forget to wish everyone you meet a happy new year! In Chinese, you can say Xin Nian Kuai Le! (pronounced shin nee-an kwai luh). It's customary to say it loudly and with enthusiasm - after all, it's the biggest party of the year!

So there you have it, kids - Chinese New Year is a time for celebration, family, and lots of good luck. Have fun, eat lots of dumplings, and don't forget to wear your lucky red underwear!

Chinese New Year 2017 For Kids: A Fun-Filled Celebration

The Story of Chinese New Year

Once upon a time, in ancient China, there was a terrible beast called Nian. Every year on New Year's Eve, Nian would come down from the mountains and attack the villagers, destroying their homes and crops. The people were afraid and did not know how to stop Nian.

One day, an old man came to the village and told the people that Nian was afraid of three things: loud noises, bright lights, and the color red. The villagers then came up with a plan to scare away Nian. They hung red lanterns, set off fireworks, and wore red clothes. They also made loud noises by banging drums and pots. And so, Nian was scared away and never returned.

Since then, the Chinese people have celebrated their victory over Nian every year on the first day of the lunar calendar. This celebration is known as Chinese New Year or Spring Festival.

How to Celebrate Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year is a time for family reunions, feasting, and fun. Here are some ways to celebrate:

Clean your house to sweep away bad luck and make way for good luck.
Decorate your home with red lanterns, couplets, and posters with auspicious phrases.
Wear new clothes, especially in red, which symbolizes good luck and happiness.
Give and receive red envelopes filled with money or treats.
Eat traditional foods such as dumplings, fish, rice cakes, and glutinous rice balls.
Watch lion and dragon dances, fireworks, and other performances.
Play games and do activities such as making paper lanterns, writing couplets, and solving riddles.

The Year of the Rooster

Each year in the Chinese zodiac is associated with an animal sign and an element. 2017 is the Year of the Rooster, which is the tenth animal sign in the zodiac. People born in the Year of the Rooster are said to be confident, hardworking, and loyal. The element for 2017 is Fire, which adds passion, energy, and creativity to the Rooster's traits.

Keywords: Chinese New Year, Nian, red, lanterns, fireworks, family, food, Rooster, zodiac

Celebrate Chinese New Year 2017 with Your Little Ones!

Well, folks, we’ve reached the end of our journey through the colorful traditions and customs of Chinese New Year 2017 for kids! We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about this fascinating holiday as much as we’ve enjoyed sharing it with you.

Now, before we say goodbye, let’s take a moment to recap some of the most important things your little ones should know about Chinese New Year:

First of all, Chinese New Year is not just one day—it lasts for fifteen days!

During this time, families gather together to feast, give gifts, and wish each other good luck and prosperity for the coming year.

If your kiddos want to get in on the fun, they can make their own red envelopes to give to friends and family members, or create their own paper lanterns to hang up around the house.

And don’t forget about the food! Some of the most popular dishes during Chinese New Year include dumplings, spring rolls, and rice cakes.

Of course, no celebration would be complete without a parade! Tell your little ones to keep an eye out for the dragon and lion dancers, and encourage them to join in the fun by banging on a drum or shaking a tambourine.

So, there you have it—everything you need to know to celebrate Chinese New Year 2017 with your little ones. But before we go, we’d like to leave you with a few final tips:

1. Don’t forget to wear red! According to Chinese tradition, this color is believed to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits.

2. If you’re feeling brave, try out some of the traditional Chinese games and activities, like mahjong or the dragon dance.

3. And most importantly, have fun! Chinese New Year is all about coming together with loved ones and enjoying the start of a new year full of promise and possibility.

Well, that’s all for now, folks! We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about Chinese New Year 2017 for kids, and we wish you and your little ones a happy and prosperous year of the rooster!