Happy New Year Chinese New Year How do

Happy New Year! Chinese New Year

How do we celebrate the New Year in U. S? • Foods we eat? • Activities? • How long does it last?

Origins of Chinese New Year • History Channel • History of the Holidays: Chinese New Year Video

Questions • Chinese New Year also called? • Spring Festival • How many days does it last and when? • 15 days at the end of January beginning of February, based on the lunar calendar. • How long has it been celebrated? • Since 2000 BC • Why is it celebrated? • Based on myth of the beast Nian. (to scare it away) • What are three important symbols of the Chinese New Year? • Red, Loud Noise, Light

More Questions • People do what during this time? • Gather with their families • What is the importance of food? • Symbolism and tradition • What is done the 1 st day? • Firecrackers • What is done on the last day? • Lantern Festival

Chinese Zodiac • Made up of 12 Animal Signs for the 12 year cycle • Ancient Folk Story that tells how the animal order came to be.

The Folk Story • Lord Buddha called all the animals to come and cross a stream and would assign each a year based on when they crossed. • Cat and Rat planned to go together, but Rat did not wake up the Cat and left. • Rat knew he could not make it across, so begged the Ox to let him ride on him. • Just when they were to arrive, Rat jumped off Ox and crossed first. • This is why the Rat is the first year of the cycle, Ox is second and the Cat is not a part of the cycle.

Chinese Zodiac Cycle

Your Assignment! • Each group will find the following information on their animal from the Zodiac: • The years associated with the Zodiac • Career Aspects • Relationships • Heath • Wealth • Personality • What zodiac signs get along best with this one? • Once completed each group will present information to the class.

Cultural Taboos of China

What are Taboos? • Things that are not done or approved of by others.

Do we have Taboos in U. S. ? • Examples • Are they the same where ever you go?

Differences in China • When greeting others, do not hug, kiss. • The Chinese are not in habit of saying “love ya” “miss ya” • Do things to show love- clean, respectful etc.

Differences Continued • When asked if a drink wanted and the person says “no, ” a drink is still expected. • Very Humble • Do not open gifts in front of people

Taboos • • Chopsticks for food not music Soup last dish eaten Do not eat many sweets Polite to push people to eat more • NEVER YELL AT OLDER PEOPLE.

Taboos Continued • Do not use 1 st name of parent or grandparent • No rule of “ladies first” • Do not hold doors for people • Do not say “Hi” to everyone they see.

Chinese New Year Foods

What do we eat for New Year’s in the U. S? • Sauerkraut/Kielbasa • Pork • Why do we eat these?

• The more sauerkraut eaten points to how much money a person will make in the coming year. • Pork symbolizes progress; animal roots forward

Chinese New Year Foods • • • Noodles Raw Fish Mustard Greens Lotus seed Ginkgo nut Black Moss Seaweed • • • Dried Bean Curd Bamboo shoots Chicken Nian Gao Zong Zi Man Tou

What do they mean? • • • Noodles Raw Fish Mustard Greens Lotus seed Ginkgo nut Black Moss Seaweed - Long life Success Cleanse system Many sons Silver ingots Wealth

What do they mean? • • Dried Bean Curd Bamboo shoots Chicken Oranges Nian Gao Zong Zi Man Tou - Wealth/happiness Wishing well Prosperity Wealth Popular delicacy usually only enjoyed during the New Year NOW LETS TRY SOME!

Jai

Lo Han Jai. Buddha's Delight • How to make Lo Han Jai