If you’re looking for easy ways to teach your little one about Chinese New Year, reading this will help you do that. At the same time, you can turn it into something fun too, with activities to boot to keep your child occupied in preparing for it.
The 12 Chinese Zodiac Animals
Firstly, you can start by explaining the Chinese zodiacs and how they have a 12-year cycle to repeat the loop. Each year is represented by one zodiac animal, and so each year we adorn our Chinese New Year decorations following the zodiac’s theme.
This coming new year, we will be in the Year of The Ox. If your child is up for it, you can set up some art and craft projects for based on the zodiacs that they’ve learned. Draw and colour or paint them, cut them out to make a Chinese New Year scrapbook or help to make decorations for the Year of The Ox.
Important Traditions During Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year is full of rich traditions, and since we were kids, we’ve always been told to participate in them. You may want your child to understand how some of them came about or why certain things are done.
These days, kids like to know the why’s and how’s rather than just being told things “as is”. I’m sure you’ve had your toddler asking you many “Why” questions, right? So let’s give them enough background information.
Let’s start with some must-haves during Chinese New Year:
The Loud And Wonderful Sounds Of Chinese New Year…
Firecrackers! It doesn’t seem like Chinese New Year without the loud blasts of firecrackers going on in the neighbourhood. They are believed to scare away evil spirits and to mark the celebrations of the new year.
You can make crafts out of paper with your child to make firecrackers as decorations. Add on some gold trimmings to the firecrackers to spruce it up.
Lion or dragon dance is a special treat during Chinese New Year. These dances are performed to bring about blessings of good fortune, and also to chase away evil spirits. Traditionally, the lion is considered to be an animal that’s powerful, wise, and superior.
All About Family And Blessings…
Family reunion dinner is a big highlight for Chinese families and is deemed the most important part of the Chinese New Year celebration. A big feast is served and everyone in the family gathers to enjoy the meal together.
Many symbolic dishes are served, and many families have their own preferred must-haves on the menu, too. Here are some common auspicious dishes served and their meanings:
“Most reunion dinners will include a whole chicken, symbolising prosperity, togetherness of the family and joy (note: chicken with its head, tail and feet symbolises completeness) and a whole fish, symbolising surplus, prosperity, ‘having leftovers of money’, hence abundance. To strengthen the symbolic meaning of the fish dish, most likely it will not the eaten completely.”
Ang Pows! No Chinese New Year will ever go without them. These red packets symbolise prosperity and are given to the young and unmarried as a show of goodwill and blessings. Remember to teach our kids not to open the and pow immediately, as a sign of respect.
When teaching your child about ang pow, you may also want to teach them some Chinese New Year greetings of Gong Xi Fa Cai (in Mandarin) or Gong Hey Fatt Choy (in Cantonese).
If you have a surplus of ang pow packets, feel free to engage your child in making ang pow crafts in preparation for Chinese New Year.
More Auspicious Customs To Follow
Mandarin oranges are a once a year treat during Chinese New Year too. This is another symbol of prosperity to usher the new year and to gift to others. The Chinese name of the mandarin orange closely resembles the word “gold”, thus it is considered an auspicious gift.
The colour red. In the Mandarin language, red sounds similar to the word “prosperous” and that’s why most things are in shades of red during Chinese New Year. From decorations to clothes to ang pow packets.
Other bright colours are welcomed during Chinese New Year too. The colour to be avoided is black as it is deemed to be a colour of death, depression and one that brings ill-luck. Avoid at all cost!
Have Fun Discovering More About Chinese New Year
Hopefully the above info is a good basics to start off Chinese New Year conversations and education with your child. There’s so much more to learn about the Do’s and Don’ts and specific customs. Take your time to dive deep if you wish to impart more to your child.
There are many ways to keep a child occupied this season with Chinese New Year crafts if you’re up to it. Making things together is always a good way to bond with our child.
There will be more fun Chinese New Year related stories coming up soon here on Mamahood. In the meantime, everyone loves preparing for it especially when it comes to the delicious and delicate cookies that are huge features. Whether you celebrate this festival or not, you can’t help to indulge in some of these goodies, right?