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The Chinese New Year is almost upon us - and this means vibrant parades and colourful celebrations. But what is the Chinese New Year? What date does is it? And why is it the Year of the Dog?

Here is everything you need to know about the Chinese holiday known as the Spring Festival.

For many people around the world, the New Year is celebrated when the clock strikes midnight between December 31 and January 1. But the 2018 Chinese New Year begins on Friday, February 16.

As it's dependant on the lunar calendar, the Chinese New Year is celebrated on a different day each year. With that said however, it normally falls between January 31 and February 20.
How is the Chinese New Year celebrated?
The best way to describe it is a celebration of light and sound, with colourful parades and festivals.

Chinese New Year celebrations in London 2017

Chinese families gather together for a dinner on the eve of New Year and many clean their homes to get rid of the bad energy in time for the Spring Festival.

Fireworks and firecrackers are set off at midnight to cast away any bad luck and bring forth good luck. Children also traditionally receive 'luck money' on New Year's Day. This is generally gifted in red envelopes, although many teenagers now have 'red envelope apps', so money can be transferred digitally.
Why is it the Year of the Dog?
The Chinese zodiac moves in a 12-year cycle and each year has a corresponding animal.

This year it's the Year of the Dog which means people born in 2018, 2006, 1994, 1982, 1970 and 1958 are all 'dogs'.

The traditional belief is that the animal you're represented by can tell you a lot about your personality. And within the dog sign, there are five different types of dog a person could be, each coming along once in a 60-year cycle.

For instance, this year's dog is the 'Earth Dog' which last appeared in 1958. Earth dogs are communicative, serious and responsible in work. However, if you were born in 1934 or 1994 you would be a 'Wood Dog' - sincere, reliable, considerate, understanding and patient. The other kinds of dogs are Gold, Water and Fire Dogs.
How do I know what zodiac animal I am?
The year of your birth will tell you which animal you are, some examples of which are below.

Dog: 2006, 1994, 1982, 1970, 1958

Pig: 2007, 1995, 1983, 1971, 1959

Rat: 2008, 1996, 1984, 1972, 1960

Ox: 2009, 1997, 1985, 1973, 1961

Tiger: 2010, 1998, 1986, 1974, 1962

Rabbit: 2011, 1999, 1987, 1975, 1963

Dragon: 2012, 2000, 1988, 1976, 1964

Snake: 2013, 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965

Horse: 2014, 2002, 1990, 1978, 1966

Goat: 2015, 2003, 1991, 1979, 1967

Monkey: 2016, 2004, 1992, 1980, 1968

Rooster: 2017, 2005, 1993, 1981, 1969

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When is Chinese New Year 2018? And why is it the Year of the Dog?

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The Chinese New Year is almost upon us - and this means vibrant parades and colourful celebrations. But what is the Chinese New Year? What date does is it? And why is it the Year of the Dog? Here is everything you need to know about the Chinese holiday known as the Spring Festival.

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Ruta Sepetys discusses her new novel, SALT TO THE SEA

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I finished ONE by Sarah Crossan in one breath on a train and I wanted to share my thoughts with you. Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25366338-one Book Depository: http://www.bookdepository.com/One-Sarah-Crossan/9781408863114/?a_aid=booksandquills I am a Book Depository affiliate and get a small cut from every purchase made through my links. // M E Follow what I'm reading.

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All I got from Ma was a name. Charlotte. Darned fool fancy thing for a slave girl. Didn't no one never call me that.

She's lived on the plantation for as long as she can remember. She don't have no Ma, no Pa, just Cookie. Cookie, the other kitchen slave, who looks after her like she's her own daughter.

And one day, just like that, them fine white gentlemen in Washington decide slavery is finished. Over. All slaves are free. But they have nothing. She has nothing. All she has is Cookie and Amos, the newly-wedded couple. And one dark night, the only people she had left in the world are gone. Well, she has nothing to lose no more; so she steals a dead man's clothes and runs away.

She runs to the army.

She signs up as Charley O'Hara, and the harmless woman has very soon become a heartless, yet exemplary soldier. And she is enjoying the army life... Until they're sent out to fight them savage Indians. Despite the horror and loss the endless war to "tame the Indians" has brought, the black soldiers have become tough.

The Indians call them the Buffalo Soldiers. Not those whiteys. Them.
They are the Buffalo Soldiers.

I don't know where to start with this book...

It has the horrors of the American Civil War, racism, discrimination, as well as the wonders of love, compassion, and most importantly freedom, all rolled into one.
The black slaves have always hated their rich white masters, their priveleged families and their land. But what happens when all of that is gone? Disappeared in the blink of an eye... forever. Is that what freedom means? Having nothing, and roaming the whole of America in search of just one person who might not lynch them because of the colour of their skin? No. This can't be freedom.
The story is a little confusing at first, when the war opposing the North and the South breaks out, because the book is told through "Charlotte's" point of view - and the child slave cannot understand what is going on.

I figured General Sherman must be Moses, Jesus and Joseph all rolled into one. He was gonna lead us to the Promised Land. I was expecting them Yankees to bring us a slice of heaven

But what they bring is more like hell on earth.

When she gets into the army it's different. There she is, surrounded by people who have lived through the same horrors as she has. But you have to be tough to get through not only constant abuse from the white soldiers, but also the Native Americans' terrifying fighting techniques. Some desert, and some die, but not her. Not Charley. For her, army life is even harder, because whilst she is fighting the cold and trying not to annoy the General too much, she must keep her identity secret. No one can ever know she is a woman.

The style the book is written in is very interesting as it is written from the young slave's point of view, and she tells everything as if she is speaking to the reader, and it's in her own particular way of talking.

Buffalo Soldier is deeply touching as well as shocking. You realise that in those times, most of the population, including black people and Native Americans, were in some way racist. "Charlotte" thinks what white people are doing to them is cruel and unfair, but she is the first to say that all Native Americans must be reckless and stupid.

The story is brutally realistic: the fact that black people were killed in the most shocking ways and conditions regularly is not sugar-coated. This is definitely a 12+ book... The reality of the American Civil War is not a nice one but I learned a lot, and grew very attached to all the characters. I honestly couldn't put it down.

I highly recommend this Carnegie-prize winning book.

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Buffalo Soldier by Tanya Landman - review

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lilybelle : 'Buffalo Soldier is deeply touching as well as shocking'

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We need to be able to speak openly about mental health, and the world of YA fiction is opening doors for us to better understand a wide range of issues. This is an honest and powerful collection of books that shine a light on characters experiencing mental health difficulties.

The marvellous Juno Dawson talked about mental health and her book, Mind Your Head, at an Authors Live event in June. Watch the whole event on demand here.

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19 Teen Books That Deal with Mental Health

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We need to be able to speak openly about mental health, and the world of YA fiction is opening doors for us to better understand a wide range of issues. This is an honest and powerful collection of books that shine a light on characters experiencing mental health difficulties.The marvellous Juno Dawson talked about mental health and her book, Mind Your Head, at an Authors Live event in June.

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29 YA Books About Mental Health That Actually Nail It

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From brutally honest to shockingly hilarious, these books get it.

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The Bunker Diary has 6,320 ratings and 1,425 reviews. Cora said: 5 Words: Brutal, intense, heart-breaking, pensive, horrific.5 More Words: Addictive, a...

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Maggot Moon by Sally Gardner - Book Trailer

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'We live in difficult and challenging times. Even adults can feel at a loss for how to cope. All I feel I can do is follow the words of my hero, Arthur Ashe: "Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can."

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Dara O'Briain's ten AMAZING facts about spaceDara O Briain's Ten AMAZING facts about space

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With his background in physics, Dara O Briain is on a (space) mission to get children loving top facts about the the stars and planets and the universe and everything in it.

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A beautiful story of Chinese New Year and its symbolism: in pictures

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Peer inside the pages of Dragon Dancer: a magical story about the Chinese New Year and the reasons why people celebrate this joyous festival with such spectacular light and sound.

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Ever wondered which house you’d be in if you went to Hogwarts? We’re celebrating Harry Potter Book Night with this sorting-hat quiz, which will answer this question forever!

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The greatest demons you'll ever see - all made up by children

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When our Writer in Residence Taran Matharu launched a

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Cerrie Burnell on a book which inspired her

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Love, Simon Official Trailer #1 (2018) Nick Robinson, Katherine Langford Drama Movie HD

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READY PLAYER ONE - Official Trailer 1 [HD]

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READY PLAYER ONE - Official Trailer 1 [HD]

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The Incredible Intergalactic Journey Home " Story Time From Space

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The Incredible Intergalactic Journey Home follows a child, Roraigh, and his robot friend on an amazing adventure from the depths of outer space to their own front door. The story is further brought vividly to life utilizing NASA's open source photography of space, and mapping technologies that enable a close-up flyby of the child's actual neighborhood and landmarks near their house- watch for Big Ben!

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The young Holocaust survivor interviewed by the BBC

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Hetty Verolme returns to the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp where she spoke to the BBC in April 1945.

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Harry Potter: A History of Magic - Google Arts & Culture

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Explore the wonders of the British Library exhibition