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Please share your wows, wonders and questions below.

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Lunar New Year is all about getting together with your entire extended family and that's what makes it really fun and meaningful.
- Val (3rd, 6th, 7th parent)

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..we eat a lot of foods that are considered good luck foods. One food we eat a lot (for Lunar New Year) is noodles for long life...
- Logan (4th grade)

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What is a family tradition in your household that has evolved across generations? Please share below!

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...our grandparents would give out red envelopes and we would have to be really respectful and pretend we don't want it, but we really actually really do. And we're also not suppose to open it until the day before and sometimes we'd put it under our pillow for good luck...
- Fay (7th grade)

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Sometimes things (traditions) can get lost in translation, but we try to do the best we can to pass them on.
- Susan (2nd grade teacher)

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Thank you, everyone, for telling your stories about yourself and this lunar celebration. I loved getting to know more about you all, many of whom I've known for years, and your family traditions and memories. I loved this podcast! Thanks for coming back to share, Glenn!
-Karen

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Here's a video I love about small bits of culture that are passed along.

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Chinese New Year 2015: Celebrating over 4,000 years of tradition

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We would visit our elders...they would often be dressed up and we would bow to them...it's a formal bow... There is an order of operations. You really needed to bow slowly, deeply, reverentially..
- Christina (2nd grade parent)

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Here are some interesting Chinese New Year Facts which were chosen and researched by kids especially for kids.

This new year celebration is also called Lunar New Year and celebrated also as Spring Festival. It is celebrated in January or February in many countries around the world, especially in countries with larger Asian communities.

Next year, the first month of the new lunar year will start according to the Chinese calendar on 22 January 2022.

Many countries celebrate the new year according to the Chinese Calendar and not only to our calendar which is the Gregorian calendar starting on the 1st of January.

Lunar New Year is an important public holiday for many countries including China, South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. In many other countries, Chinese communities celebrate in the city's 'Chinatown' districts.

In some countries the festivities for the Lunar New Year also might have special names, such as Tet is the name for the Vietnamese celebrations.

What is Chinese New Year?

This important date on the Chinese calendar has been celebrated for many centuries. During the festivities ancestors are honoured and traditional ceremonies are held where people get together and welcome the new year with customs that shall bring good luck, good fortune, wealth, prosperity and happiness.

The spring festival festivities for the new year take 15 days in most countries. The new year is often celebrated with dragon dances, lion dances, gift exchanging and fireworks. It ends typically with lantern festivals on the 15th day of the first calendar month. See below an image from the Pingxi Sky Festival which is celebrated in Taiwan every year to end the new year's festivities.

The Chinese Calendar

The Chinese calendar is about one month behind our (so called Gregorian) calendar as it has between 30 and 50 more days per year. And the Chinese zodiac calendar has a cycle of 12 years. The calendar was started on astronomical observations of the moon's phases.

Each year a Chinese zodiac animal is the symbol for the year.

The 12 Chinese zodiac animals are: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig.

Look again at the listing of animals! They always come in the same order, so 2021 was the year of the ox, 2022 the year of the tiger and 2023 is the year of the rabbit

Which animal will it be in 2024? (We share the answer at the bottom of the page under 'Resources')

Lunar New Year Wishes

People wish each other good luck, happiness and wealth for the new year. The words used most in good wishes are: happiness, wealth, prosperity, prosperous, auspicious

' Gong Xi Fa Cai' means 'Have a prosperous new year'

Most common are the Mandarin words: Gong Xi Fa Cai (try to pronounce it as Gong-she-faa-tsai) and the Cantonese: Gong Hey Fat Choy (pronounce it as: Gong Hee Faat Choy). Both wishes mean: Wishing you a prosperous new year.

Typical Chinese New Year Food

People eat 'auspicious food' during the new year period. For many, this means fish dishes. A fish is a symbol of good luck, wealth and healthy life.

Dumplings are traditionally eaten during the festivities. These little round rice flour balls are often filled with vegetables. Mandarin oranges, dried fruit and even sweets are seen as lucky food. Candy boxes and little round shaped biscuits symbolising gold or fortune are served everywhere.

And make sure your plate is never empty, as this would be seen as your luck has run out. Food is often prepared up to a week before, so one must not use a knife or fire for cooking on New Years day, as cutting with a knife for many would symbolise ill luck.

A popular food are long noodles that symbolise good fortune as well as a long life.

A typical new year's dish is Yusheng. This raw fish salad with rice or long noodles is eaten during by many during the festive period.

Many eat Yusheng on the seventh day of the new year. The dish is a symbol for wealth and longevity, this fish salad is usually served in a huge dish in the middle of a table, where family members and friends toss the noodles in the big bowl together and then eat.

Lunar New Year Traditions

Dragon dances and lion dance festivals will usher in the new year in many cities. Some families may even invite a dance troupe into their homes as well.

Firecrackers are lit as these shall bring good luck and fortune. However, due to security reasons, firecrackers are banned in many areas nowadays and official fireworks displays are held instead.

On the second day of the new year, families will visit each other and hand over little gifts. And sometimes even the family dog gets a gift too!

Gifts are handed money or little tokens in 'red packets' or little red envelopes as these symbolise prosperity and happiness. Married family members hand red envelopes (called hongbao in Mandarin) with money to others to show their goodwill and give blessings for the new year to the other family members.

Children sometimes get oranges, sweets or coins. Always make sure to give an even number of gifts or in the amount of money. So always at least two mandarins, two packets or two coins. And the number eight is considered an especially lucky or auspicious number.

The bright colours and especially red colours are seen as a lucky symbol. Red decorations, lanterns and colourful symbols can be seen everywhere. These shall attract luck and prosperity for the year to come.

Many people dress mainly in red coloured clothing for the festivities. Often people also buy new clothes to show that a fresh beginning is celebrated with the new year. In the Mandarin language, the word for 'red' has the same sound as the word for 'prosperous'.

Chinese New Year Customs | What to do and what not to do

There are some rules when observing Chinese New Year. For example, scissors and brooms are banned to stay in the cupboards on the first day of Lunar New Year. These tools are considered to create bad luck for the year to come and brush away the good luck. So better keep scissors and knifes and brooms out of sight and out of action on this day!

Do not wash or cut your hair on the first days of the Lunar New Year. This would be seen as a sign of washing and cutting away good luck.

Do not clean your house with a broom on the first day of Lunar New Year. Cleaning is a sign of swiping away good luck - so if one has to clean something away, then it must be done after dark.

Do not do laundry on Chinese New Year. Doing laundry means washing away of good luck and wealth.

Don't give gifts which are black or white in colour. Also do not give clocks or watches or shoes. Watches would mean that time is running out and shoes would mean that one could walk away from the friendship or relationship.

Don't give gifts in uneven numbers. Always give gifts in pairs such as two oranges or two coins.

Don't dress in white, black or dark blue during this time. Wear colourful clothing, especially red, orange, and yellow colours are appreciated.

Chinese Zodiac Signs

The Chinese distinguish between five types of each animal species in their zodiac according to the elements: fire, earth, metal, wood and water.

The Chinese zodiac signs will be combined with the five elements. There are five different specific animals such as the 'fire rooster' (2017) or the 'earth ox' (2009), 'metal/gold tiger' (2010), 'metal rat' (2020). 2021 was the year of the 'metal ox' and 2022 is the year of the 'water' tiger. 2023 is the year of the 'water rabbit'.

People are assigned a zodiac sign according to their year of their birth. And zodiac signs are said to show certain characteristics.

Special 'rabbit' characteristics would apply then for people born in the 'year of the rabbit': These people are considered as kind and alert, responsible and careful but also a bit weak and unstable. Rabbits in general are considered hardworking and persistent. 'Rabbits' are also said to be intellectual and can be found in many professions.

How to be a Lucky Rabbit?

Some things are considered especially auspicious in the Year of the Rabbit. Among these are:

lucky colours for the rabbit: blue and green, but also red, pink and purple

lucky numbers for the rabbit: 3, 4 and 6 - and any number combination thereof

lucky flower for the rabbit: jasmine

unlucky numbers for the rabbit: 1, 7 and 8

unlucky colours for the rabbit: brown and dark yellow

Are you or anybody in your family born in the year of the rabbit? The last 'rabbit' years were: 2011, 1999, 1987, 1975 or 1963.

Chinese New Year - Resources

Cindy. "22 Facts About Chinese New Year you should know". China Highlights. Last updated 10 January 2023. Last accessed Accessed 20 January 2023.

Ruby Zhao. "2023 - Year of the Rabbit". China Highlights. Updated 20 January 2023. Accessed 20 January 2023.

Fefe Ho & Chloe Chiao. "Year of the Rabbit". Chinese New Year.net. Accessed 20 January 2023.

CNN World Gallery. "Photos: Lunar New Year 2020". CNN World. 23 January 2020. Accessed 20 January 2023.

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Chinese New Year - Answer to question in section titled 'Chinese Calendar': 2024 will be the year of the Dragon.
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More about China

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Picture credits in main text: own or Return from Chinese New Year Facts to Kids-World-Travel-Guide Homepage shutterstock.com

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Chinese New Year 2023 | Facts for Kids | Lunar New Year | Rabbit

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Happy Chinese New Year! 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit! Read our Lunar New Year facts for children & learn about Chinese New Year traditions and celebrations.

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Check out the Oakland Museum programming for this year's Lunar New Year. Click on the link to see the programming:
- Susan

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Celebrate the Year of the Ox with OMCA at Home during our Virtual 20th Annual Lunar New Year and Other Asian Traditions. Enjoy a series of short videos highlighting local and Taiwanese culture, a virtual storytime, and art activities for every generation of your family.

Throughout the month of February, we'll be sharing exciting ways for you and your family and friends to celebrate the Year of the Ox from home. Enjoy storytime with the Bay Area's own popular children's book author Oliver Chin reading stories about Chinese zodiac animals. Participate in fun at-home art projects for your family to make together, and tune in for a special video featuring OMCA Family Programmer Snowy Tung as she interviews family and friends in Taiwan to share their perspectives on celebrating Lunar New Year during the global pandemic.

This program is free for all. Videos available on the OMCA YouTube Channel.
SCHEDULE

February 12
Storytime with Oliver Chin
Join children's book author Oliver Chin as he reads stories about Chinese zodiac animals and their characteristics. Read along with your own copy of Chin's books, available online at the OMCA Store.

February 20
Family Art Activities
Celebrate Lunar New Year by making your own festive crafts.

February 27

Lunar New Year in Taiwan
Join OMCA Programmer Snowy Tung in Taiwan as she interviews family and friends to learn how they're celebrating Lunar New Year during the global pandemic.

PARTICIPANTS
Oliver Chin founded Immedium, a San Francisco publisher of Asian American children's books. Oliver has written more than 15 stories, including his popular annual series "The Tales from the Chinese Zodiac". He published the original four adventures of "The Octonauts", which is now a hit animated TV series worldwide and broadcast on the Disney Channel in the USA. A magna cum laude graduate of Harvard, Oliver helped popularize anime and manga in America. Called "an expert on Pacific Rim pop culture" by the San Jose Mercury News, he regularly speaks at schools, libraries, and cultural events throughout the San Francisco Bay area.

Snowy Tung, Public Engagement Program Developer, serves the community through her work at the Oakland Museum of California where she has overseen OMCA Family Programs since 2003. In her work, Snowy draws on her extensive knowledge of the Bay Area's cultural organizations and performing groups. OMCA's Family Programs are valued for enabling intergenerational families to relate to each other in deep and meaningful ways. Snowy holds a BA in Film and Video from the California College of the Arts, and a Master of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine from Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Sciences.

THE YEAR OF THE OX
1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021, 2033... An Ox year occurs every 12 years.

2021 is the Year of the Ox according to Chinese zodiac. This is the Year of Metal Ox and officially begins on February 12, 2021. Ox is the second in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac sign.

Those born in the Year of the Ox are hard working. The typical Ox is a stable, diligent, persistent, honest, and tolerant person.

In Chinese culture, Ox is a faithful friend that makes great contributions to the development of society. People born in the Year of the Ox are industrious, cautious, hold their faith firmly, and are always glad to offer help.

It is said that Ox ranks second in the Chinese zodiacs because it helped the Rat, but was later tricked by it. The myth goes that the Jade Emperor declared the order of zodiac signs would be based on the arrival order of 12 animals. Ox could have arrived first, but it kindly gave a ride to Rat. However, when arriving, Rat jumped ahead of Ox, and thus Ox lost the first place.

OMCA Festivals are made possible in part by generous support from the Oakland Museum Women's Board.

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Virtual 20th Annual Lunar New Year Celebration: Year of the Ox

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February 2021Celebrate the Year of the Ox with OMCA at Home during our Virtual 20th Annual Lunar New Year and Other Asian Traditions. Enjoy a series of short videos highlighting local and Taiwanese culture, a virtual storytime, and art activities for every generation of your family.

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Why do you clean your house and why do you leave oranges out until they rot?

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From Sayuri

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Rose

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thanks for sharing your stories. parker

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-eliot

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from Malayka

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This was a very descriptive podcast and lunar new year reminds me of Kwanzaa.

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This was a very descriptive podcast and lunar new year reminds me of Kwanzaa.

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-Keira