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Depends on character, time of birth, twins

Noisy child- lelo
Quiet child- mos
Calm child- otengo

First letter boy always O
First letter girl always A

Time of birth:
Morning boy = Omondi
Morning girl= Amondi
Night boy= Otieno
Night girl= Atieno

Twins
Girl Apiyo means first twin
Boy Opiyo means last twin
Always after twin- Akello (girl) boy (Akello)

All first borns are called- Eunice after great great grandmother

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KS1 Christian Baptism Teaching Powerpoint

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An explanation from Luciana's parents. We are so blessed to learn from their culture!

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An explanation from Luciana's parents. We are so blessed to learn from their culture!

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El Año Viejo or “old year” is a common year-end tradition in Colombia and other countries in Latin America. On December 31st, everyone gets excited about the New Year and its obligatory resolutions for change. Años Viejos are used in many places to symbolically leave behind bad things from the previous year

Who: we usually do one “año viejo” doll per family

How: Stuff them up with old clothes, newspapers, usually is an adult size. We also write letters and put them into the pockets

When: we put it on the street at midnight on December 31st and an adult will set it on fire.

Where: we create the Año viejo doll in the house but then we take it on the street.

Why: is a tradition that symbolically burns up the failures, regrets, bad things, anger of the old year in order to usher in the hopes and resolutions of the new one.

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In traditional African society, the naming ceremony announces the birth of a newborn, it is an avenue to introduce the child to the extended family, the larger community, and above all, it confers on the child a name. The naming ceremony of a new baby is one very important rite of passage in life as the name given to a baby can have an influence on their personality.

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Deepavali | Festival of Lights

Our enlightening Diwali Facts will tell you about the colourful 'Festival of Lights' which will be celebrated on 12 November 2023.

10 Diwali Facts

1. Diwali is the most important religious festival celebrated by followers of Hinduism. It is also called Divali, Deepavali or Deepawali and is commonly referred to as the Festival of Lights.

2. The Festival of Lights celebrates the Hindu New Year. It is a celebration of the victory of light over darkness and the triumph of good over evil.

3.This festival can last up to five days. Diwali takes place every year in late October or early November depending on the cycle of the moon. The festival starts two days before the new moon comes up.

In 2023, the Diwali celebrations go from 10 November until 15 November. The main celebrations will take place on 12 November.

4. The name Deepavali originates from the ancient Indian Sanskrit language and means 'row of lights'. ' Dipa' means 'Light' and ' avali' is the word for 'row'.

5. There are various legends that refer to the festival. They traditionally involve the Hindu gods Rama, Lakshmi or Krishna. They all celebrate the victory of the good over the evil and this festival is a celebration of hope, happiness and peace.

6. Originally Diwali was celebrated as a harvest festival in India, but today Diwali is celebrated as the Festival of Light by Hindus all over the world.

This festival is celebrated with sparklers, firecrackers and fireworks are held in many places.

7. At Diwali it is tradition to decorate and illuminate the homes, visit the local temple for prayers and share meals with families and friends. Children get small gifts and sweets. Traditional Diwali food includes sweets such as the delicious syrupy gulab jamun balls and other Indian sweets displayed below.

8. Lighting candles, oil lamps and sparklers are the main customs at this festival. Indians light diyas which are candleholders or clay lamps that are used for decoration.

Homes and buildings are also decorated with rangoli decorations made with flowers, coloured sand or even coloured rice, flour or spices.

9. Statues of Lakshmi, the four-armed Hindu goddess of prosperity, and of Ganesha, the Hindu lord of success usually referred to as the 'Elephant God', are also cherished and decorated with flowers in many homes.

10. Larger Diwali celebrations outside India take place in Singapore's Little India district as well as in London and Leicester/ UK, Sydney/ Australia and Toronto/ Canada where some main roads are decorated with lights and the Hindu community gathers and showcases Indian traditions, crafts and Indian food at fairs and festival grounds.

Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists also celebrate the new year with a festival of light on these dates but have different legends and traditions referring to the event.

How do families celebrate Diwali?

Last year we asked our young readers what their favourite festival was. In the following wonderful essays two students told us about their family celebrations at Diwali or Deepavali. You will find the essays here:

We hope you have enjoyed our Diwali Facts for Kids and wish all our friends who celebrate the Festival of Lights: "May the divine light spread hope, happiness, health and prosperity! Happy Diwali!" from all of us at Kids-World-Travel-Guide.com

Diwali Facts | Resources

Das, Subhamoy. "When Is Diwali (Deepavali)? Dates for 2019 to 2025." Learn Religions. Last accessed 12 May 2022

Visit Leicester. "Diwali Leicester 2019." Visit Leicester. Last accessed 12 May 2022 - (Outdated calendar info, however, the Diwali background info is still spot on!)

Image Credits on Diwali Facts: Diwali Decorations in Mumbai by Snehal Jeevan Pailkar; My Incredible India by Ed Kaetan and others from Shutterstock.com and own images
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Diwali Facts for Kids | Deepavali | Festival of Lights | Traditions

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Our Diwali Facts for Kids will explain the most important Hindu festival and tell you about traditions, food and festivities.

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Many Australians annually celebrate New Year’s Eve with parties, music and other forms of entertainment on December 31. New Year’s Eve is the day before New Year’s Day in the Gregorian calendar, which is used by many Australians.

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What is the proper Easter greeting in Macedonian?

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What is the proper Easter greeting in Macedonian?

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The proper way to greet someone in Macedonian on Easter is by saying Христос Воскресе! (Hristos Voskrese!), which translates to “Christ is Risen!”  The other person then responds back with Навистина Воскресе! (Navistina Voskrese!) or Вистина Воскресе! (Vistina Voskrese!), which translate to “Indeed, He is Risen!”

What is the proper Easter greeting in Macedonian?

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Baby showers are parties at which the pregnant mother is “showered” with gifts for her new baby. Usually held in the last few months of a woman's pregnancy, friends, family  get together to treat her to a day of friends, fun, and sometimes pampering. The hosts arrange the baby shower games, food, and refreshments, and other fun activities.

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Back toHolidays
Independence Day

The Spirit of '76
Author: Archibald Willard

What does Independence Day celebrate?

The Fourth of July celebrates the day theDeclaration of Independence was adopted declaring the United States as an independent country no longer under the rule of Great Britain.

When is it celebrated?

Independence Day is celebrated each year in the United States on July 4th. The day is often referred to as the Fourth of July.

Who celebrates this day?

Independence Day is a national federal holiday in the United States. Most citizens of the United State celebrate in some way.

What do people do to celebrate?

There are a lot of ways that people celebrate. Perhaps the most popular is to have a cookout with friends and then view fireworks. Some people purchase and light their own fireworks, while others will attend large gatherings with huge public displays of fireworks.

The day is a day of national pride and patriotic displays as well. This includes flying the US flag and wearing red, white, and blue. Many bands play patriotic songs like The Star Spangled Banner, America the Beautiful, and God Bless America.

Other ways to celebrate include parades, baseball games, musical concerts, and outdoor picnics. Since the holiday is in the middle of summer much of the celebration takes place outdoors.

Source: US Air Force

History of Independence Day

Independence Day celebrates July 4, 1776 when the Declaration of Independence was approved by the2nd Continental Congress of the United States. This occurred during the Revolutionary War with Great Britain.

The anniversary of the day was celebrated as early as the next year in 1777. Celebrations continued in future years, but it wasn't until nearly 100 years later in 1870 that the federal government gave employees the day off without pay. In 1938 Congress made the day a paid federal holiday.

Fun Facts About Independence Day

Each year around 500,000 people gather to watch fireworks and listen to patriotic music in Washington DC on the Capitol lawn.

There were around 2.5 million people living in the United States when independence was declared in 1776. Today there are well over 300 million people in the country.

John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, both presidents and signers of the Declaration of Independence, died on the 50 year anniversary on July 4, 1826. President James Monroe also died on July 4th and President Calvin Coolidge was born on July 4th.

The Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta, GA is a 10k running race held every year on this day.

Each year there is a famous hot dog eating contest at Coney Island, New York. Around 40,000 people show up to watch and millions watch it on TV. In 2011 the winner was Joey Chestnut who ate 62 hot dogs in ten minutes.

The longest running celebration is said to be the Bristol Fourth of July Parade in Rhode Island which as been running since 1785.

One of the more popular celebrations to watch on TV is the music and fireworks show put on by the Boston Pops Orchestra.

July Holidays
Canada Day
Independence Day
Bastille Day
Parent's Day

Back toHolidays

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Kids learn about Independence Day history and fun facts about the Fourth of July. Fireworks and parades celebrate the United States birth.

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What is the symbolism behind the red Easter egg and why do we give and receive eggs for Easter?

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What is the symbolism behind the red Easter egg and why do we give and receive eggs for Easter?

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The single most striking symbol of Easter for Macedonians is the hard-boiled bright red egg.  The red color symbolizes the blood of Christ and the hard shell of the egg represents the sealed Tomb of Christ.

Eggs are traditionally dyed a bright red color the early hours of Holy Thursday with the first egg dyed red before sunrise.  The belief is that if the egg doesn’t see the sun, it will last all year and not spoil.  That first red egg is then placed near an icon in the home and kept all year for good health.

It is believed that after Jesus’s Resurrection and Ascension into heaven, Mary Magdalene went to Rome and met with the Roman Emperor Tiberius Caesar.  She had a plain egg in her hand and greeted him with the words “Christ is Risen.”  She then continued to tell him about Christ’s Resurrection and Ascension.  The Emperor, doubting Mary Magdalene, responded that Jesus rising from the dead was as likely as the egg she was holding turning red.  Before the Emperor could finish speaking, the egg in Mary Magdalene’s hand turned a bright red color.

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Fireworks symbolize the crossover from New Year’s Eve, which marks the end of the old year, to New Year’s Day, which marks the beginning of the New Year. The largest and most elaborate fireworks occur at midnight between these two days as a way of saying goodbye to the past and welcoming the future. The Sydney Harbour is an iconic Australian landmark that is a special symbol of New Year’s Eve celebrations in Australia. On this night, the harbor is lit with spectacular fireworks, where hundreds of cultures unite for the Harbour of Light parade.

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Kids learn about Easter. The history and facts about this holiday which celebrates Jesus Christ rising from the dead.

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Like many other countries, Christmas is a big affair in Portugal, filled with food, laughter, and more food!

Boas festas! or Feliz Natal! means 'Merry Christmas!' in Portuguese. In the weeks leading up to the festive period, you will often see Chistmas lights spelling out this phrase around Portugal.

To kick-start your Portuguese journey this winter, take a look at these five facts about Christmas in Portugal:

Weather

If Christmas just isn't Christmas without snow, then you better travel north in Portugal to the Serra da Estrela mountains - it's the only place in Portugal that gets a bit of the white stuff. Some of Portugal's best cheese is also made in this region.

At our school in Lisbon, the sunny weather continues throughout the winter, although it will be a lot colder and often rainier, thanks to the Atlantic coast.

Portuguese festive food

Bacalhau, a salted codfish, is Portugal's most popular fish. On Christmas eve, which is the main celebration in Portugal, bacalhau is eaten with boiled potatoes, fried onions, eggs and olives. On Christmas day, 'Peru' or turkey, as it is known in English, is normally the main dish.

Christmas cake in Portugal comes in the form of 'Bolo Rei', or 'King's cake' as it is literally translated. It is a soft brioche-style fruit cake, filled and garnished with nuts, raisins, and dried and candied fruits. If you prefer, you can have Bolo Rainha, which does not have candied fruits on top.

A singe broad bean in baked inside the Bolo Rei. Whoever is given the slice with the broad bean must make the next year's Bolo Rei.

Pai Natal

Also known as Father Christmas, Pai Natal visits children to drop off his presents on the Christmas eve (24th of December), rather than on Christmas day.

Pai Natal looks more or less the same in Portugal as everywhere else around the world - red clothes and a big white beard. But cookies and milk are not left out for Pai Natal in this country - Santa will have to do his work on an empty stomach!

Presents are normally opened at midnight on Christmas eve when everyone is together. Some families open the presents in the morning of Christmas day instead.

Celebration days

In Portugal, Christmas eve (the 24th) is the main day of celebration. The whole family gets together to eat food, drink port wine, and laugh into the early hours of the morning.

Christmas day (the 25th) is a day of rest, with another big family meal, but this time with meat instead of fish.

By the 26th, it's back to business-as-usual - Boxing Day, which is celebrated in the UK and other parts of Europe, does not exist in Portugal!

Divirtam-se! Enjoy your Christmas time and we hope to see you next year!

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4 Christmas facts about Portuguese | Lusa Language School

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Like many other countries, Christmas is a big affair in Portugal, filled with food, laughter, and more food! Boas festas! or Feliz Natal! means 'Merry Christmas!' in Portuguese. In the weeks leading up to the festive period, you will often see Chistmas lights spelling out this phrase around Portugal.

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Facts about Christmas! - National Geographic Kids

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Learn all about the festive season in our facts about Christmas! What’s the meaning of Christmas? Why is it called Xmas? Who was St. Nicholas?

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Christmas

Also called

Noël, Nativity, Xmas

Observed by

Christians, many non-Christians

Type

Christian, cultural

Significance

Commemoration of the Nativity of Jesus

Celebrations

Gift-giving, family and other social gatherings, symbolic decoration, feasting etc.

Observances
Church services

Date

Frequency

Annual

Related to

Christmastide, Christmas Eve, Advent, Annunciation, Epiphany, Baptism of the Lord, Nativity Fast, Nativity of Christ, Old Christmas, Yule, St. Stephen's Day, Boxing Day

Christmas (which means "Feast day of Christ") is a Christian holiday that refers to the birth of Jesus (whom Christians believe is the Son of God), and a cultural holiday for non-Christians.

Christmas is celebrated December the 25th! It is one of the most important days of the year for Christians, along with Easter when the death and resurrection of Jesus are celebrated. The season of preparing for Christmas is called Advent and begins on a Sunday about four weeks before Christmas. The Christmas Season (called Christmastide) ends 6 January or the Twelfth Day of Christmas, in which Epiphany is remembered.

Christmas is celebrated all over the world, as a religious holiday or as a time of celebration by Christians and non-Christians alike. The traditions are different from country to country, but they nearly always include a feast, giving gifts or cards, and enjoying church or public festivities such as singing Christmas carols and songs. Santa Claus is a tradition in many countries of the world.

Christmastide, as it is often called, is in the winter of the Northern Hemisphere, at a time when there were already ancient festivals. Some of the traditions that are used for Christmas are older than Christmas, or come from other non-Christian traditions such as Yule. Modern traditions of Christmas often focus on the giving of gifts. The season for retail stores to sell gifts, food, greeting cards, Christmas trees, and decorations begins the day about a month before Christmas Day.

The history of Christmas

Christmas in the Gospels

Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus. The story of how this happened is told in part of the Bible known as the Gospels. There are four Gospels telling the life of Jesus. The Gospel of Luke tells the most about his birth, and the Gospel of Matthew tells another part of the story. The Gospel of John says that Jesus came from God to bring his "Word" or message to all people.

The Gospels say that many years before Jesus' birth, prophets had told a promise to the Jewish people that God would send them a Messiah, or holy teacher. Christians believe that the promised Messiah was Jesus. His mother was a young woman called Mary, who was engaged, but not yet married to a carpenter called Joseph. Joseph found out that Mary was pregnant and was upset. He was wondering what he should do, when an angel came from God to tell him that the baby was the Holy One. The angel said that he must name the baby. This was a sign that he would take care of it like his own child.

At this time, the Middle East was ruled by the Romans. An order came that all the people had to travel back to their home town, to put their names on the taxation lists. Joseph took his new wife to Bethlehem. There was nowhere for them to stay, except a stable where the animals slept. This is where the baby was born. Joseph called him Jesus, as the angel had said.

The baby Jesus had two lots of visitors. On the night he was born, angels told some shepherds in the fields that they would find a newborn king lying in an animals' feed bin (or manger). Jesus' other visitors were some wise men who saw a new star in the sky and followed it, until they found the house where the family was now living and gave the young child expensive gifts of gold, incense and a precious herb called myrrh. (The wise men are often traditionally called the Three Kings, because there were three very expensive presents but the Bible does not say how many wise men there were.)

All these parts of the Christmas story are remembered and celebrated in different ways at Christmas: in pictures, songs, plays, stories and in models that are called "cribs", "creches" or "presepe".

Date of celebration

Most Christian countries of the world use a calendar called the Gregorian Calendar, but some churches use a calendar called the Julian Calendar. Most Christians, such as those of the Catholic and Protestant Churches, celebrate the birth of Jesus on 25 December.

The Eastern Orthodox Church still uses the Julian Calendar in some regions such as Russia. In such regions, Christmas is celebrated on 25 December in the Julian Calendar, but because of the difference between the calendars it is 7 January in the modern Gregorian Calendar.

Some Christians, like Jehovah's Witnesses, do not celebrate Christmas because there is no instruction from Jesus in the Bible which tells Christians to celebrate his birth. Mormons celebrate Christmas on 25 December but they believe that Christ's actual birth took place on 6 April.

Some believe that Jesus was probably not born on 25 December. Some historians believe this date was used by the Catholic Church to replace the pagan rites that took place at that time of the year.

The Season of Advent, which begins on Sunday about four weeks before Christmas Day, is celebrated by the Catholic and Anglican Churches, as well as others. It is a time for people to prepare themselves for two different things: for the coming of the baby Jesus and Christmas, and for the second coming of Jesus, when he shall rule over all the Earth in peace. Not all Christian people remember Advent. Some people use it as a time of fasting, study, meditation and prayer. Special Advent Calendars are made for children, with pictures or treats for each day of Advent.

Generally, Advent is a time when many people are very busy in preparation for Christmas Day, cleaning and decorating, buying food and presents, writing cards and letters, and cooking the Christmas feast.

Celebrations

Before the 4th century AD, Christians could only worship and celebrate in secret. The feast of Christmas probably began while Constantine was the Emperor of Rome, because it was he who made Christianity a legal religion and built some of Rome's oldest churches. Some old stone coffins or sarcophagi from this time are carved with pictures of Mary and baby Jesus and the Wise Men.

Through the Middle Ages Christmas was celebrated with feasting, singing and plays. The plays were held in churches, and also in castles and in market places, where a big hay wagon was sometimes used as a stage.

Because Advent was a time of prayer and preparation, most parties were held after Christmas, rather than before it. The main pre-Christmas celebration was the Feast of St. Nicholas on 6 December. In some countries, particularly the Netherlands, the tradition grew for children to receive presents on this day, rather than Christmas Day. The name of Saint Nicholas is now remembered in many countries as Santa Claus.

Another festivity that takes place is the Feast of Saint Lucy ( St. Lucia Day) on 13 December which is particularly celebrated in Scandinavia, where girls take part in candlelit processions, and the daughters of the house must rise early to bring coffee or chocolate to the family.

For many centuries, the celebration of Christmas often began with a church service or mass, which lasted from late at night to after midnight on Christmas morning. Christmas Day was a time of feasting. On the following day, the Feast of Saint Stephen people from rich households would carry boxes of food out to the street for the poor and hungry. Many people would go back to work but employers would give gifts of money to their workers. The Holy Days continued with the feast of Saint John and Holy Innocents' Day. The feasting and parties ended on the Feast of the Epiphany, the day of the Three Wise Men, often called the "Three Kings". The season is nowadays remembered by the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas". William Shakespeare wrote a play to be performed as part of the celebration, called " Twelfth Night".

For many, Christmas has become a time when having parties, sending messages to family and friends and giving presents has become more important than the celebration of Jesus' birth. Manufacturers and stores have responded to the feasting and present-giving with lots of advertising, decorations and displays. In the US, the Christmas displays are put up right after Thanksgiving, late in November. In some countries such as Australia, stores put up decorations at the beginning of November. Given that Jesus himself called people making money in the Jewish Temple 'robbers' (Matthew 21:13) many Christians are uneasy about profit instead of prophets at Christmas.

Town councils celebrate by decorating streets and squares, and providing Christmas entertainment for shoppers. In countries of the Southern Hemisphere, where Christmas falls in Summer, there is a tradition of open-air Carol Services, often organised by the town council, which are attended by thousands of people.

Many Christians celebrate Christmas by attending church, and with prayers and singing. And each year there are Bible readings from the Gospels that tell the story of the birth of Jesus.

Christmas Traditions

Christmas traditions are of several types. There are traditions of the church, traditions which are public celebrations and traditions that are kept by families. These traditions are different in different times, places, cultures and even families.

Traditions of the Church

The celebration of Christmas is a very important time for churches. Almost every church has special services or celebrations. Here are some of the ways that churches celebrate Christmas.

It is the custom in many churches to set up a Crib (or Creche) scene of the Nativity or birth of Jesus. The first scene of this type was set up by St. Francis of Assisi in the 13th century. They have been very popular in Italy ever since then, and the custom has spread to other countries.

Nativity scenes can be large with life-sized statues, or they can be tiny enough to fit in a matchbox. They are made of many different things including carved and painted wood, brightly coloured ceramics (pottery), painted paper glued to boards, and mixtures of material with clay, wood, cloth, straw and metal used for different parts.

The Advent wreath is a circle of leaves, usually pine boughs, ivy and holly, with 4 (or sometimes 5) candles in it which is hung up in a church. The candles are lit on each Sunday in Advent, and the central candle is lit on Christmas morning. Churches are often decked with green branches and leaves, and many churches also have a Christmas tree.

Carols by Candlelight

A popular tradition in many churches is the Carol Service which is often lit only by candles. The carol service generally has lots of singing and Bible readings. There is a tradition in England which began in the Temple Church in London and has now spread to many other places for a service of Nine Lessons and Carols. The lessons are Bible readings. Some carols are sung by a choir and others by the choir and people (the congregation). Every year one of these services is recorded in a large English Church, often King's College Chapel, Cambridge, and is broadcast on radio and television to be enjoyed by people who love good music and carol singing, but particularly for people who cannot go to a Christmas service.

Public and commercial celebrations

Many cities and towns celebrate Christmas by putting up decorations. These may be banners and bunting which are strung from buildings or lampposts. They may be Christmas lights which can also decorate buildings and street trees. Many large cities put up a huge Christmas tree in a public place, such as those in Trafalgar Square in London, Times Square in New York and Martin Place in Sydney. This is often combined with an appeal to the people of the city to give money or gifts to help the poor and needy.

In many cities, the usual shopping hours are made longer before Christmas so that workers have more time to buy Christmas food and presents. Shop windows are often decorated with Christmas scenes, with large department stores often having animated scenes to entertain children. Shopping malls and big stores often have a Santa Claus, who sits on a throne, while children tell him what they want for Christmas, and have their photos taken.

Many towns hold Christmas parades, street entertainment and concerts. Some towns have a tradition of carols with a choir and entertainers in the town hall, while in Australia and New Zealand, these concerts of Christmas entertainment and carols are usually held outdoors, in parks or even on beaches, with families bringing picnics. The arrival of Santa Claus at the end of the evening is accompanied by a firework display.

A traditional part of Christmas is the theatre entertainment. This includes the performance of classical music such as Handel's Messiah as well as orchestral concerts and band recitals. Pantomimes are often played at Christmas and favourites include " Peter Pan and Wendy" and " Cinderella". Many children's movies are released during the Christmas season.

Because many people feel very lonely, hungry and sad at Christmas, many cities, churches, charities and service organisations try to help the poor and lonely by providing Christmas food and gifts for poor families, and Christmas parties for people who are hungry or who are lonely and without any friends or family.

Family celebrations

Family celebrations are often very different from each other, depending on where a family comes from, and the customs that have grown in particular families.

Family get-togethers

Most families think of Christmas as a time to get together with other members of the family. People often travel from far away to be with other family members at Christmas. Those people who cannot travel often make long-distance phone calls on Christmas Day. Many people also see Christmas as a time to reach out to others that they know might be lonely, and invite them to dinner on Christmas Day. Christmas is seen as a time for people of all ages to have fun together, for cousins to get to know each other, for grandparents to see their grandchildren and for the family to admire the babies that have been born during the year. Big family parties are usually a time of joy, but some families often talk about their disagreements and have big fights at Christmas time.

Family traditions are very different. Some families might all go off to church together, to a Carol Service, a Midnight Mass, or a Christmas Morning service. Some families are pulled out of bed very early by children who want to open their presents. In other families, presents are given on St. Nicholas Day, on Christmas Eve or not until after church on Christmas morning. The Christmas feast might start on Christmas Eve, with a special breakfast on Christmas morning, or at midday on Christmas Day.

Some families have a tradition of carol singing, and might go around the streets, to hospitals and other such places singing with members of their church. Other families like to watch certain television programs together, which might include carol services and the Queen's Message. Some families use Christmas as a time to play music and sing together, or to read a favourite book such as "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens. In countries in the Southern Hemisphere, a visit to the beach or a swim in a pool is often part of the Christmas Day tradition.

Christmas dinner

Christmas Dinner, usually eaten in the middle of the day, is an important part of the family celebration. The food differs from country to country and also from family to family. In the Northern Hemisphere, roasted meat and vegetables is generally the main course of the meal. Often several types of meat are served, which may include turkey, ham, roast beef or lamb. There are often several courses, with special treats that are usually only eaten at Christmas.

In English-speaking countries, the traditional dessert is Christmas plum pudding. Nowadays these are often bought from bakers, but many people make their own to a family recipe. The tradition came from the Middle Ages when the pudding was used to preserve some of the fruit from the Autumn until the mid-winter. A traditional pudding is baked six weeks before Christmas and is left tied up in a cloth, in a cool place. Stirring the pudding is sometimes a family tradition, with everyone making a wish as they stir. Traditionally a silver coin would be stirred into the pudding, to bring luck to the person who found it. Nowadays most coins cannot be used because they taste horrible and may be poisonous. Some families use old coins or silver charms. On Christmas Day the pudding must be boiled in a pot for several hours. When it is served, the cloth is cut off, brandy is poured onto the pudding, and is set on fire before it is carried to the table.

Many families have a Christmas Cake or a special bread instead of a pudding (or as well as a pudding). These are very different depending on the country, but often have Marzipan which is made from almonds and is traditional in many countries at Christmas. In France Buche de Noel or gingerbread men and women are decorated and hung on the Christmas tree. In Scotland a pastry biscuit called shortbread is made and has become a popular tradition in many countries. A German tradition is pfeffernuss, spiced cookies rolled in powdered sugar. Other Christmas food includes raisins, sultanas, ginger, Turkish delight, almonds, chocolates, caramel toffee, candy canes and oranges.

Many families also prepare mulled wine which is warmed with cinnamon and nutmeg or egg nogs, a sweet drink made of milk, sugar, eggs, nutmeg and sometimes alcohol.

In the Southern Hemisphere, the traditional roast dinner is often replaced with cold cuts of meat, and served with salads. The first course might be prawn cocktail or a cold soup like borsch. The plum pudding might be served with ice cream. White wine and beer are both served cold (beer is kept in a refrigerator). Christmas dinner may be served on the veranda, or sometimes as a picnic.

Tree and decorations

In most homes when Christmas is celebrated, people set up a Christmas tree in the house. This old Yuletide custom began in Germany as the "Tannenbaum" (German for Fir Tree). These are traditionally evergreens, the best type being the Fir Tree which does not shed its needles or lose its fragrance. The tree may be a cut tree that is bought from a plantation or taken from the forest. Artificial trees are sometimes preferred to real trees. The Christmas tree is decorated with lights, shiny coloured balls, sparkly tinsel and other ornaments. A wreath of leaves or pine is often put on the front door of a house as a sign of welcome. Other plants that have special significance at Christmas are holly which is used as decoration and mistletoe which is hung in the centre of a room. The tradition is that people who meet under the mistletoe must kiss.

Many people decorate their homes at Christmas time. These decorations and the Christmas tree are generally inside, but may be put where they can also be seen through a window by people passing by. In the mid 20th century there grew up a custom for decorating the outside of houses as well. These decorations may be just a few lights around the porch, or hundreds of lights and colourful Christmas figures decorating the whole house and garden. Some neighbourhoods hold competitions for the best-decorated house, and driving around the streets to look at them has become another family tradition.

Cards and presents

The giving of gifts at Christmas comes from several different ideas. One is that God gave his son, Jesus, to the world at Christmas. There is also the story of the Wise Men who came to the baby Jesus with three gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh. For many centuries it has been the custom for people to give small gifts at Christmas, and also to give generously to the poor and needy to help them through the winter. Another tradition has become linked to this one, and the result is the tradition of Santa Claus, or Father Christmas as he is sometimes called, and who is nowadays thought by many children to be the bringer of presents and happiness.

In the 4th century, in a Greek village that is now part of Turkey, there was a good man who would secretly given presents to the poor to help them. He became a bishop and is called Saint Nicholas. Over the centuries, he became a very popular saint and lots of churches were named after him. He was very popular in places where there were lots of sailors. One of those places was the Netherlands. In the Netherlands and many other European countries, presents are given on the feast of Saint Nicholas, 6 December. Traditionally, the presents are not big, and are sometimes hidden, or have a funny joke or poem that must be read. In many towns of Europe a man dressed in bishop's robes comes on a horse or in a boat, acting as St. Nicholas. His name was often shortened to Sante Claus, or Santa Claus in English.

In English speaking countries, where presents are usually given on Christmas Day, not 6 December, Santa Claus, (or Father Christmas) is usually thought of as coming on Christmas Night, when his magic sleigh is pulled across the sky by reindeer, and he comes into houses through the chimney. While in Europe, children put out their shoes for St. Nicholas, the English tradition is to hang up stockings (or long socks) in front of the fireplace. Santa Claus would traditionally fill the socks or shoes with nuts, raisins, chocolates and an orange. Nowadays children usually get much more expensive presents, and hang up pillow cases or have the presents in a big pile under the Christmas tree.

Another Christmas tradition is the sending of cards to friends and relatives. These contain warm greetings and may also have a letter telling all the things that have happened to the person or family during the year.

Related pages

Images for kids

Nativity of Christ, medieval illustration from the Hortus deliciarum of Herrad of Landsberg (12th century)

Mosaic in Mausoleum M in the pre-fourth-century necropolis under St Peter's Basilica in Rome, interpreted by some as Jesus represented as Christus Sol (Christ the Sun).

The Nativity, from a 14th-century Missal; a liturgical book containing texts and music necessary for the celebration of Mass throughout the year

The Examination and Tryal of Old Father Christmas, (1686), published after Christmas was reinstated as a holy day in England

The Queen's Christmas tree at Windsor Castle, published in the Illustrated London News, 1848

A typical Neapolitan presepe or presepio, or Nativity scene. Local crèches are renowned for their ornate decorations and symbolic figurines, often mirroring daily life.

The official White House Christmas tree for 1962, displayed in the Entrance Hall and presented by John F. Kennedy and his wife Jackie.

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Christmas Also called Noël, Nativity, Xmas Observed by Christians, many non-Christians Type Christian, cultural Significance Commemoration of the Nativity of Jesus Celebrations Gift-giving, family and other social gatherings, symbolic decoration, feasting etc. Observances Church services Date Frequency Annual Related to Christmastide, Christmas Eve, Advent, Annunciation, Epiphany, Baptism of the Lord, Nativity Fast, Nativity of Christ, Old Christmas, Yule, St.

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Chinese New Year, known in China as the SpringFestival and in Singapore as the LunarNewYear, is a holiday on and around the new moon on the first day of the year in the traditional Chinese calendar. This calendar is based on the changes in the moon and is only sometimes changed to fit the seasons of the year based on how the Earth moves around the sun. Because of this, Chinese New Year is never on January1. It moves around between January21 and February 20.

The Chinese New Year is one of the most important holidays for Chinese people all over the world. Its 7th day used to be used instead of birthdays to count people's ages in China. The holiday is still used to tell people which "animal" of the Chinese zodiac they are part of. The holiday is a time for gifts to children and for family gatherings with large meals, just like Christmas in Europe and in other Christian areas. Unlike Christmas, the children usually get gifts of cash in red envelopes ( hongbao) and not toys or clothes.

Chinese New Year used to last 15 days until the Lantern Festival on the year's first full moon. Now, it is a national holiday in the Republic and People's Republic of China, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia. It is also celebrated in some parts of Thailand. In some places, only the first day or three days are celebrated. In the PRC, nearby weekends are changed to create a 7-day-long "Golden Week."

The Mandarin Chinese name of the holiday is Chūn Jié, which means "Spring Festival." This is why it is often called the "Spring Festival" by Chinese speakers of English, even though the holiday always occurs in the winter months of January or February. Its name is written in traditional Chinese writing and in the easier writing now used by mainland China and Singapore. The Republic of China began to use this name in the 1910s, after it began to use the European calendar for most things.

Before that, the holiday was usually just called the "NewYear." Because the traditional Chinese calendar is mostly based on the changes in the moon, the Chinese New Year is also known in English as the "Lunar New Year" or "Chinese Lunar New Year." This name comes from " Luna," an old Latin name for the moon.

Day of the New Year

Chinese New Year always starts on a new moon, when the Moon is between the Earth and Sun and the night sky is dark. Because new moons happen about every 29.53 days but the year set by Pope GregoryXIII is 365.2425 days long, the Chinese holiday moves to different days each year. The Chinese calendar adds a 13th month every so often to keep the seasons in the right place, so the first day of the new year always happens between January21 and February20 on the 2nd or 3rd new moon after the 1st day of winter. The chart on the right gives the day of each Chinese New Year from 1996 to 2031.

Traditional counting

In the past, the Chinese emperors did not number their years from one place. Instead, they gave names to eras (groups of years) any time they wanted. In the same way, people in China and around East Asia did not count their ages from zero or add one year at every birthday. They counted birth as the start of their 1st year and added another year upon the 7th day of the New Year, which they called People's Day ( Rénrì). (Today, it is much more common in China to count age starting at zero and add years at birthdays, like in English-speaking countries.)

Animals of the New Year

The Chinese used to keep time using 2 different lists of characters, known in English as the 10Heavenly Stems and the 12Earthly Branches. Each is said to be yin ( dark or female) or yang ( bright or male), so that when they are put together they make a list of 60 pairs. (The current list began in 1984 and will end in 2043.) Later, each of the stems was also said to match one of the 5 Chinese elements- wood, fire, dirt, metal, or water-and each of the branches was said to be a different animal: Rat, Ox & Cow, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster & Chicken, Dog, and Pig.

Today, Chinese people don't use these lists to count hours, days, or years, but many still pay attention to the animal of the year when someone was born. Just like with the European zodiac, some people think the year's animal can change how someone thinks and acts. They even think it can change whether a marriage will be a happy one or not. Newspapers pay writers to give them ideas for how lucky different animals will be during the coming week. Many parents even time their children's birth within a year or two to give them the best animal sign.

Chinese tradition said that the Chinese calendar began during the 60th year of the reign of the Yellow Emperor in 2637, with New Year celebrations beginning in that year. As far as we now know, it's much less old than that. Parts of the old ways of counting time given above are at least as early as 1250, during the Shang times. Most of it was known by the Zhou ( 11th-). From eastern China, the calendar and its new year spread to nearby places like Vietnam (111), Korea (before ), Japan (604), and Tibet (around 641). It also followed people who moved from China to their new homes in Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and other places.

The Shang kings (16th-) gave special gifts to their gods and dead family members during the winter of each year.

Under the Zhou, people were having harvest festivals like today's Mid-Autumn Festival by about 1000.

By the early Han, people were counting their birthdays from People's Day on the 7th day of the New Year. Dragon dances had appeared by the time of the Han. People thought that Chinese dragons like Yinglong and Shenlong were kinds of gods who had power over where the water in rivers and canals went and when the water in clouds would fall as rain. Because this was very important for farming, dragon dances could happen all through the year when rain was needed.

Lion dances were probably newer. There was lion dancing under the Tang and in Japan by the 8th century, but people still thought of it as a foreign dance used by Buddhists. Today, people talk about "Northern" and "Southern" kinds of lion dances. The special northern kind began under the Southern Song ( 12th- 13th century). The special southern kind began in Guangdong later, maybe under the Ming ( 14th- 17th century).

As part of other changes, the Meiji Emperor of Japan ordered in 1873 that the new year celebrations of his country would be held on January1. Today, most of the traditional Japanese celebrations now occur on that day, not at the same time as Chinese New Year. In 1928, the Nationalist Party of China tried to change the Chinese celebrations to January1, too, but this completely failed as the Chinese people protested or ignored the new laws and continued as usual.

In 1967, as part of Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution, the PRC's government did not celebrate or allow special time off work for the traditional new year. Public celebrations returned by the time of Deng Xiaoping's Opening Up Policy in the 1980s. Since the year 2000, Chinese New Year has been one of the PRC's Golden Weeks: there are three days of paid time away from work during the first few days and two weekends around it are moved to make a 7-day-long holiday. These Golden Weeks copied a similar Japanese idea.

Mainland China

People in China usually try to be together with their families for at least the first few days of the holiday. Because of the large number of Chinese people and the many people who work away from their hometowns, this "spring traveling" ( chunyun) is the biggest movement of people in the world every year.

A "reunion dinner" happens on the evening of the last day of the traditional year ("New Year's Eve"). Older and married people give younger ones cash in red envelopes known as hongbao in Mandarin Chinese or laisee in Cantonese. China Central Television puts on a long show with many star actors, singers, and dancers. It is usually the most-watched TV show in the world each year. Lately, its ads have also become some of the world's most expensive, although they are still behind those aired during the US Super Bowl.

Children are allowed to stay up until midnight. Around 12 o'clock, the new year is welcomed with public fireworks and private firecrackers. Children are told the story of a monster called "Nian" ("Year") who was scared away by a town's loud noises and bright lights on a Chinese New Year long ago. Some people call or send text messages and e-mails to say "Happy New Year!"

Temples also have special fairs with lots of street food. There are Peking opera and martial arts shows and lion and dragon dances in major cities. The dragons can be very long. The longest dragon so far has been a little over 3.5 miles (5.6 km) in Hong Kong in 2012. Hong Kong also has special horse races at its racetrack. Guangzhou has several special flower festivals.

In Taiwan, most events and traditions are the same as those in China. The most important special event is the Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival, where fireworks are shot straight into the people watching the show. Being hit is supposed to bring good luck, but this used to be very unsafe. Today, people wear special hard hats, ( helmets), and thick clothes to protect themselves. Another special event is the " Bombing of Master Handan" in Taitung, where people throw firecrackers straight at the members of a parade who are wearing only red underwear and towels. Taiwan's Hakka people have a tradition like this, where firecrackers are thrown at dragon dancers as they parade through towns. The dragon is then burned at the end of the dance. Taipei's City Lantern Festival also goes on for most of the holiday, not just during the 1-day Lantern Festival at the end.

Philippines

Chinese New Year is a national holiday in the Philippines. People do not get money without working, but anyone who does have to work on the "special non-working day" gets 130% of the usual pay. Binondo-sometimes considered the world's oldest Chinatown -sees a lot of traditional celebrations, such as lion and dragon dances. Its people also try to pay back any money they owe before the New Year.

In 2001, Davao City stopped letting people use fireworks because its people were hurting themselves too much. Their mayor Rodrigo Duterte became president of the country and said that he wanted to stop fireworks everywhere. As president, however, he has continued to let people use them.

Chinese New Year ( Indonesian: Imlek) is a 1-day national holiday in Indonesia. Chinese people have lived there since at least the 15th century. Indonesian president Suharto stopped Chinese Indonesians from celebrating Chinese New Year in 1967. Things changed after the fall of Suharto in 1998, and Indonesia made Chinese New Year a national holiday for everyone in 2003.

Today, Chinese Indonesians celebrate the holiday much as people in China do. Dragon and lion dances are common at shopping centers, which sometimes have special sales to let Chinese people buy new (often red) clothes to wear for the holiday. People cannot use fireworks in most of Indonesia, but some cities like Jakarta let people use firecrackers.

Some older Chinese traditions still survive in Indonesia. Like in the Philippines, people try to pay back any money they owe before the New Year. People also try not to lend any money during the holiday, because they think it will make them have to keep lending money for the whole year. Doors and windows are opened on the day before the New Year to "let the old year out," and people wake up early the next morning so they don't stay lazy the whole year. The red envelopes of money ( Hokkien: âng-pau) are given on the morning of New Year's Day, not at dinner on the night before it. Many make special trips to one of Indonesia's Chinese temples at some time during the holiday.

It is also still common to leave some food at the table for dead family members and to give them gifts as the New Year begins. Chicken is usually eaten with the head, tail, and feet still on, showing "completeness." Though white rice is eaten, fresh white tofu is not eaten because in Chinese culture its color makes some people think of death and bad luck.

Most of Malaysia gets two days off work for Chinese New Year: the New Year itself and the day after it. Some people still follow the tradition that the second day is used for married women to visit their parents, after visiting her husband's family on Chinese New Year's Day. Most Chinese Malaysians take the entire week off of work, despite the shorter length of the national holiday. Traditional Chinese use the 3rd day of the New Year to visit the resting places of family members who died in the last 3 years; people without a death in their family stay home.

An unusual tradition in Malaysia is the idea of "open house" dinners, especially on the 2nd and 3rd nights of the holiday. Guests, friends, and even strangers from different races and religions can be let in to enjoy large dinners together. The Malaysian government even has its own "open houses" at community halls.

Teochew-style Yusheng, a fish-and- noodle dish, is common in Malaysia, where it is called "yeesang" or "prosperity toss." A restaurant in Seremban started getting people to eat it by throwing it high in the air for good luck in the 1940s, and people had so much fun that they have done it ever since. Another common dish is "steam boat," a kind of seafood hot pot. As in other Chinese places, eating and giving away oranges and tangerines is common in Malaysia. A special tradition is for women with no boyfriend or husband to throw an orange into the sea to find a man. Some now write their telephone numbers on the oranges they throw, and men will use boats to go out and get the fruit.

Singapore, like Malaysia, has a national holiday for Chinese New Year and the day after it. It also sees many "steam boat" hot pot dinners. In 1972, the government stopped people from using their own fireworks during the holiday. Worried that people would find the next celebration less fun, they began the Chingay Parade the next year in 1973. In 1977, Indians and Malays joined the parade, which happens on the 8th day of the New Year. The parade is now the biggest in Asia, with more than 10,000 people in it and floats that show every animal of the circle of Chinese years and the money god Cai Shen. More than 100,000 come to see it in person, and millions of people see it on TV. There are still government firework shows, and the people of Singapore now make noise during the holiday by hitting bamboo sticks together.

Holiday shopping and street shows are centered on Chinatown. Downtown, the holiday is used as a showcase for Chinese arts and customs.

Chinese New Year, the day before it, the day after it, and the Lantern Festival are national holidays in Brunei. The country has had a large number of Chinese people since the 1930s and 40s, and the sultan sometimes comes to their New Year celebrations. Since 2015, however, Brunei has set out tough Islamic laws that try to stop Muslims from joining or even seeing the Chinese celebrations. Lion dances are allowed only at the last Chinese temple in Brunei, at Chinese schools, and at the homes of the Chinese. Only Chinese people can join the dance. People cannot use fireworks or firecrackers, and dances must stop during the hours of Islamic prayers. Breaking these rules risks as much as B$ 20,000 (Brunei dollars) and 5 years in jail.

The Chinese New Year celebrations in North and South Korea are known as Korean New Year. The time in Beijing is 1 hour different from the time in the Korean capital cities of Pyongyang and Seoul. About one time every 24 years, this makes the Korean New Year start on the day after the Chinese New Year.

The Korean holiday is very close to the Chinese one, with families gathering, children being very nice to their parents and grandparents, and older people giving gifts of money to the young. The Korean holiday has different traditional foods and games, though.

Other places

The largest US and Canadian celebrations happen in Chinatowns. People eat Chinese food, give gifts, and have dragon parades that sometimes include marching bands. There is no national holiday with time off work, but different events go on for the full traditional 2 weeks up to the Lantern Festival.

The holiday is also so important to China that many world leaders will take time to send their good wishes to China and the Chinese people.

Most traditional customs have to do with getting more good luck for the new year and staying away from anything unhappy.

Houses are cleaned completely. In former times, sacrifices were made to the gods and dead family members in the days before the holiday. People hang up decorations, especially pairs of Chinese poems ( couplets) on either side of their doors. Some put pictures of Taoist gods on the doors to scare away bad things. Live plants suggest growth, and flowers suggest coming fruits. Pussy willow is common in some places because its Chinese name sounds like "money coming in." It is common for big decorations to look like the animal for the new year.

People used to welcome the New Year with anything that made loud noises, including drums, cymbals, or even woks and pots. The exact traditions were different in different parts of China. Fireworks and firecrackers became more and more common everywhere, but lately many places have stopped letting most people use them because of the danger of people hurting themselves, of fire, and of air pollution that can make people sick. There are still big firework shows in most big cities with many Chinese people, but the city government will put on the show while everyone else watches.

Visits to people's houses are done in new or well-kept clothes. People wear more red than usual, which makes them think of happy times like weddings, and wear less black and white, which makes some think of sad times like funerals.

There are some common things people say to wish good luck to each other, the most important being gōngxǐ fācái ("congratulations that you are now rich"). People try not to say bad words, tell ghost stories, or talk about death. Some even stay away from the number four, which sounds like "death" in Chinese. Crying babies are also thought to be bad luck, and family members will try to keep children happy during visits.

There are some old customs done by hardly anyone. In old China, they didn't sweep or wash clothes on New Year's Day itself. They were afraid of cleaning away good luck together with the dirt. For the same reason, some people did not wash their hair and were very careful not to break any tools. The 5th or 6th day after New Year, when they cleaned and threw away or burned all the trash, was a day for "sending off" the god of Being Poor, one of the sons of Zhuanxu. In the same way, people near Beijing thought that it was unlucky to cook or steam food for the first 5 days of the New Year. They would cook all of their next week of food 2 days before it, so it was ready for the reunion meal. On People's Day, the 7th day of the holiday, people used to wear special headbands and thought good weather meant good luck for everyone in the coming year. Everyone used it to count their age, even when it was not their birthday. None of that is common anymore.

Taoist traditions that are less common now are giving gifts to the Chinese gods. It was thought that gifts would make the gods be nicer to the house and not bring bad luck. Now, fewer people worry about those things.

The reunion dinners on the day before Chinese New Year are often the largest and most expensive of the year. Some families use special and expensive foods to look good to others; others use meaningful foods to bring luck. Jiaozi (a kind of dumpling) are common in northern China. People think they look like the old Chinese silver bars and hold luck inside. Egg rolls and spring rolls like lumpia can also be made to look like golden bars, and oranges and tangerines are thought to look like gold coins. Noodles like or Filipino pancit are eaten uncut to wish for long life. Other foods are eaten because their Chinese names sound like lucky words.

Some Chinese also put out " Trays of Togetherness," dishes with eight different kinds of snack foods. Some common things to put in these trays are kumquats, longans, pieces of coconut meat, peanuts, candies, and melon and lotus seeds. Eight is a lucky number to many Chinese people, like seven in Europe and other places. These dishes are very common among Malaysian and Indonesian Chinese.

For the Lantern Festival, the special food is yuanxiao, small balls of sticky rice in a sweet soup. Lichun always happens near the Chinese New Year as well. It is celebrated by eating spring pancakes ().

Interesting facts about Chinese New Year

About 1/4 of the world's population celebrates Chinese New Year.

San Francisco has held a Chinese New Year celebration since the 1860s, during the gold rush and claims that its Chinese New Year parade is the biggest celebration outside of Asia.

People try to eat as many dumplings as they can on Chinese New Year because dumplings represent wealth.

Pears are considered rude to give as a gift because the Chinese word for pears (梨 lí /lee/) sounds the same as the word for leaving or parting (离 lí).

In China, females are said to be marriageable up to 30, and males before 32. Because of this, some people rent a boyfriend or girlfriend for Chinese New Year to make visiting their families easier.

An old Chinese belief says that the second day of the new year is the birthday of all dogs and that people should be extra kind to dogs that day.

According to Chinese tradition, whatever someone does on New Year's Day sets the precedent for the rest of the year.

Chinese supermarkets report that sales of adult diapers increase by 50% during the Chinese New Year traveling season.

Images for kids

Southeast Asia's largest temple - Kek Lok Si near George Town in Penang, Malaysia - illuminated in preparation for the Chinese New Year.

Cian cui is an Indonesian tradition during the Chinese New Year which involves splashing others with water. Photograph taken in Selatpanjang, Riau, Indonesia.

In Spanish: Año Nuevo chino para niños

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Baptism is a rite or ceremony performed by most Christian churches and denominations. It is done as a cleansing symbol. It shows that the person being baptized has become a follower of Jesus. it can represent the joining of the Christian family

Roman Catholicism baptize infants to mark their becoming members of the church. It is a sacrament usually performed by a priest. In most other churches, it is when the person is old enough to decide that they are ready.

Some religious groups practice baptism by sprinkling a small amount of water on the person, usually their head. Other groups use full immersion, dipping the whole person in the water.

Bible times

In the Old Testament, a similar washing ceremony was done when priests were ordained. Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist before he began his ministry. The usual form of baptism among the earliest Christians was for the person to be immersed totally or partially. But sprinkling, or pouring, was also practiced at an early day with sick and dying persons when total or partial immersion was not practical.

Images for kids

The baptistry at St. Raphael's Cathedral, Dubuque, Iowa. This particular font was expanded in 2005 to include a small pool to provide for immersion baptism of adults. Eight-sided font architectures are common symbology of the day of Christ's Resurrection: the "Eighth Day".

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Baptism is a rite or ceremony performed by most Christian churches and denominations. It is done as a cleansing symbol. It shows that the person being baptized has become a follower of Jesus. it can represent the joining of the Christian family Roman Catholicism baptize infants to mark their becoming members of the church.

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Kids learn about Thanksgiving Day. The history and facts about this holiday where we eat turkey and give thanks.

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A wedding is the ceremony in which two people become married. It is usually between a man (the bridegroom) and a woman (the bride). In some places, same-sex weddings are legal. It is common for the couple involved in the wedding to exchange vows and to give each other rings. Weddings are held in religious buildings or other sites such gardens or the home of the bride's parents.

Wedding customs in western societies

Pre-wedding customs

In the few days or weeks before a wedding, the bride will attend a "bridal shower" held in a friend's home. She receives gifts for and advice about married life. The groom will attend a "bachelor party" with his groomsmen. This event marks his last night as a bachelor. The party is usually held in a restaurant or club. There may be drinking and merriment. A dinner is sometimes held for the parents of the couple. A dinner for all the members of the wedding party is usually held the night before the wedding.

A traditional wedding ceremony in the western world usually consists of the couple exchanging vows before a government official such as a justice of the peace or a clergy person such as a priest, minister, or pastor. Nuns are not permitted to perform marriages. Rings are exchanged between the married couple, following which they kiss.

Traditionally, the bride's church or the home of her parents is the site of her wedding. Non-traditional couples choose various and unusual sites. Some couples have married while snorkeling or skydiving. Rich couples sometimes choose "destination weddings". These couples pay for guests to attend their wedding at a romantic "destination" such as a Caribbean island.

There is often a party or banquet after the wedding called a reception. During the reception, the couple greet friends and family, cut a cake, and have the first dance together. The bride's garter is usually tossed to the groomsmen. The bride's bouquet is tossed to the bridesmaids. The couple depart the reception site in a car that is sometimes decorated with balloons, signs ("Just Married!"), old shoes or tin cans tied to the rear bumper.

The bride usually wears a white dress. She sometimes wears a thin piece of white cloth on her head called a veil, or a wreath of flowers, or a tiara, or other headdress. The groom lifts the veil before or after the vows are taken. The groom is usually dressed in formal attire.

After the wedding, the newlyweds usually take a trip, which is called a honeymoon.[[Category:Ceremonies

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A wedding is the ceremony in which two people become married. It is usually between a man (the bridegroom) and a woman (the bride). In some places, same-sex weddings are legal. It is common for the couple involved in the wedding to exchange vows and to give each other rings.

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Hear that marching playing patriotic music? Smell those hot dogs cooking on the grill? See those fireworks exploding in the night sky? Then it must be Independence Day!

Also called the Fourth of July, Independence Day marks the historic date in 1776 when the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress. The written declaration stated that the American colonies were tired of being ruled by Great Britain. They wanted to become their own country.

A GROWING ANGER

Before the declaration, America was part of the Kingdom of Great Britain (now called the United Kingdom). In the 1600s, people came from Great Britain to settle in what is now North America. Between 1607 and 1732, the British founded 13 colonies: Virginia, New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Delaware, North Carolina, South Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Georgia.

As these colonies grew, the people who lived there thought the British government treated them unfairly. For instance, they had to pay taxes on items such as tea and allow British soldiers to stay in their homes. The colonists had to follow these laws but couldn't do anything to change them. The colonists rebelled. As a result, the Revolutionary War between the colonists and Great Britain began in 1775.

Fighting wasn't enough though. The colonists decided they needed to declare their independence in writing to explain their reasons and gain support from other countries like France. On July 4, 1776, a small group of representatives from the colonies-called the Continental Congress-adopted the Declaration of Independence.

DECLARING INDEPENDENCE

Written by a committee led by Thomas Jefferson, the document was signed by people from all 13 colonies. But the British government didn't accept it. So the colonists continued to fight for independence until they finally defeated Great Britain in 1783.

The Declaration of Independence, now housed at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., is recognized around the world as an important message of self-governance and human rights. The second sentence says it all: that all people are created equally and have rights that include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. (Fun fact: Jefferson, who would become the third U.S. president, wrote that sentence!)

Today the United States and Great Britain are friends. Most Americans still celebrate Independence Day, often with parades and fireworks. Historians think this is thanks to a letter written by John Adams, who helped write the declaration and would also go on to be the second U.S. president. In his letter to his wife, Abigail, Adams predicted that the colonists' independence would be celebrated by future generations as an annual festival with parades and bonfires. It's no wonder that this holiday has turned out to be such a blast!

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Get the scoop on why we celebrate the Fourth of July!

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It's time for vibrant colours, eye-popping fireworks, twinkling lights and delicious food! Ready? Then check out our ten facts about Diwali...
When is Diwali 2023?

The exact dates change each year but this year, Diwali falls on Sunday 12 Novembe r.

Facts about Diwali

1) Diwali is an important religious festival originating in India. People often think of Diwali as a Hindu festival, but it is also celebrated by Sikhs and Jains.*

2) Diwali takes place annually and lasts for five days, marking the start of the Hindu New Year. The exact dates change each year and are determined by the position of the moon - but it usually falls between October and November.

3) The word (or Deepavali as it's sometimes called) means "row of lights" in an Ancient language of India, called Sanskrit. During this festival, people decorate their homes with lights and oil lamps, called diyas.

4) For many people, Diwali honours the Hindu goddess of wealth, Lakshmi. The lights and lamps are said to help Lakshmi find her way into peoples' homes, bringing prosperity in the year to come!

5) It's also a celebration of good triumphing over evil, and different legends based on this theme are associated with Diwali. In northern India, Hindus celebrate the return of the deities (gods) Rama and Sita to the city of Ayodhya, after defeating the evil king Ravana!

6) In the region of Bengal people worship the goddess Kali, the destroyer of evil forces, during Diwali. And in Nepal (a country bordering north-east India), people celebrate Lord Krishna's victory over the wicked king Narakaasura.

7) But it's not just about lights and legends -- Diwali is a time to have fun with friends and family! People exchange gifts and sweets, enjoy delicious feasts, watch firework displays and wear new clothes. It's a time to clean and decorate your home, too.

8) Rangoli is a popular Diwali tradition -- beautiful patterns made using colourful powders and flowers. People draw rangoli on the floor by the entrance of their homes to welcome the gods and bring good luck!

9) Today, this fascinating festival is celebrated by thousands of people in countries all around the world. During Diwali, Hindus living outside India gather at places of worship called to leave offerings to deities, watch firework displays and eat yummy food together!

10) The city of Leicester, in the United Kingdom, holds the largest Diwali celebrations outside of India. Every year, tens of thousands of people gather in the streets to enjoy vibrant shows of light, music and dancing!

*Hinduism, Sikhism and Jainism are three religions founded in India.

What did you think about our facts about Diwali? Leave a comment below and let us know!

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10 fabulous facts about Diwali! - National Geographic Kids

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Learn all about the festival of lights with our ten facts about Diwali. When is Diwali? How do people celebrate Diwali?

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DK Find Out! | Fun Facts for Kids on Animals, Earth, History and more!

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Visit DK Find Out! to learn about dinosaurs, space, animals, nature & more. Fun learning activities for kids with videos, quizzes & galleries at DKFindOut.com

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Australia Day Facts

Australia's national day is Australia Day, which is celebrated on January 26 th each year. The day marks the anniversary of the arrival of the First Fleet of British ships in New South Wales at Port Jackson in 1788. Governor Arthur Philip raised the Flag of Great Britain that day at Port Jackson. The arrival of the British signified British sovereignty over Australia's eastern seaboard. Some have referred to January 26 th as Invasion Day, Anniversary Day, and Foundation Day. It wasn't until 1946 that Australia Day became the uniform name for January 26 th. Australia Day is now the largest civic event held in Australia each year.

The First Fleet (with approximately 1000 people aboard 11 ships) that arrived from Britain in 1788 carried approximately 700 prisoners from Great Britain. A penal colony was established after they arrived.

On the 30 year anniversary of the First Fleet's arrival the Governor of Australia hosted a 30-gun salute and ball at Government House. This was the beginning of it becoming a work holiday for bank employees and others who worked for various organizations.

For the first 100 years the anniversary of the arrival of the First Fleet was only celebrated in New South Wales. In other parts of Australia where other colonies had settled they celebrated their own anniversary dates.

By 1888 the only colony not celebrating Anniversary Day on January 26 th was Adelaide.

All Australian states called January 26 th Anniversary Day by 1935, and it wasn't until 1946 that it was renamed Australia Day.

Most Australians take Australia Day off work as it is a national public holiday.

Common activities on Australia include picnics, beach parties, barbecues, fireworks displays, music festivals, sporting competitions, award ceremonies, and family gatherings.

In Australia it is summer in January so the weather is perfect for outdoor celebrations.

It is common for Australians to fly the Australian National Flag, the Torres Strait Islander Flag or the Aboriginal Flag on Australia Day.

The biggest event held in Australia on Australia Day is the City of Perth Skyworks. This fireworks show is attended by approximately 500,000 people. The fireworks are launched over Perth's Swan River from moving boats, bridges, and from skyscrapers making it one of the most spectacular fireworks displays in the country each year.

Estimates suggest that approximately 10.5 million of Australia's 21 million citizens participate in Australia Day celebrations.

1988 was Australia's Bicentennial Celebration. It is estimated that more than 2.5 million were in Sidney to celebrate.

Australia Day is a popular day for becoming an Australian citizen. About 13,000 people became Australians on January 26 th, 2011.

Australia's Indigenous population is not as happy about Australia Day and its celebrations and significance. To this population it signifies the invasion of their country by the British, and has led to the day being called Invasion Day by many.

The Australian of the Year award has been given out on that day since 1960. Past winners include the cricket player Steve Waugh, the painter Arthur Boyd, and the actor Geoffrey Rush.

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Australia's national day is Australia Day, which is celebrated on January 26 th each year. The day marks the anniversary of the arrival of the First Fleet of British ships in New South Wales at Port Jackson in 1788. Governor Arthur Philip raised the Flag of Great Britain that day at Port Jackson.

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Kids learn about Saint Patrick’s Day. The history and facts about this holiday which is on Dr. Seuss’ birthday.

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In Republic of Macedonia, the most common religion is Orthodox Christianity, practiced by most of the ethnic Macedonians (around 70% of the population).

These days, orthodox Christians are intensively preparing for one of the most joyful Christian holidays - Easter, the feast of Christ's Resurrection. With open hearts, calm and joy, believers celebrate the return of Jesus Christ from the dead and the victory over death, greeting with the words "Christ is Risen - Truly He is risen!".

The egg is the most popular symbol of the brightest Christian holiday. Traditionally before Easter every home paints eggs which symbolize the resurrection and the beginning of a new life. It is one of the most beautiful and joyful Orthodox traditions that cherish to this day.

The egg has always been considered a symbol of rebirth and was associated with the revival of nature. In many cultures, the egg became synonym for fertility and in the past there were beliefs that the whole universe was created from a giant egg. It is thought that this notion stems from the Latin proverb "Omne vivum ex ovo" which means "All life comes from an egg."

In Christianity, Easter egg symbolizes Christ's Resurrection. Hard shell of the egg represents the tomb of Jesus and breaking of eggs symbolizes the resurrection from the dead. Therefore, when we give someone an Easter egg, we salute him with the words "Christ is risen."

Easter eggs are traditionally painted and decorated. In Western culture, coloring eggs has gradually began to be replaced by buying chocolate eggs and plastic eggs filled with candies, but in our culture, tradition of dyeing eggs is highly cherished.

Easter eggs are painted and decorated on Maundy Thursday. The first egg is painted before sunrise, because it is believed that it won't spoil and that it will last all year if it doesn't "see" the sun. Housewives dye three eggs in red in the morning.

With the first egg the housewife draws a cross for health on the face of the children with the words "Red, white, thick" or "Red, white, healthy and alive." That egg is considered to have protective powers and it is kept in a special place in the house until the next Easter.

The number of painted eggs depends on the number of family members, but eggs are painted and for every guest who will come to the house.

The red color symbolizes the shed blood of Jesus for salvation of people on Earth and also represents victory, health, optimism and love.

There are many legends that explain the meaning of the red egg and why it has the greatest power. According to one of them, when Mary Magdalene saw Jesus after his resurrection, she carried basket with eggs to give to the other women. The moment she saw Jesus, eggs were painted in perfect red color.

According to another legend, while Jesus was crucified, at the foot of the cross came a chicken and laid an egg. The blood that flowed from the Jesus's body colored egg in red. Therefore, the first egg should be in red to symbolize the blood of Jesus shed on the cross.

Giving eggs derived from Biblical event. It is thought that after the death of Jesus, Mary Magdalene went to Rome to preach the gospel. When she met the Roman Emperor Tiberius, she gave him an egg and greeted with the words "Christ is risen."

When she told him about Christ's Resurrection, Emperor smiled and said that the return of Jesus from the dead is as impossible as white egg in her hand can turn red. Before ending with the speech, the egg in the hand of Mary Magdalene was also painted in bright red color.

Thus originates the tradition Christians to give Easter eggs before they greet with the words "Christ is risen."

For Easter, everyone breaks with Easter eggs and "wins" the one in whom whole egg is left. According to folk beliefs, it will give health in the coming year.

But the breaking of the eggs is not only "fight for health." It also symbolizes the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. As Jesus' tomb was opened when he was resurrected to announce the new life, the egg breaks when new life comes out of it.

When we break with eggs, we in fact acknowledge and remember the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Easter is said to be a holiday over holidays, the day when Jesus proved his divine strength and power. Invite spiritual peace and celebrate Christ's resurrection full of joy.

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македонска кујна

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In Republic of Macedonia, the most common religion is Orthodox Christianity, practiced by most of the ethnic Macedonians (around 70% of the population). These days, orthodox Christians are intensively preparing for one of the most joyful Christian holidays - Easter, the feast of Christ's Resurrection.

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People around the world celebrate the start of a year on New Year's Day. It is one of the oldest holidays. In the Western cultures of Europe, North America, South America, and Australia, most people celebrate New Year's Day on January 1.

People of other places and cultures observe the new year at other times depending on their different calendars. The Chinese New Year, for example, is celebrated for a month beginning in late January or early February. In Iran New Year's Day is in March, on the first day of spring. Followers of the Jewish religion celebrate the new year in the autumn. According to the Islamic calendar, the new year starts with the month of Muharram. Because the calendar is based on the movement of the Moon, Muharram can begin in autumn, summer, spring, or winter.

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People around the world celebrate the start of a year on New Year's Day. It is one of the oldest holidays. In the Western cultures of Europe, North America, South America,...

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Why do we celebrate Easter | Fun Easter facts for kids | Sharing Our Experiences

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Why do we celebrate Easter. What is Easter. How to explain Easter to kids. What is the connection between eggs, bunny and Easter. I always used to wonder about these questions. So here in this article I will be answering most of these along with some fun Easter facts for kids and activities and games they can play on Easter.

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Father Christmas ('Pai Natal') is believed to bring presents to children on Christmas Eve, rather than Christmas Day. The presents are left under the Christmas Tree or in shoes by the fireplace. However, some people say that the presents are brought by the Baby Jesus rather than Father Christmas.

Like in Spain, the traditional Christmas meal in Portugal, called 'Consoada', is eaten during the evening of Christmas Eve and consists of salted cod served with green vegetables, boiled potatoes and boiled eggs. This is normally followed by shellfish, wild meats or other expensive foods. Other popular Christmas foods include roast Turkey as well as cakes, fried cookies, nuts and other goodies!

Also, each region traditionally has its own selection of desserts. In the northern province of Minho, rich people would have rich desserts made with lots of eggs such as 'Lampreia de ovos' (sugary egg yolks made into the shape of a fish!). Normal people would be more likely to have something like rice pudding. French Toast (called 'Rabanadas') is popular throughout the country as are fried dough desserts sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon like 'filhós'. Filhós are also made differently in different regions. Alentejo province makes them with crated carrot and shapes them balls. Beira Province makes them flat and round with just the flour and water and sometimes some orange or lemon zest to flavor the dough.

The traditional Christmas cake is 'Bolo Rei' (which means 'King Cake') and is placed in the center of the table. There is also a version without candied fruit called the 'Bolo Rainha'. Traditionally a broad bean and a gift (a little token) are hidden in the cake. If you get the token you are allowed to keep it. But if you find the broad bean, you have to pay for next year's Bolo Rei!

People drink porto wine, traditional liquors and eat 'azevias' and 'felhozes' (Portuguese biscuits and sweets). The party lasts until the early hours of the morning!

After the meal, people go to church for the 'Missa do Galo' or 'Mass of the Rooster' service. During the service an image of baby Jesus is brought out, and everyone queues up to kiss it. It is then put in the nativity scene (the presépio) that every church will have. After the service people return home and open their presents.

Before leaving for the service, parents secretly put the baby Jesus in the nativity scene in their houses and put the gifts under the Christmas Tree, so that Jesus will 'miraculously' be in his manger by the time the family returns home! Children run to check the nativity scene as soon as they enter the house as no baby Jesus means no presents!

Some families have two present opening times with children being allowed to open a few gifts after midnight mass and most of them in the morning. People that don't go to a midnight service will put the gifts under the tree and the family will open the gifts when they wake up.

On Christmas Day the living room table remains untouched and people still enjoy their goodies together! Families come together and have Christmas Day lunch together.

Christmas Trees are common now, but not everyone had a tree until around the 1970s. However, the Nativity Scene (or Presépio) is the traditional Christmas decoration in Portugal, and most families will have a small one with just the holy family and the animals; but often the scenes have dozens of characters including the holy family, animals, the wise men, shepherds, farmers, folk characters, etc. Children like to make the nativity scene, fetching moss to make the grass and arranging the figures.

Some shops and clubs still make huge nativity scenes with over one hundred figures, waterfalls, windmills that rotate, and lights! People like to go and see the big scenes.

In the region of Penamacor, a special Christmas tradition called the 'Christmas Madeiro' takes place on Christmas Eve. Traditionally, young men who were about to go into the military (for compulsory military service) were meant to steal whole trees to make the tallest fire in the church yard. However, compulsory military service was stopped in 2004 in Portugal, but the tradition of lighting the Madeiro stump/fire still takes place in some areas. The fire is lit just before the Midnight mass or during it "to warm baby Jesus's feet"! It also gives people a warm place to meet friends, chat and sing songs when they come out of midnight mass. The Madeiro is sometimes so big that it will keep on burning for Christmas day as well!

The wood for the Madeiro was traditionally stollen - it should not be bought! If the boys were caught by the owners of the trees, then they have to pay for it. However, nowadays the wood is normally paid for after Christmas or it is discretely donated by the boy's parents; or relatives who tell them where some trees that are sick, or which ones need felling, so they can get them from there!

After Christmas (and never before!) and going into the first weeks of January, groups of people will go from house to house with an image of the baby Jesus in his manger singing the 'Janeiras' songs (January songs). They are often accompanied with small instruments. They usually start with an opening song asking the owner of the house for food and drink! The owner of the house should invite them in to warm up and to help themselves of a spread of snacks sweet like dry figs with walnuts inside them or savory like cheese and chorizo and some wine or brandy.

If you do not open your door, or your food and drink doesn't meet what is expected (especially if you're rich), the singers will sing songs mocking you (like saying you've got a big nose)! Normally after enjoying the food, the January singers will sing a song of thanks praising the generosity of the hosts, saying how nice you are and saying any single girls are very beautiful!

Epiphany is also celebrated in Portugal, on the 6th January. On the Island of Madeira, the Janeiras are very popular and are also known as the "Cantar os Reis" (or 'singing the Kings'). As well as the Janeiras in the streets, there's also a popular concert which is held each year on the evening of the 5th January in the to be held in the Auditorium of the Municipal Gardens, in Funchal.

In Portuguese Happy/Merry Christmas is 'Feliz Natal' or you can use 'Feliz Natal e um feliz ano novo' for 'Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year'. Happy/Merry Christmas in lots more languages.

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Christmas in Portugal on whychristmas?com

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Father Christmas ('Pai Natal') is believed to bring presents to children on Christmas Eve, rather than Christmas Day. The presents are left under the Christmas Tree or in shoes by the fireplace. However, some people say that the presents are brought by the Baby Jesus rather than Father Christmas.

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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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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.