Happy Chinese New Year!

At Learning Without Tears, we’re excited to celebrate Chinese New Year and the Year of the Pig! To honor this holiday, we’re sharing some of our favorite facts about Chinese New Year.
 

Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, celebrates the beginning of the New Year on the traditional Chinese Calendar. The first day of the Chinese New Year occurs on the day of the new moon between January 21–20.
 

This year, Chinese New Year is on February 5, and it’s a time of special celebration for everyone in China. Traditionally, Chinese New Year honored deities and ancestors, but now it’s a time for families to gather and celebrate the forthcoming year. Here are some ways Chinese New Year is celebrated:
 

1. People wear red to match the festive mood and to scare away bad spirits and fortunes. 
2. Families come together for a reunion dinner.
3. People clean their homes to sweep away any ill-fortune, decorating rooms with red paper cut-outs.
4. Children receive lucky money in red envelopes.
5. Fireworks are set off to ward off monsters and bad luck.

In Chinese culture, each new year is designated a zodiac animal. This year is the Year of the Pig. The pig is the twelfth zodiac animal and is a symbol of wealth and is associated with good fortune, enthusiasm, energy, and joy.
 

Happy New Year! How will you and your class celebrate? 

By Kathryn Fox Kathryn received her Bachelor of Arts in Writing, Rhetoric, and Technical Communication from James Madison University. She is an experienced editor, copywriter, and technical writer and has worked for the government and in the IT, music, and telecommunications industries. She is currently a writer and editor for Learning Without Tears and loves providing content that empowers young writers and teachers. Kathryn lives in Arlington, Virginia with her best friends.