This is the most significant Chinese holiday. It begins on a different date each year and that date corresponds with the New Moon in Aquarius which takes place sometime between January 21st and February 18th. Family and friends exchange gifts. The holiday is celebrated with parades, fireworks and in many other ways throughout the country and in other countries with large Han Chinese populations. The holiday continues for 15 days and ends with the Lantern Festival.
Recommended Resources
Apples4theTeacher: Chinese New Year
Shares games and activities for the Chinese New Year. These include the zodiac, puzzles, recipes, tangrams, word searches, crafts and coloring pages.
http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/chinese-new-year/
Chinese New Year and the Chinese Calendar
Learn about dates and symbols for Chinese New Year festivities, both past and present.
http://www.chinapage.com/newyear.html
History Channel: Chinese New Year
Presents videos, traditional foods, symbols and information about the Chinese calendar.
http://www.history.com/content/chinesenewyear
Introduces the origins, history and traditions of this holiday. Offers instructions for a number of craft projects as well as printable activities.
http://crafts.kaboose.com/holidays/chinese_new_year.html
Natalie Walker furnishes a lesson plan for 2nd to 3rd grade students. Includes a background of the holiday, lesson objectives, necessary resources, procedures and assessment ideas. Also offers a bibliography for children's literature on the Chinese New Year.
http://teacherlink.ed.usu.edu/TLresources/units/Byrnes-celebrations/chinese.html
The University of Victoria in Canada offers information about this 15 day celebration along with its traditional foods, decorations, taboos and superstitions.
http://www.educ.uvic.ca/faculty/mroth/438/CHINA/chinese_new_year.html
