Chinese New Year

Calendars are an invention of people. Time passes from day to day with the cycle of the sun rising and setting. Centuries ago people tried to measure time. They created the calendar as a measurement tool to keep track of how fast time was moving. However, just like there is more than one kind of pencil, or one kind of television, or gaming system, there is also more than one kind of calendar.

The Chinese New Year begins this year on January 31st. Just like our New Year is always on January 1st, the Chinese New Year is always on the first day of their calendar. One of the most interesting things about the Chinese calendar is that they identify each year with an animal. In simple terms, it’s like a mascot for the year.

This year will be the Year of the Horse. The Chinese say that people who are born during a Year of the Horse are cheerful and fun, talented and independent. A wonderful combination of traits!

The Chinese people celebrate their culture in a 15-day celebration of the New Year. They celebrate with fireworks, parades, special rituals and foods.

To celebrate Chinese New Year, skip the fortune cookies, which are really an American invention, and try out a tangram puzzle. Tangrams are ancient Chinese puzzles. If you’re in the mood for something with a more artistic flair, download and color this Year of the Horse page.

Resources:

Horse Tangram printable:  http://www.tangram-channel.com/tangram-horse-print-23/

Horse coloring page: http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/year-of-the-horse

YouTube Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QC05N4lt_tA



Image Credits:
dominuquechappard. Tangram Men. 13 Oct 2013. Openclipart.org. Web. 22 Jan 2014.
Salvor. Horse. 02 Jan 2013. Openclipart.org. Web. 22 Jan 2014.
Yves_Guillou. Tangrams. 03 Jan 2008. Openclipart.org. Web. 22 Jan 2014.