Chinese New Year By Laura Ekmen and Tiphaine Pottier

INTRODUCTION Every year there is a celebration. It‘s called “Chinese new year.” The Chinese prepare lots of things and have a parade. The Chinese set off firecrackers. The most important thing is…Celebrating! When new year’s day comes, the Chinese say, "Gung Hay Fat Choy".

FIRECRACKERS Firecrackers are made to surprise people when they explode in the sky at 1:00, it is a sign of happiness on the new year’s day. People set fireworks to welcome the new year. The firecrackers scare spirits away so every new year there are no more spirits for the whole year.

GIFTS Parents give red envelops to there children with a card or money in it. The envelops are called “hong bao“ or “ lai shi”. Inside is lucky money. It's a gift for the children.

DECORATIONS Chinese people have red and orange decorations or fruits. People hang long red banners with good luck wishes written on them around there house. The Chinese buy or make their own lanterns to light up the house. The lanterns are made out of bamboo, silk, glass and plastic. Good luck messengers are often painted on lanterns. Large displays of lights that include many kinds of shapes and figures.

SPIRITS AND GODS To scare away evil spirits, people light bone fires or set off fireworks. Today the tradition continues during the Chinese new year. They follow the teaching of the Buddha and visits temples during new year’s day.

CHINESE CALENDAR The calendar is called “The Lunar Calendar.” It follows the cycles of the moon. It begins on the first new moon or the year and it ends 15 days after the first moon of the year.