CHINA

Fast Facts

• Official Name: People´s Republic of China

• Capital: Beijing

• Biggest City: Shanghai

• First Made in China: Paper, fireworks, kites, yo-yos, the abacus, playing cards.

Money• The official currency of China is the yuan. 1

yuan is worth about 15 cents in U.S. dollars. Or $1.00 is about 7 yuan.

Chinese Calligraphy(written Chinese)

• Fu - the Chinese word for 'luck‘

• Spring

Fortune, Prosperity, Longevity, Happinessfu lu shou xi

Chinese New Year• The Lunar New Year, also called the

Spring Festival, is the most important holiday for the Chinese.

• New Year's Day usually falls on the day of the second new moon after the winter solstice (first day of winter).

• The New Year is celebrated with firecrackers, dragon dances and visits to friends and family. It lasts for 15 days and ends with the Lantern Festival.

Year of the Tiger• The Chinese zodiac is based on a 12-year

cycle with each year represented by an animal. February 14, 2010 marks the start of the Year of the Tiger.

Customs• The entire house should be cleaned before

New Year's Day. Sweeping or dusting should not be done on New Year's Day for fear that good fortune will be swept away.

• Shooting off firecrackers on New Year's Eve is the Chinese way of sending out the old year and welcoming in the New Year. On the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, every door in the house, and even windows, have to be open to allow the old year to go out.

• Red clothing is preferred on New Year’s Day. Red is considered a bright, happy color, sure to bring the wearer a sunny and bright future.

Click to see a video clip of a Lion Dance from the world lion dance championship held in Genting, Malaysia.

The traditional Lion Dance is performed with two people in a lion’s costume. It is accompanied by drums, gongs and cymbals.

In a Dragon Dance, a team of people carry the dragon on poles.

Click to see a short dragon dance.

Gung Hay Fat Choy, Gung Hay Fat ChoySing Happy New Year, Gung Hay Fat Choy

The new moon tells us, exactly when To celebrate with family and friends

Clean up the house and get out the broom Sweep out the old year, bring in the new

Bring out the apples, the oranges too Their colors bring us joy and good luck too

The dragon dances, the lanterns light The firecrackers light up the night

Gung Hay Fat Choy – Chinese New Year Song

BibliographyInformation and images from the following websites were used in the creation of this powerpoint

presentation:

• Scholastic lesson plan and resources: http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/instructor/Jan05_china.htm

• Images and music from: http://www.nancymusic.com/Gunghayplay.htm• Image of tiger: http://www.dl4all.com/search/chinese+new+year++tiger.html• China the beautiful: http://www.chinapage.com/china.html• Lion and dragon dancer images:

http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/interactive/wallpapers/ig_wall_fest.jhtml#• Lion dance information: http://www.chinese-culture.net/html/lion_dance.html• Lion dance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7m-SEdOKrE4&feature=player_embedded#at=36• Dragon dance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WUnWPpRslM• Activity Village Chinese New Year links:

http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/chinese_new_year_links.htm• Map: http://www.chinatour.com/maps/maps.htm• Chinese money: http://www.chinatour.com/currency/currency.htm• Chinese New Year: http://www.educ.uvic.ca/faculty/mroth/438/CHINA/chinese_new_year.html• Wallpaper: http://www.123chinesenewyear.com/chinesenewyear/wallpapers/index2.html

This powerpoint presentation was created by:Sally Horowitz, LibrarianNorthside Elementary SchoolMidway, KYUpdated: 2/15/10