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MAIN Home Life
Holidays
New
Year Lunar
New Year 2008
Gung
Hay Fat Choy!
The Lunar
New Year dates from 2600 BC, when the Emperor Huang Ti introduced
the first cycle of the Chinese zodiac.
Because
of cyclical lunar dating, the first day of the year can fall
anywhere between late January and the middle of February.
On the Chinese calendar, 2008 is Lunar Year 4705-4706.
On the
Western calendar, the start of the New Year falls on February
7, 2008 The Year of the Rat. If
you were born in 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984,
1996 - you were born under the sign of the rat.
Like the
rat,
you are always busily pursuing a personal goal or ambition,
and are thus known as one of the hardest-working signs in
the Chinese
zodiac. For rats in 2008, any recent setbacks or obstacles
can be overcome, so look forward to a year in which to really
shine, either personally or professionally.
Famous
people born in the Year Of The Rat include Prince
Charles, ice skating champ Sasha
Cohen, rapper Eminem,
and actress Scarlett
Johansson,
Chinese
New Year around the Web
On the
Web, learn more about Chinese New Year
celebrations in the U.S. and around the world, browse
festive clip art and e-mail greetings, or read up on traditional
holiday folklore along with food & recipes
surrounding a traditional weeks-long Chinese Lunar New Year
or Spring Festival ...
Happy
New Year!
Chinese
New Year for Kids & Teachers
- Fun for everyone at this first-rate resource including links
to top holiday history and food sites, plus lesson plans for
teachers...and festival-related crafts, coloring pages and
clip art for the kids.
Chinese
New Year - Great intro, with brief descriptions of
traditional celebrations slated for all 15 days of the New
Year or Spring Festival, plus more on traditional Chinese
New Year foods, decorations, taboos and superstitions.
Chinese
New Year - Wikipedia - A wonderful overview of the
history, symbols, customs & foods surrounding the 15-day
festivities including information on traditional gifts, flowers,
fireworks, good luck / bad luck superstitions, how Chinese
New Year is celebrated around the world, plus lots of related
links and resources.
Lunar
New Year in Taiwan - An engaging read, and beautifully
illustrated with tales of the origins of the festival, holiday
dishes, gift exchanges, the dragon and lion parade, rituals
and superstitions.
Chinese
New Year: Chinese Calendar - One stop browsing to
learn more about the zodiac, the 12 animals that govern specific
years, an online tutorial of Chinese
calligraphy, a New Year banners how-to, New Year graphics,
and lots more.
Teacher
Planet - Chinese New Year - Great collection of fun
activities and instructional how to's including dragon crafts,
paper lanterns & garlands, scavenger hunt sheets, related
lesson plans, plus links to clip art & history resources.
Chinese
New Year Greetings, E-Cards - A colorful collection
of animated and Flash greetings, Spring Festival, and Happy
New Year cards.
Chinese
New Year Clip Art - Check out kid-friendly images
of zodiac signs, dragon parades and more.
Lunar
New Year Parades & Events Worldwide:
Chinese
New Year Global Gala
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Korea
- Seollal is celebrated with traditional rice
cake soup and a trip to the shore or mountains to
see the sunrise on the first day of the New Year.
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Chinese
New Year Recipes
In
some areas of China it's a popular custom to give oranges
because in Chinese, the word "orange" sounds like
"Ji", which means "good luck". People
present oranges to their friends and relatives to express
their respects and good wishes for the coming year.
Chinese Zodiac
Rat
| Ox
| Tiger
| Rabbit
| Dragon
| Snake
Horse | Sheep
| Monkey
| Rooster
| Dog
| Pig
also
see -> Beijing
Olympics | China
Tourist Attractions
Chinese
Dragon Boat Festival | Mid-Autumn
Festival
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