Gung Hay Fat Choy

Happy New Chinese Year

Today we celebrated 2011, the year of the Rabbit. 

Chinese around the world are celebrating the lunar new year for 2011, the Chinese New Year or Spring Festival as it is known marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring.

Gung Hay Fat Choy means "Best wishes and Congratulations. Have a prosperous and good year." 

 

To learn about what Chinese New Year means to the Chinese we have been reading books, signing songs and make some fun crafts. 

Below is one of the kids favorite songs .. sung to a tune very similar to the Jeopardy Theme Song :) 

Gung Hay Fat Choy, Gung Hay Fat Choy
Sing 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 






Learning about the traditions has been a two week process. We also made lanterns, dragons and Lucky Goldfish. Today we had fun eating Rice Pudding and opening fortune cookies :) 

Chinese New Year according to the kids:

"Fortune Cookies!" ~ Ian 

"I made a dragon with fire in his mouth" ~ Dylan

"Rice pudding ~ I didn't have any so ~ that means I don't like it." ~ Gwen

"The year of the Rabbit ~ the new moon tells us when it's Chinese New Year. I am a pig, not a rabbit, my mom told me." ~ Lulu

"We made lanterns and sang Gung Hay Fat Choy" ~ Kylie

"The dragon is at the end of the parade and he eats lettuce and red envelopes.I have not been to the parade." ~ Ariana