Chinese New Year Beliefs

Friday (20/01/2012)

a) Reunion Meal.
* All Chinese will have this meal on Chinese New year eve and also on the first day of CNY. Thus, in school; the kids had earlier have thier very own calss party. They brought teir own food. For ,lunch, our school cook; Aunt Jess cooked fries, nuggets and also corns for us. Pomegranate class made a big circle together with 6-year-old kids at our classroom and had their Reunion Lunch together. it was indeed a day full of food and the kids were so tired but excited about CNY. The best part was receiving red Ang Pow from our Principal; Mr. Hoo. The kids thanked him and wished him good wishes.

b) Craft continuation.
* The kids continued with their cutting of the character "spring". As now they have 3 pieces, they would paste them into a 3-D pattern. Next, they took their paper lantern and 3D-charcter for me to punched holes at the top and below. They inseted yarn through the hole to tie into a knot. Only a few could tie a knot. The rest neede my guidance.
* The final step was to create the wishing label given to each of them. "Wishing you a happy, healthy and wealthy Chinese New Year". Then, they pasted onto a hard cardboard to attach to theit carft lantern. It looked simple and nice.

c) Chinese New Year Customs.
Teacher: Can you share with the class things that we do and don't at CNY?
Yee Xuan: We can play fire crackers.
Shawn: WEe have to becareful not to burn ourselves.
Xiang Wei: We can see many lanterns.
Yu Xi: There are Lion Dance.
* We learnt about activities Chinese people do from the eve to the 15th. day of CNY.
* Before CNy, we do spring cleaning. Then, we decorate our homes.
* On the first day, we don't sweep the floor, we wear new clothes. Most Chinese are vegetarians on the first day. We go to temples and visit relatives.
* On second day; we vist relatives of mother's family such as grandparents.
* On the third day; some popel avoid visiting homes as they believe will cause misunderstandings. Most people don't practise this anymore.
* Some shops will resume business on fourth or sixth day.
* On the eightth day night; the Chinese Hokkien pray Jade Emperor.
* On the fifteenth day or "Chap Goh Mei", some Chinese play lanterns while Malaysian Chinese who wish to seek for partners; may write their contact number on the oranges before throwing into the river. they believe that people who pick up thier oranges will be their future spouse.
* Different countries have differ cultures. Yet, CNY is an important celebration for Chinese around the world.