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Chinese New Year ~ Ancient Tradition with New Service
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What better way to beat
the Holiday Gimmees and observe Red Letter Days than
to practice good deeds? Here's a way to discover the
true meaning of holidays and heroes. Please join us
in celebrating the following Season of Service.
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The
New Year begins on the first day of the first month on the Chinese
lunar calendar. It lasts for fifteen days and is known also as
the Spring Festival that celebrates winter's passing. This is
a special time for children who receive new clothes, shoes, and
gifts of money. What could be a better season for youngsters to
share traditional joys? Students can serve their home and community
by bringing cheer to the elderly and the hospitalized; writing
messages to their parents; beautifying their classrooms and school
environments; performing skits; and organizing fun activities
for their younger peers.
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Clean
Start To sweep away ill-fortune and welcome good luck,
Chinese families prepare for the New Year by thoroughly cleaning
their homes. Bring this tradition to school and clean student desks
and lockers. Decorate classrooms and halls with traditional red
scrolls inscribed with good luck sayings.
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First
Flowers Since flowers symbolize
good fortune, folk decorate their homes with peonies, narcissi,
and flowering branches of plum or peach. Force spring bulbs amaryllis,
tulips, paper-white narcissus, and grape hyacinths in school. Observe
and chart the plants' growth. Then visit an elderly center to
bring flowering plants and sing New Year song.
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Origin
of Chinese New Year Go
online to research how a Chinese God disguised as an old man scared
away the monster Nian. Write a skit about
this legend. Perform it for an audience of young and old.
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Red
Envelopes with a Message
On New
Year's Eve, parents give children and unmarried adults red envelopes
filled with money. Read Sam
and the Lucky Money in class. Then make envelopes or licee.
Write messages describing jobs students will perform at home. Instead
of money, place messages in envelopes and present them to parents.
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Lighten
up with Riddles Held
on the fifteenth day of the New Year, the Lantern Festival marks
the year's first full moon. It marks the end to celebrations and
signals the return to daily routines. Traditionally, riddles are
hung on lanterns or walls for a lantern
riddle contest. Make multicolored geometric
lanterns and attach riddles to their bases. Invite younger peers
contribute
riddles and award small prizes to participants.
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Story
TimeVisit the local library and
borrow picture books on Chinese New Year.
Back at school, hold a Read Aloud for kindergartners and first
graders.
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More
Chinese New Year Web Sites
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This
Season of Service page brought to you by LaiLai
Sheung: llsheung@massed.net
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Seasons of Service
