Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival or Lunar New Year, is the most important holiday in China. It's is a time for families to come together, to celebrate and honor their ancestors. The celebration lasts for 15 days and is based on the Chinese lunar calendar (lunisolar calendar), which means it is based on the cycles of the moon and the sun. The exact date of the New Year changes every year, but it typically falls between January 21st and February 20th.
The Chinese zodiac calendar can be traced back to the 14th century B.C. It is believed the first Chinese emperor, Emperor Huangdi, created the Chinese lunar calendar. The ancient tale says Jade Emperor invited every animal around the world to a race and the 12 species that turned up were rewarded by having a zodiac sign named after them. The race then determined their place in the calendar. In short, the Chinese calendar is a repeating 12-year cycle of animal signs and their characteristics based on the lunar calendar.
Rat: quick-witted, resourceful, versatile, kind.
Ox: diligent, dependable, strong, determined.
Tiger: brave, confident, competitive, unpredictable.
Rabbit: quiet, elegant, kind, responsible.
Dragon: confident, intelligent, enthusiastic.
Snake: enigmatic, intelligent, wise.
Horse: animated, active, energetic.
Goat: calm, gentle, sympathetic.
Monkey: sharp, smart, curious.
Rooster: observant, hardworking, courageous.
Dog: lovely, honest, prudent.
Pig: compassionate, generous, diligent.
If you want partake in a Chinese New Year tradition, try making this unique DIY Chinese lunar calendar and find out what zodiac animal 2023 falls under.
Materials Needed
- Cardboard
- Color Paper
- Paper Fastener
- Markers
- Glue stick
- Ruler
Step One
Cut out a cardboard circle and glue a piece of colored paper on top. Then, grab another round colored paper and begin drawing the different sections.
Step Two
Begin writing the dates in the calendar, starting with 1972 under the Rat section. Continue to fill in the calendar until you have up to 2031.
Step Three
Time for the fun part, let's draw the animals labeled at the top of our designated sections.
Step Four
Align the circle with the cardboard cut out and put a paper fastener in the center to easily make it spin. Now, let's spin and see what animal the year represents. Happy Chinese New Year!
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