Chinese New Year

Dragon dances, acrobats, fireworks, a parade ... London is buzzing with excitement at Chinese New Year. Find out what you can do to join in the excitement!

Preparation

The event

For London’s Chinese community (and everyone else who loves a party!), Chinese New Year is a huge event. Before Chinese New Year, people make sure their houses are clean and tidy, buy new clothes and have their hair cut, to bring good luck for the new year. London has the biggest celebrations outside of Asia. Hundreds of thousands of people go to watch the parade from the West End to Trafalgar Square, which includes Chinese acrobats, and traditional lion and dragon dances. 

The date

The exact date is calculated according to lunar and solar calendars, so it changes every year. Find out when it falls this year in the table below. Each year is the year of a different animal.

rat	19 February 1996	7 February 2008	25 January 2020
ox	7 February 1997	26 January 2009	12 February 2021
tiger	28 January 1998	14 February 2010	1 February 2022
rabbit	16 February 1999	3 February 2011	22 January 2023
dragon	5 February 2000	23 January 2012	10 February 2024
snake	24 January 2001	10 February 2013	29 January 2025
horse	12 February 2002	31 January 2014	17 February 2026
goat	1 February 2003	19 February 2015	6 February 2027
monkey	22 January 2004	8 February 2016	26 January 2028
rooster	9 February 2005	28 January 2017	13 February 2029
dog	29 January 2006	16 February 2018	3 February 2030
pig	18 February 2007	5 February 2019	23 February 2031

You can also find out which animal you are. First of all, find your year of birth in the table. For example, suppose you were born in 2002. The table shows that the year of the horse started on 12 February that year, so if your birthday is in 2002 on or after 12 February, you are a horse. If you were born in 2002 but before 12 February, you are a snake.

The celebrations

In central London there are fireworks and stage performances with all kinds of acts and special guests. Previous celebrations have included fashion shows and Chinese hip hop acts, as well as more traditional performances with Chinese acrobats. Chinatown is buzzing with excitement. The streets are decorated with lucky red lanterns and full of craft and food stalls. If you’re thinking of eating in one of Chinatown’s excellent Chinese restaurants, however, book a table early, because you won’t find one on the night. Listen out for people wishing each other a 'Kung Hei Fat Choi' - Happy New Year!

Chinese people in Britain

For young Chinese people studying or working in the UK, video conferencing is a brilliant way of joining big family celebrations back home. Those missing home might also cook traditional Chinese dumplings for friends in Britain or organise an evening of karaoke, another popular way of celebrating. The festivities are not as noisy as back home, they say, where loud firecrackers are traditionally used to frighten away evil spirits, and the special red envelopes of money from relatives may have further to travel to the UK. But there is still plenty of excitement, happiness and good feeling, as people come together to enjoy the celebrations.

EXERCISES

Read the text about Chinese New Year and then do these exercises to check your understanding.

1. Check your understanding: true or false
    Circle True or False for these sentences.

1. Chinese New Year is a big celebration in London. True  False
2. Improving your appearance and tidying your house are part of the preparations. True  False
3. Chinese New Year is always on 31st January. True  False
4. There are 11 different animal signs. True  False
5. All of the Chinese New Year entertainment on offer in London is traditional. True  False
6. You can buy Chinese food in the streets of Chinatown. True  False
7. Modern technology helps to unite families who are living in different countries. True  False
8. Young Chinese people living in the UK won’t receive any red envelopes of money from their relatives. True  False

2. Check your understanding: gap fill
    Complete the gaps with words from the box.

exact      evil      lunar      fashion      huge      red      family      food and craft

1. Chinese New Year is a _______________ event in London – the biggest celebrations outside of Asia.
2. The date changes every year, and is calculated according to the _______________ calendar.
3. When is the _______________ date this year?
4. The streets are decorated with _______________ lanterns.
5. In past years in London there have been hip hop acts and even _______________ shows.
6. In Chinatown the streets are full of _______________ stalls.
7. People living in Britain can use video conferencing to join in _______________ celebrations in China.
8. Loud firecrackers are used to frighten away _______________ spirits.

3. Check your understanding: grouping
    Write the activities in the correct group.

Going to a restaurant               Chinese acrobats         Doing karaoke         Lion and dragon dances  Decorating the streets and houses with lanterns           Making dumplings and eating together Having your hair cut        Fireworks and firecrackers        Cleaning and tidying your house

Preparations for Chinese New Year	Traditional entertainment	Ways to celebrate with friends and family

Discussion

Will you be celebrating Chinese New Year? What will you do?    Which of these celebrations would you most like to see or do?    What’s the most important festival in your country? What do you do to celebrate it?

Vocabulary Box      Write here any words you have learnt in this lesson.

KEYS

1. Check your understanding: true or false

1. True 2. True 3. False 4. False 5. False 6. True 7. True 8. False

2. Check your understanding: gap fill

1. huge 2. lunar 3. exact 4. red 5. fashion 6. food and craft 7. family 8. evil

3. Check your understanding: grouping

Preparations for Chinese New Year	Traditional entertainment	Ways to celebrate with friends and family
Decorating the streets and houses with lanterns Having your hair cut Cleaning and tidying your house	Lion and dragon dances Chinese acrobats Fireworks and firecrackers	Making dumplings and eating together Doing karaoke Going to a restaurant