Gung Hay Fat Choi!

Or, in other words, "Happy Chinese New Year!"  In January we took a Storytime trip to Asia and learned all about how kids and their families in China celebrate the Lunar New Year.

We say "Hello!"  In China, people say "Nǐ hǎo!"

During the  celebration, shops and homes are decorated with lanterns, flowers and bright banners. Red is the color of good luck!

Children in China help clean their houses to sweep away the bad luck from the previous year. Everyone gets a new haircut and they set off firecrackers to scare away evil spirits so the new year can come in.

Five little firecrackers

Ready to zoom

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle, sizzle, 

Sizzle, sizzle... BOOM!

Children get gifts of red envelopes filled with coins for good fortune and oranges for good luck.

Families celebrate with special meals with all their relatives.  They use chopsticks instead of forks. Children in Korea and Vietnam celebrate the Lunar New Year too.  We read a story about a yummy dish from Korea.  The name of the dish means "mixed-up rice!"

After the stories were finished, we got to play in the Asian market and restaurant!

We say "Goodbye!"  In China, people say "Zàijiàn!"

It was a lot of fun learning about another culture.