Chinese New Year 2010

We celebrated Chinese New Year at school.

2010 is the Year of the Tiger

The word "Yu" for fish sounds like the words for both wish and abundance. On New Year's Eve people often eat a whole fish at the end of the evening meal as a wish for togetherness and abundance for the following year. It is also thought that if you do not eat meat on the first day of the Chinese New Year then you will be ensured of a long and happy life.

We saw the Lion Dance performance at the Dunedin Chinese Gardens

We celebrated the Lantern Festival that marks the end of the 15 day New Year Season.

The Dunedin Chinese Garden was decorated with lanterns for the Chinese New Year Festival celebrations. Lanterns light your way into a bright and happy future.

Yi Yi wore a beautiful new red outfit for New Year. Red clothing is common during the Chinese New Year season. Red is a bright, happy colour that will bring a sunny and bright future. Your appearance and attitude during New Year sets the tone for the rest of the year. Red is also the colour of fire and fire burns off bad luck.

Chinese let off fire crackers on Chinese New Year's Eve to send off the old year and welcome in the new year.