CHINESE ASTROLOGY

CHINESE HOROSCOPE

The Chinese zodiac  is divided into 12 parts, and the five elements. The five elements are metal, water, wood, fire, and earth.

Each year of the Chinese Zodiac is represented by a different animal: the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. Each animal is known to have certain characteristics that a person born under the sign would demonstrate. The five elements are assigned to the 12 animals (years), giving different characteristics to each animal (year).

Animal Personality Traits

• Rat: quick-witted, smart, charming, and persuasive
• Ox: patient, kind, stubborn, and conservative
• Tiger: authoritative, emotional, courageous, and intense
• Rabbit: popular, compassionate, and sincere
• Dragon: energetic, fearless, warm-hearted, and charismatic
• Snake: charming, gregarious, introverted, generous, and smart
• Horse: energetic, independent, impatient, and enjoy traveling
• Sheep: mild-mannered, shy, kind, and peace-loving
• Monkey: fun, energetic, and active
• Rooster: independent, practical, hard-working, and observant
• Dog: patient, diligent, generous, faithful, and kind
• Pig: loving, tolerant, honest, and appreciative of luxury

The five elements and Yin Yan

Much of Chinese philosophy is built around five elements: metal, water, fire, wood and earth. They have existed in the culture for thousands of years and affect the Chinese horoscope. Each element has different traits and they combined with the 12 animal signs.

The concept of Yin and Yan also affect the Chinese Zodiac. The odd years are Yin years and even years are Yan years. Yin is perceived as earth, female, dark, and passive. Yan is perceived as male, heaven, light, and active. 

Find your Chinese Astrology Sign…

According to Chinese Astrology, your birth year tells you more than just your age. Find out what your Chinese zodiac sign reveals about you now!

Which animal are you?

CHINESE OPERA MASK

Let´s celebrate Chinese New Year.
Make and design your own paper Chinese opera mask in a few easy steps.




MATERIALS

Printable white card

Crayons or paint

Scissors

Craft knife

Hole punch

Rubber bands

STEPS

1.- Print-out either the blank mask template or the ready-to-color mask template.

2.-If you chose the blank mask template, draw designs to create a character for your mask. Click  here for some samples of Chinese opera mask designs.

3.- Colour or paint your mask.

4.- Cut out and including the eyeholes.

5.- You may cut a slit along the bottom of the nose to allow for some breathing room when you wear the mask.

6.-Punch holes on opposite sides of the mask. These holes should be at the same level as your ears.

7.-Attach a rubber band on each hole and wear the mask.

CHINA

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR

Next Monday we celebrate Chinese New Year: The year of the dragon.
Watch the video and listen to this beautiful music.

Remember the most powerful magic comes from your heart.
May all your wishes come true!

THE CHINESE ZODIAC

The Chinese Zodiac is based on the cycles of the moon. There are 12 animals in the Chinese horoscope- one for each year of the lunar cycle.

The Legend

According to the myths, long time ago, Buddah called all the animals on earth. But only 12 came: the Rat, the Ox, the Tiger, the Rabbit, the Dragon, the Snake, the Horse, the Goat, the Monkey, the Rooster, the Dog and the Pig.

In recompense, Buddah assigned each of these animals a year on the cycle. So children born in that year would have the personality traits of the animal assigned to that year.

The animals had a very exciting race to decide their order in the zodiac. The first one to cross the river would be granted the 1^st year, the second to come in would be the 2^nd animal in the cycle, and so on.

The strong, hardworking Ox was in the lead. Suddenly, the clever Rat, jumped on the Ox's back, he did not even feel the little thing getting a free ride. At the last second before reaching shore, the Rat jumped on land, winning the race! The Ox came in second, the Tiger third, and so it went... the happy-go-lucky Pig took his time and came in last... and the Chinese Zodiac was born...

Do you know what Chinese sign of the zodiac you are?
First thing you must take into account is the year you were born. 
Find your Chinese sign by clicking here and discover your traits. Then copy your personality traits and share them with the class. Do you agree with them?

DRAGONS

This is the year of the dragon for Chinese people.
Today, we know that magical dragons exist only in imagination and myth. But in ancient China people firmly believe that dragons were real and very powerful.
Let´s know more about dragons.

dragons

More PowerPoint presentations from

CHINESE NEW YEAR

Chinese New Year is celebrated in many countries around the world. Each new year is named after one of twelve animals. 2010 was the year of the tiger and 2011 was the year of the rabbit. 2012 is the year of the dragon. 

Listen to a girl telling us about why she likes Chinese New Year, and what she does at this time.

CHINESE NEW YEAR

THE YEAR OF THE DRAGON

Chinese New Year is coming so I wanted to know a little more about Chinese New Year Traditions.  I’m fascinated by this ancient culture that has spread to every corner of our planet. Chinese New Year celebrations take place, not only in China and New York, but in every single spot where there is a Chinese community established. This way, we can all enjoy this wonderful celebration, being present during the colorful Chinese new year parade and taste delicious Chinese new year food, such as dumplings, rolls and other treats.

As you will see, Chinese New Year is full of symbols, colorful traditions and a message of peace and good luck for the year to come. Chinese New Year traditions reflect the richness of this ancient culture that has lasted for thousands of years.

When is Chines New Year?

It  is the longest and most important celebration in the Chinese calendar. This year 2012 the celebration falls on January 23^rd. But it doesn’t take place the same day every year, because the Chinese calendar combines the solar and the lunar calendars. In China, they call this celebration the Spring Festival, because it symbolizes the end of the winter and the beginning of the spring, the planting season.

What´s the legend?

Everything began with a famous legend. The cruel beast Nien likes to eat people every New Year’s Eve. Every displayed paper cut, torch or firecracker in New Year is supposed to scare the beast away. Nien is afraid of the color red, the loud noises and the fire. In the morning, people celebrate being successful over Nien for another year.

Now watch this video to know more about this festival.

Chinatown, NYC, 2009

Nice traditions

During the festival, people buy each other presents, clean up their houses and get rid of bad luck this way. Doors and windowpanes are usually painted red, and get decorated with paper cuts. The night before there is a huge family dinner of dumplings and seafood, such as dried oysters, raw fish salad and edible seaweed. Each of these foods has a specific meaning, usually a message of peace and happiness for the beloved ones.

On Chinese New Year day, it takes place a nice tradition called Hong Bao: married couples give money in red envelopes to children and single adults. Families say greetings to their relatives and neighbors. Every city that has a China town is the scenery to the famous Chinese new year parade, its colorful costumes and the lucky dragon. The end of the celebration is the occasion for the beautiful Festival of Lanterns.

Food plays a major role in Chinese new year traditions. The whole celebration lasts two weeks, and during this time, Chinese families serve lucky food, such as a whole chicken (which symbolizes the whole family being together). Citric fruits, such as tangerines, grapefruits and oranges are eaten a lot during Chinese New Year because the words for these fruits sound like luck, “to have” and wealth, respectively. As for delicious spring rolls, they also symbolize wealth, but this time because of their resemblance to gold bars.

Try the Chinese New Year Quiz!

CHINESE NEW YEAR

Play some games to celebrate Chinese New Year.