Did you know there are 2 billion people around the world who celebrate the lunar new year? That’s about 1/4th of all the people on earth or about five kids in each class at Ivanhoe.
The lunar new year is a public holiday in countries such as South Korea, Vietnam, China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
What animal are you?
Each lunar year is named after one of 12 animals. This new year is the Year of the Ox. It starts today, February 12. Each animal has a special personality. The ox is honest and patient. You can depend on it. It also works hard to reach its goals. It sounds like it has a growth mindset.
This is the Vietnamese zodiac.
In Korea, lunar new year is called Seollal. In Vietnam, it is called Tết. The Vietnamese lunar years have two animals that are different from the Chinese ones. The Vietnamese have a cat instead of a rabbit, and a goat instead of a sheep. They’re still cute!
A dragon mural at Ivanhoe
A number of Ivanhoe students were born in the Year of the Dragon. Dragons have lots of energy. They also will live a long life and have lots of luck.
Red envelopes, oranges, and tangerines are symbols of good luck in the lunar new year.
You can also have good luck through doing and eating different things. These are eight examples:
1) Watch a dragon dance because the dragon symbolizes strength, power, protection, kindness, and good luck to all.
2) Wear red.
3) Hang pictures of the Chinese symbol “fu” because it means “fortune” or “blessing.”
4) Eat oranges and tangerines because they represent gold and wealth.
5) Light firecrackers to scare away evil.
6) Keep fish because the Chinese word for fish, “yu,” means surplus or having a lot of something.
7) Give and receive red envelopes that are filled with candy or money.
8) Eat rice cakes to grow tall in the new year.
Happy Lunar New Year! • MARIGOLD D. AND CYAN K.