Recently, Morton East students celebrated the Chinese New Year at school — as part of their Chinese language classes.
The Chinese Lunar Year is significant for several reasons, both cultural and historical, and plays a major role in the lives of Chinese communities around the world. It’s a holiday open to everybody that brings good energy and blessings to those who believe in it.
According to ChatGPT, the Chinese Zodiac has a rich history that blends mythology, astronomy, and astrology. The beliefs and symbolism associated with each animal influence how the year is viewed and how people expect it to unfold. Here’s an exploration of the history and beliefs surrounding the Chinese Zodiac.
Are you curious about what zodiac sign you may be? Locate the year you were born – and that’s your Zodiac animal!
• Rat: 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020, 2032
• Ox: 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021, 2033
• Tiger: 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022, 2034
• Rabbit: 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023, 2035
• Dragon: 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024, 2036
• Snake: 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025, 2037
• Horse: 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026, 2038
• Sheep/Goat: 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027, 2039
• Monkey: 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028, 2040
• Chicken/Rooster: 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029, 2041
• Dog: 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030, 2042
• Pig: 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031, 2043
These are some quotes about the Chinese Lunar year!
“Chinese New Year is the most important festival in China. It lasts for 15 days. People around the world travel back to their hometowns to have a family reunion. Since China has the largest population, this results in the biggest human migration on Earth,” Chinese language teacher Ms. Kelly Zhang said.
Do you want to know how families celebrate?
“We eat dumplings together and prepare a big dinner to celebrate. Families clean their homes before the festival to sweep away bad luck and welcome good fortune. Red lanterns, couplets, and paper cuttings are used to decorate houses, symbolizing happiness and prosperity. On New Year’s Eve, people stay up late to welcome the new year, and at midnight, fireworks light up the sky to scare away evil spirits,” said Ms. Kelly Zhang.
More information about the Chinese Lunar Year
“Children receive red envelopes filled with money as a blessing for good luck and a prosperous year ahead. The festival ends with the Lantern Festival, where people enjoy sweet rice dumplings and admire beautiful lantern displays,” said Ms. Kelly Zhang.
want to know how the students at Morton did to celebrate?
“We wrote Chinese calligraphy, ate dumplings, gave red envelopes to students, and ate Chinese candies. We also watched the Chinese New Year Gala together!” said Ms. Kelly Zhang.
This is what some students had to say about the Chinese Lunar year celebration!
“My favorite thing is the food, the candy, and the dumplings,” said junior Camila Gomez.
“I always get so excited when this time of the year comes because class is usually easier and way more fun,” said senior Yuna Mireles.
