Emma
It’s Chinese New Year on Saturday 28th January and we’ve put together, with the help of our Chinese sister-in-law, some traditions to help you celebrate the lunar new year. Each year the Chinese New Year is on a different date in the Western calendar as the day is celebrated on the first day of the lunar new year.
2017 is the year of the rooster, which is tenth in the 12-year cycle of Chinese zodiac signs. The Years of the Rooster include 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029 etc. (Find out more about the Chinese zodiac here) 1. Decorate your home with red and gold. Red signifies good luck and energy. Gold is wealth and happiness. Paper lanterns and dragons are traditional decorations. 2. Eat some fish. Fish is a lucky food. Serving a whole fish – head and tail – shows you are rich and also symbolises happy beginnings and endings.
3 Set off some firecrackers. Firecrackers are traditionally wrapped in red paper so some good luck there. The exploding crackers will scare away any evil spirits around your home (I think this is an outdoor job, don’t want a burned down house or scared Fred n Cleo) 4. Celebrate longevity in life with a meal with noodles. 5. Give red envelopes with money to bring luck and fortune to family. Happy New Year ! or as we should say in Mandarin, Xin nian kuai le (pronounced shin nee-an kwai le) Come say hello 
