Sharing Saturday: Chinese New Year

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Today's Sharing Saturday is all about China and the Chinese New Year!  The Chinese New Year/Spring Festival usually begins on the second full moon after the winter solstice (January 23rd, this year) and ends 15 days later with the Lantern Festival.  Schools close and work is cancelled for the first week and festive, red decorations celebrate good luck and happiness for the new year!  Wonderful parades, firecrackers, and family parties are everywhere!  How can you celebrate with your family?  Here's a few ideas!

Sierra at H is for Homeschooling is sharing an awesome preschool/kindergarten Chinese New Year Printable!  These adorable pictures include coloring, color recognition, numbers, pre-writing practice, games, size ordering, and more!  Check it out at http://his4homeschooling.blogspot.com/2012/01/free-chinese-new-year-dragon-printables.html! 

When I lived in China, I totally fell in love with the Plum Blossom paintings.  They represent strength, hope, beauty and virtue.  The beautiful blossoms appear when the trees are surrounded by snow and winter, and remind anyone who sees them that Spring really is coming!  Traditionally, they are painted with a dry brush, but you and your family will love the way Jill at Meet the Dubiens has turned this symbol into a fun tissue-paper craft at http://www.meetthedubiens.com/2010/04/craft-cherry-blossom-branch.html!   

Introduce Chinese characters to your kids!  Kate at My Oatmeal Kisses shares stories, crafts, activities, and other ideas for her China Theme this week.  Chinese characters are especially fun for young children to learn about because each character represents a word or idea, unlike English where each letter helps build the word.  Check it out at  http://www.myoatmealkisses.com/2011/08/chinese-characters.html!
 
We are starting the Year of the Dragon!  Miya Maeda at Jellyfish Jelly shares this awesome Dragon Puppet Craft...as well instructions for an awesome looking red Chinese lantern!  Check them out at http://www.jellyfishjelly.com/?p=2615!

The dragon is passionate, proud, fiery, smart, strong, artistic, generous, and loyal...even if he might be a little tactless and brash.

It's no secret that kids love to make things!  Melismama at The Joys of Home Educating has been sharing crafts and activities all week that she and her family have been using to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year.  At http://www.thejoysofhomeeducating.com/2012/01/diy-chinese-new-year-crafts-tutorial.html she shows how to make firecrackers, felt fortune cookies (complete with a treat inside!), and paper lanterns! 


Wow!  It's a little more than normal, but Chinese New Year is so much fun!!  Are you celebrating?  If so, I'd love to know how!  I hope these give you some great ideas!  If I featured you, feel free to grab an "I Was Featured!" button from the sidebar!