What Does The Chinese New Year Mean To Kids?

For children, the Chinese New Year is a holiday they are most looking forward to. They are not only counting down the days on their fingers, but even on their toes, just hoping this day will come soon. Usually, children will prompt an immediate question to their mother when the next New Year holiday will come just as it is ended. Children wait excitedly for this important festival all year, because Chinese New Year is lots of fun.


Fun Facts about Chinese New Year for Kids

1. Winter Vacation

Many festivals come with national public holidays, and they are happy times for kids, as they get days off from school and a chance to have fun. Chinese New Year comes with the long winter vacation (about one month), bringing much happiness to kids. The celebrations of Chinese New Year make kids still more excited.

2. Everyone wears new clothes.

Kids are especially happy to show their beautiful new clothes to their little friends and others.

3. Kids receive red envelops as gifts.

Instead of wrapped gifts that western nationalities give at Christmas, children get red envelops stuffed with lucky money from grandparents, uncles, aunts and other elders who have started to earn their way. The happy fact is that kids are allowed to spend the money as they like.

4. They can eat various delicious foods.

The most famous festival food is dumplings. Additionally, many others are served to treat the families, including rice cakes (Niangao), spring rolls, fish, and rice dumplings. They are served not only at the reunion dinner, but during the whole holiday; not only at home, but at relatives' places and temple fairs.

5. They can enjoy various festive activities.

There are lots of special activities held in the Chinese New Year period, such as setting off firecrackers and fireworks, going to temple fairs, and watching lion and dragon dances. All of these are entertaining for kids.

6. Everyone gets one year older.

It is like a national birthday and it doesn’t matter when you were born. For kids, it means they are able to do more things on their own.


The Bad Side of CNY for Kids

1.The Inquisition

Chinese New Year is the time for family gatherings and discussions. When different families get together, the elders like asking kids their heights, exam scores, and other successes, and making comparisons.

For children whose school life is a breeze, there is praise and admiration. But for kids who do not have a good report to give, there is blame and upset feelings.

2.Embarrassing Performances

When gathering, elders often ask kids to put on performances, such as dances, singing, or relating a story. But most don't really want to watch the performances. They just enjoy the children's embarrassment and poking fun at them. It's quite a hurtful practice for naive kids.



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