By Melanie Linn Gutowski

Use these fun activities to help your niece or nephew learn about Chinese New Year and prepare for a celebration of their own!

Facts about Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year marks the beginning of a 15-day-long festival based on the cycles of the moon.  The start of the festival is based on the Chinese Lunar calendar, beginning at the new moon and culminating in the full moon on the 15th day.
 
The Lunar calendar uses 12 year cycles, each year representing a different animal in the Chinese zodiac: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.  Each animal is said to influence the personality of those born in that year. The Year of the Tiger begins this year on February 14 and will last until February 3, 2011.

On the final day of the new year celebration, the Chinese celebrate the Lantern Festival, a party which includes handmade lanterns and fireworks.

Figure out your Chinese Zodiac sign!
Is your niece or nephew a loyal dog, a gracious rabbit, or maybe even a proud dragon?  Find out using this handy Chinese zodiac calculator.

Then, help him or her search their birth year on Wikipedia to find famous people with the same zodiac sign – or visit our list of “famous tigers.”

Traditional Chinese New Year Foods
Chinese New Year celebrations include traditional foods symbolic of good fortune in the new year.  Spring rolls symbolize wealth.  Tangerines and oranges symbolize luck and wealth, while grapefruits symbolize abundance.  Sticky rice cakes symbolize a rich, sweet life, rising abundance in the new year, and family reunion.

Decorations
No Chinese New Year celebration would be complete without decorations.  Your niece or nephew can help create a festive atmosphere by making décor, or simply by digging through the toy box to find tigers and other zodiac animals to display on the dinner table.  

Red is the traditional Chinese symbol of luck; use red table linens and line the table with red candles.  Have attendees wear nametags with their Chinese zodiac sign, and choose a person whose “year” it is to give a toast.


Famous Tigers
Mischa Barton, actress (Jan. 24, 1986)
Lauren Conrad, actress (Feb. 1, 1986)
Lady Gaga, singer (Mar. 28, 1986)
Amanda Bynes, actress (Apr. 3, 1986)
Robert Pattinson, actor (May 13, 1986)
Shia LaBeouf, actor (June 11, 1986)
Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen, actresses (June 13, 1986)
Lindsay Lohan, actress (July 2, 1986)


Kate Moss, model (Jan. 16, 1974)
Christian Bale, actor (Jan. 30, 1974)
Robbie Williams, singer (Feb. 13, 1974)
Penelope Cruz, actress (Apr. 28, 1974)
Alanis Morissette, singer (Jun. 1, 1974)
Derek Jeter, baseball player (Jun. 26, 1974)
Hilary Swank, actress (Jul. 30, 1974)
Amy Adams, actress (Aug. 20, 1974)
Joaquin Phoenix, actor (Oct. 28, 1974)
Leonardo DiCaprio, actor (Nov. 11, 1974)
Ryan Seacrest, TV host (Dec. 24, 1974)

Jim Carrey, actor (Jan. 17, 1962)
Jon Bon Jovi, singer (Mar. 2, 1962)
Paula Abdul, singer (Jun. 19, 1962)
Tom Cruise, actor (Jul. 3, 1962)
Alton Brown, chef (Jul. 30, 1962)
Steve Carrell, actor (Aug. 16, 1962)
Jon Stewart, comedian (Nov. 28, 1962)
Felicity Huffman, actress (Dec. 9, 1962)


Melanie Linn Gutowski is a freelance writer and a proud Godmother.