Chinese
New Year
By: Emma Jayne Morgan
Chinese New Year is the most important holiday in the Chinese calendar, it marks the first day of the new
year. It is based on a traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar whose date indicates both the moon phase
and the time of the solar year. A lunar month is around 2 days shorter than a solar month, so an extra
month is added every few years, which is why it falls on a different date each year.
People celebrate from New Year’s Eve for up to 15 days, homes are decorated with traditional New Year
decorations and the celebration is very family orientated. This Chinese year runs from February 16th
2018 until February 4th 2019 and it is the year of the dog.
This Chinese New Year drum craft makes a great activity and children will enjoy both the process and the
product, as they can make music to celebrate the Chinese New Year after completion. It is based on the
traditional Chinese instrument called a Bolang Gu. It is used in music and as a children’s toy and is played
by turning the stick between two hands so that the strings bells hit both sides to make a sound.
First paint the backs of 2 paper plates - why not paint in red and gold as these are considered lucky
colours in Chinese tradition. You could even add Chinese stickers or those of dogs as it is the year of the
dog.
Once painted tape a chopstick across the inside of one plate and staple the second to it by the edges.