What is Chinese?

• Mandarin is the official language of China - also known as pŭtōnghuà. • Many regional dialects - Mandarin & Cantonese most widely spoken.

• Large Chinese populations worldwide - including Singapore, Taiwan and Malaysia. • Chinese is the most widely spoken language across the world.

Regional Dialects

So what is the difference between Mandarin & Cantonese?

• Mandarin and Cantonese are tonal languages - 5 in Mandarin, 7-9 in Cantonese.

• Tone used with any given word can change it’s meaning.

• Written form can differ, but does not change meaning.

雞

鸡

Traditional Simplified

Chinese Festivals

• Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) – Jan / Feb . (1st – 15th days of the first lunar month). • Ching Ming – April - paying respect to ancestors (15th day from Spring Equinox) . • Mid Autumn Festival – September - Celebrating the Moon (15 th day of 8 th month). Lanterns made and Moon Cakes eaten. • Chung Yeung – October - paying respect to ancestors (9 th 9 th month).

day of [Actual date of festivals varies as Chinese use lunar calendar .]

Did you know the Chinese have their own calendar?

Did you know they have different birthday dates?

You are already one year old when you are born!

Happy Chinese New Year!

“

Celebrating the Year of the Tiger”

恭喜發財

– Kung Hei Fat Choi

恭喜

发财 – Gong Xi Fa Cai

The Chinese New Year is the longest and most important celebration in the Chinese calendar. The Chinese year 4708 begins on February 14 th , 2010 and lasts for 15 days

What animal sign are you?

Rat Ox Tiger

Rabbit 1939 Dragon 1940

Snake Horse Sheep Monkey

Rooster1945

Dog Boar

1936 1937 1938 1951 1952 1941 1942 1943 1944 1957 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1963 1964 1953 1954 1955 1956 1969 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1975 1976 1965 1966 1967 1968 1981 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1987 1988 1977 1978 1979 1980 1993 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1999 2000 1989 1990 1991 1992 2005 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 2001 2002 2003 2004 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

What does your animal sign mean?

Ox

• Bright, patient and inspiring to others. You can be happy by yourself yet make an outstanding parent.

• Marry a Snake or Rooster. • The Sheep will bring trouble.

• • •

Tiger

You are aggressive, courageous, candid and sensitive.

Look to the Horse and Dog for happiness. Beware of the Monkey.

What does your animal sign mean?

Rabbit

• • • • Luckiest of all signs, talented and articulate.

Affectionate, yet shy, you seek peace throughout your life. Marry a Sheep or Boar. Your opposite is the Rooster.

Dragon

• • • • Your are eccentric and your life complex.

You have a very passionate nature and abundant health. Marry a Monkey or Rat late in life. Avoid the Dog.

What does your animal sign mean?

Snake

• • • • Wise and intense with a tendency towards physical beauty.

Vain and high tempered. Boars are your enemies. Roosters or Oxen are your best sign.

Horse

• • • • Popular and attractive to the opposite sex.

You are often ostentatious and impatient. You need people. Marry a Tiger or a Dog early, but never a Rat.

What does your animal sign mean?

Sheep

• • Elegant and creative, you are timid and prefer anonymity.

You are most compatible with Boars and Rabbits, but never the Oxen.

Monkey

• You are very intelligent and are able to influence people.

• An enthusiastic achiever, but is easily discouraged and confused. • Avoid Tigers. Seek a Dragon or Rat.

What does your animal sign mean?

Rooster

• • • • A pioneer in spirit, you are devoted to quest after knowledge.

You are self-centred and eccentric. Rabbits are trouble. Snakes and Oxen are fine.

Dog

• • Loyal and honest. You work well with others.

Generous yet stubborn and often selfish. • Look to the Horses or Tigers.

• Watch out for Dragons

What does your animal sign mean?

Boar

• • • • Noble and chivalrous.

Your friends will be lifelong, yet you are prone to marital strife. Avoid other Boars. Marry a Rabbit or a Sheep.

Rat

• • • • You are ambitious yet honest. Prone to spend freely.

Seldom make lasting friendships. Most compatible with Dragons and Monkeys. Least with Horses.

Before the New Year

• • • A time for house cleaning Decorations to put up Time for prayers

New Year’s Eve

• Try not to break anything as it as deemed bad luck.

• Firecrackers are lit to ward off evil spirits.

• Display bowls of fruit.

• The most important element is that families gather together for a meal on New Years Eve. Many people return home to join in this celebration.

New Year’s Day

• • Wear new clothes Vegetarian meal • “Red packets” • Greet everybody with “Kung Hei Fat Choi” / “Gong Xi Fa Cai”

The 1st Day of Chinese New Year is an exciting day to be spent with family

The Food at New Year

Dumplings are eaten in Northern China.

Turnip cake & New Year cake tend to be eaten in southern China.

Did you know that traditionally Chinese like round tables?

Chinese Food and its meaning

Whole chicken - prosperity & family togetherness Noodles - long life Spring Rolls - wealth Peanuts - long life Fish - wishes & abundance Tangerines / oranges - luck & wealth Sweet sticky rice cake, nian gao - rich sweet life, while the different layers symbolize rising abundance for the coming year and round shape signifies family reunion.

Chinese New Year celebration in London

Taken from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/7863747.stm

Contact us

The Chinese Centre Hesters Way Community Resource Centre Cassin Drive Princess Elizabeth Way Cheltenham GL51 7SU Phone: Mobile: 01452-531369 07720-637976 / 07766-310551 Email: [email protected]

Website: www.glos-mandarinschool.org.uk