Year of the Dragon starts on 23rd January 2012

Happy New Year 2012, Year of the Dragon!

The Chinese New Year is the most important holiday of the year for Chinese people.The festival traditionally begins on the 1st day of the 1st lunar month in the Chinese calendar, and lasts for 15 days.

There  are three ways to name a Chinese year:

1. By an animal (like a mascot)

2. By its Formal Name (Stem-Branch)

3. In the  "Stem- Branch" system, the years are counted in 60-year Cycles, so that the Name of the Year is repeated every 60 years. A "Cycle" is analogous to a "century" in the International Calendar system which is 100 years long.

Each year is also designated by one of the 12 animals: Rat Ox Tiger Hare Dragon Snake Horse Sheep Monkey Rooster Dog Pig (in English).

This system is extremely practical. A child does not have to learn a new answer to the question, "How old are you?" in each new year. Old people often lose track of their age, because they are rarely asked about their present age. Every one just have to remember that he or she was born in the " Year of the Dog " or whatever.Thus, instead of asking the question " How old are you? ", ask the person " in which (animal) year were you born ?"

Source: http://www.chinapage.com/newyear.html

 

2012 Year of the Dragon

 Tasks:

1. Watch the video of the 12 Chinese Animals Zodiac, and decide in which animal year you were born.

2. Make a list of your features depending on your animal Year.