ChiNuYr

Chinese New Year Traditions, January 24, 2001

1) The Jade Emperor, Lord of Heaven, was contemplating the chaos which reigned among the animals of the earth and felt order should be restored so he had a race. The first twelve contestants to finished would be honored with a year dedicated to them in conjunction with the cycle of the twelve heavenly stems.

Which twelve animals finished the race first? (Circle 12 items) Which animal represents this new year?   List the order in which the first twelve animals arrived.

a)Rat       b)Ox       c)Tiger       d)Rabbit      e)Dragon      f) Snake
g)Horse      h)Ram       i)Monkey      j)Rooster      k)Dog       l)Boar
m)Lion      n)Bear       o)Turtle      p)Elephant      q) Giraffe       r)Hippo
s)Phoenix      t)Hyena      u)Alligator      v)Panther      w)Antelope        x)Falcon

2) On the Lunar calendar, what year is the new year? (Circle one)
         a)4699      b) 6498      c)6489      d)9846      e) 9864

3) In preparation for Chinese New Year, what tasks are done?
           a) bills and debts are paid        b) homes and businesses are cleaned or refurbished
           c) buy new clothes                d) all of the above

4) Other Chinese New Year Traditions, True or False (T= true, F=false)
____a) You should wash or cut your hair before New Years Eve to ensure that one will not cut or wash                        away the good luck of the new year.

____b) Tangerines with their green attached are preferred because the leaves symbolize a sense of staying                       intact.

____c) Candied coconut strips, lotus seeds, small red melon seeds and crystallized ginger are offered to                         visitors to "add sweetness" to their lives.

____d) Flowers such as peach blossoms, narcissus, orchid, snap dragon and chrysanthemum are displayed                     because they represent growth.

____e) "Tehrn Neen" is when families come together to open the new year.

____f) Chicken with "guy choy" is served because the word "guy" sounds like a part of a phrase which                          means good fortune, "Ho Sai Guy."

____g) Jai, a Buddhist vegetarian stew, is served because it thought to cleanse the body.

____h) In jai, one of the ingredients is "fot choy" (Chinese seaweed hair). It coincidentally sounds like                           "good fortune" in Chinese.

____i) "Ly see" is "lucky money" in a red envelope given by children to their parents.

____j) As a sign of obedience, children volunteer to cook the meals and wash the dishes for the family for                      one month.

____k) Steamed fish is served whole because the head and tail represent abundance and wholeness. The                         cheek is the best part. The head of the fish faces the guest of honor.

____l) Around the new year, it is important to use positive words to ensure a good year.

Answers
1) Which twelve animals finished the race first? (Circle 12 items) ANS: Items "a" thru "l". Which animal represents this new year? ANS: Item f, Snake List the order in which the first twelve animals arrived. ANS: Items "a" thru" l" in that order What lunar year is the new year? ANS: "a" 4699 2) ANS: "d"
3) ANS: a) T b) T c) T d) T e) F f) T g) T h) T i) T j) F k) T l) T