Out with the Tiger and in with the year of the Rabbit.February 3rd kicked off the Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year as it is based off of cycles of the moon. The Chinese calendar is different from that used in the US as it is made up of a cycle of twelve years, each of them being named after an animal. This is very much like the signs of the zodiac and some Chinese families plan the birth of their children around a certain year because they believe that their children will have characteristics associated to that animal. For instance those who are born in the year of the Dog would be considered loyal.
To celebrate, families gather to share traditional meals and fireworks are often seen. Another custom is the Lion Dance performed by two people in costume and there are a few different styles. You'll often see lion dances throughout the year in Singapore to celebrate the opening of new businesses as well. I found a lot of different explanations for the significance, but basically the dance is "believed to bring good luck, prosperity and happiness". Here's a video of a dance that was performed at our apartment.
This next video is for Olivia in Grade 1 in the U.S. She sent us a little purple puppy, Paws, who is traveling around to help teach her and her class about different places around the world.
