|
Chinese Culture... for Kids!
So what's the Chinese bad luck number?
It isn't 13... If you get on an elevator, what's the missing number
on the pad? You will notice the number 4 is missing... yes, Chinese consider this a "bad luck" number as the pronunciation "suh" sounds similar to the Chinese character for "death".
In contrast, the number 8 "bâ" sounds similar to the word for "wealth" and is therefore considered a very lucky number. The 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing started on 08/08/08 at precisely 08:08:08 p.m.
Some variations exist because of the different pronunciations across China. So you might find that in some places the number 4 might be a lucky number.
So get ready to learn a bit more about different aspects of Chinese Culture, from food to festivals, to dragons and tigers. 2012 is the Year of the Dragon!
We will start with some basics like:
|
The Chinese Zodiac
Chinese Astrology and the Chinese Zodiac: 2007, the year of our first China Family adventure, happened to be the year of the Pig. As in the "western" zodiac, there are 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac. Which one is yours and what does it represent?
|
Chinese Dragons
Chinese Dragons: Dragons and Phoenixes are everywhere. What is the significance of Chinese Dragons in Chinese culture?
|
|
|
Chinese Festivals
Chinese Festivals: What's the Moon Festival? How do we celebrate Chinese New Year? and the Lantern Festival? Do kids get presents?
|
|
Giant Pandas
Giant Pandas: These white and black bears are an endangered species and unique to China.
|
Chinese Writing
About Chinese Writing: Chinese Symbols and Characters go back more than 3,000 years. Pictures were drawn to resemble the items they represented.
|
|
|
Chinese Food
Chinese Food: Are there many styles of Chinese Food? What are dim sums? How do you eat with chopsticks? How about hot pot? Can we try some easy recipes?
|
China Family Adventure Stores - Your source for children books, activity books, stickers, stencils, crafts, music, kitchen and chinese cooking utensils and more...
Chinese Culture for Kids Table of Contents
Traditional Chinese Festival for Kids
Traditional Chinese Festivals are the life-blood of Chinese life and culture. They are all rich in tradition, history, great food, dazzling lights and flashy decorations!
|
Chinese New Year for Kids!
Of all the Chinese festivals, Chinese New Year is for kids of all ages the most loved and anticipated... the lion dances, the feasts, the parades, the lanterns, the firecrackers!
|
Chinese New Year Traditions and Preparation
According to Chinese New Year traditions, you must clean your house from top to bottom to get rid off all the bad luck gathered in the past year, settle all your debts, and put away all your knives, sonst the good luck will be cut-off!
|
Chinese New Year - The Celebrations
The Chinese New Year celebrations begin on New Year's Day... red envelopes, feasts, lion dances, dragons and firecrackers... all for the next 15 days...
|
Chinese New Year Crafts - Making your Own
There is a number of Chinese New Year crafts you can make at home. Let s start with some easy Chinese New Year banners and decorations with messages of good luck and fortune.
|
Chinese Writing: Spring
Chinese Writing: Spring character, learn how to write it stroke by stroke and make your own Chinese New Year Banner
|
Chinese Writing: Prosperity - Fu
Chinese Writing: Prosperity or FU is made up of 13 strokes. Learn how to write it stroke by stroke and make your own Chinese New Year Banner
|
Chinese Writing: Good Fortune
Chinese Writing: Good Fortune characters, learn how to write them stroke by stroke and make your own Chinese New Year Banner
|
Chinese New Year Store
Our Chinese New Year Store brings you lots of activity books, music, stencils, and more to get ready for the New Year, check it out
|
Chinese New Year for Kids Around the World
Celebrating Chinese New Year is for kids of all ages a most anticipated event. There are the traditions and many new ways people everywhere are celebrating the festivities.
See how this holiday is being celebrated around the world and share your own New Year Celebration with us.
|
The Chinese Dragon Dance
The Dragon dance is an important part of the Chinese New Year celebrations. It is carried on by a team of performers who hold the dragon up on poles, raising and lowering the Dragon making him dance. Take a look at our video.
|
The Chinese Lion Dance
The Chinese Dragon and Lion Dances are often confused. They are both part of traditional Chinese celebrations, and both are thought to bring good luck and scare away the evil spirits. However, the Dragon Dance is performed by a team of a dozen or so dancers, whereas the Lion performance is acted out by only two dancers. Watch our videos!
|
Chinese Lion Store
Our Chinese Lion Store: to learn more about the Chinese Lions and the Lion Dance, lots of activity books, stickers, stencils, and more
|
The Chinese Lantern Festival
During the Lantern Festival, thousands of lanterns line the streets, setting the stage for the parades and colorful performances to mark the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations.
|
The Chinese Moon Festival
The Moon Festival comes on the 8th full moon of the year. On this night, the moon is at its brightest. Friends and family gather together to enjoy the moonlight and of course eat mooncakes
|
Chinese Ghost Festivals
Among Chinese, the Ghost Festival and Tomb Sweeping Day are times to honor ancestors and appease ghosts and spirits of the dead.
It’s all part of the traditions and superstitions in Chinese life and culture.
|
The Chinese Moon Festival Around the World
Here are celebrations of the Chinese Moon Festival around the world.
See how this holiday is being celebrated by Chinese and local communities all over the globe, share your own celebration with us.
|
Chinese Dragon Boat Festival
On the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, or around June in our Calendar, the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival takes place.
These are very noisy, colorful and exciting events with hundreds of teams competing in this great tradition
|
About Chinese Dragons: Are Chinese Dragons Evil?
Unlike the western counterpart, Chinese Dragons are not considered bad enemies to be defeated. In Chinese culture, dragons are a symbol of wisdom, power and nobility and are found in everyday life.
|
Chinese Dragon Store
Our Chinese Dragon Store: to learn more about the Chinese Dragons and the Dragon Dance, lots of activity books, stickers, stencils, and more
|
Chinese Dragon Tattoo Selection for Kids
Here is our chinese dragon tattoo selection for kids. These temporary dragon tattoos for kids are hypoallergenic, non-toxic tattoos, made with FDA certified colorants.
|
Learning Chinese Writing Symbols for Kids
Chinese writing symbols go back more than 3,000 years. Characters began as pictures. Pictures were drawn to resemble the items they represented.
Students have to memorize many 'pictures' to be able to read and write, want to give it a try?
|
Numbers in Chinese
Writing the numbers in Chinese is simple enough, we teach you how here, stroke by stroke. The Arabic number system has been adopted in China and is widely used due to convenience. Prices at the stores for example, are quoted using the Arabic system.
|
Chinese Zodiac for Kids
There are 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac. They came when Buddha summoned them to him. A race was held to determine which would be first in the cycle, guess who came in first and why?
|
Chinese Zodiac Store
Our Chinese Zodiac Store brings you lots of gift items, mugs, t-shirts, posters, pendants, in all 12 of the Chinese Zodiac Animals, check it out
|
Who was Confucius?
Who was Confucius? Why was he famous? Confucius was China’s most famous philosopher. A government official, he saw growing disorder in the system and set out to develop a moral code based on respect, honesty, education, kindness and strong family bonds. His teachings are the basis for religious and moral life in China.
|
Chinese Food for Kids
How different is Chinese food in China from what you are used to back home? In a country as immense as China, the diversity of its food is vast, these are the major styles you will encounter in the different regions.
|
Chinese Cooking for Kids
Chinese cooking has always held a prominent place in Chinese life. Learn about the great variety of ingredients and cooking methods used as well as their origins.
|
Chinese Food Ingredients and Staples
These are some common Chinese food ingredients used in Chinese cooking and belong in your basic Chinese shelf. Most you can obtain at your local Supermarket or Asian Grocer.
|
Chinese Cooking Utensils
Chinese cooking utensils that make tossing a Chinese meal together a breeze: wok, chopping boards, a good cleaver or Chinese chopping knife, steamers, ladles, frying spoons, long chopsticks... their many uses and what to look for when buying them.
|
Chinese Hot Pot or Chinese Fondue, what is it?
What is Chinese Hot Pot, how do you prepare and eat it? Here is an easy Chinese Hot Pot Recipe and tips on preparing and enjoying your hot pot at home.
|
How to Eat with Chopsticks
Learning how to eat with chopsticks is not as difficult as it appears, and like all things in life, practice makes perfect! Children can learn too, here's a video and easy steps to follow.
|
Return from Chinese Culture to China-Family Adventure Home Page
|
NOT FOR PARENTS!
 
Not For Parents Travel Book for Children
US$19.99
On sale at Amazon.com $13.59
THE Travel Book for children. Cool stuff about every country of the world, yes EVERY single one of them, over 200 pages of fun facts and photographs...
Buy from Amazon UK - Not for Parents £7.94
More Great Reads for Kids
Learn more about China, China's Culture and History
Ancient China (DK Eyewitness Books)
$11.55
Learning Chinese History has never been more fun! The First Emperor, the Silk Road, the teachings of Confucious, and more...
Buy from Amazon UK - Ancient China £9.86
 
China (DK Eyewitness Books)
$10.87
DK does a remarkable job at highlighting topics that take you from traditional China to a modern day-to-day China: language, family life, festivals, religion, food...
Buy from Amazon UK, China DK Eyewitness Books £6.56 
Here are some more of our favorite China Books and Resources for Children.
Chinese Festivals for Kids
The Lantern Festival 2012 is on February 6, 2012
As the Chinese New Year Celebrations are in full swing, keep an eye for
Dragon and Lion Dances in your neighborhood, maybe your Chinese
Restaurant or Chinese Association in your local college will put one together!
2012 is the Year of the Dragon!
Celebrations culminate on the 15th day of the New Year with the Lantern Festival.
Learn more about the Lantern Festival here
Visit Lisa Chiu, the Chinese Culture Guide at About.com. Lisa was a former copy editor for China Daily and China Central Television International in Beijing and gives you more in-depth content on subjects like History, Government, Law and Media in China.
About Chinese vs. Japanese Cultures
Chinese and Japanese cultures, both are ancient Asian cultures, but, how similar or different are they?
There are many similarities, for example in the writing and the Confucian values, and many aspects that make them both unique, the festivals and celebrations and food for instance.
My friend from www.tokyo-top-guide.com shows you around the coolest Japanese Festivals for kids, how to survive Japanese Traditional food as well as her picks for Things to Do with Kids in Tokyo. Pay her a visit!
|
Got a tip?
Got something to share? Let us know!