Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, has more than 4,000 years of history and is China’s most important festival. The date of the Chinese New Year is determined by the lunar calendar. This year it falls on the 10 February 2024, beginning a year of the Dragon.
Celebrations last up to 16 days, ending with a lantern festival marking the full moon.
One legend is that a monster named Nian (which translates to year) would attack villagers at the beginning of each year. Nian was afraid of bright lights, loud noises, and the colour red, so those things were used to chase the beast away. Celebrations therefore often include firecrackers, fireworks, and red clothes and decorations.
Dragon and lion dances are common and it’s believed that the loud beats of the drum and the deafening sounds of the cymbals together with the face of the Dragon or lion dancing can evict evil spirits.
With such vibrant narratives, it’s the perfect opportunity for swimming teachers to incorporate some of the celebrations into their swimming lessons so we’ve put together these quick activity ideas: