Category: Festivities

Chinese and Aussie Zodiac Animals

28/1/2014

This is the first time I have seen this - take a look and see what Chinese and Aussie zodiac signs you are born under!

2014 marks the year of the Horse and our Aussie equivalent, the Kookaburra!

You can use the link below to calculate your Chinese zodiac animal and your matching Aussie animal....

Look up your Chinese and Aussie zodiac animal here...

Chinese New Year

12/1/2014

New Year Festival Time

Using the Chinese lunar calendar, Chinese New Year starts with the New Moon on the first day of the New Year and ends on the full moon 15 days later. The 15th day of the New Year is called the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated at night with lantern displays and children carrying lanterns in a parade.The Chinese New Year Celebrations span across 15 days with each day having its individual significance. New Year’s Eve and the first day of the New Year (Thursday 30 January and Friday 31 January) are the highlights in terms of festivities.

Quick history of New Year Celebrations

The Spring Festival was started when people offered sacrifice to ancestors in the last month of Chinese lunar calendar. With almost all the farming work done and with some free time to themselves, people prepared the sacrifice to the ancestors by doing thorough house cleaning, having baths, buying new clothes - an overall "spring clean". The specific sacrificing date changed according to the farming schedule and was not fixed until the Han Dynasty (202BC-220AD). People also began worshipping varies deities and held all kinds of ceremonies to welcome the arrival of Spring. The custom of worshipping deities and ancestors remains even though the ceremonies are not as grand as before.

Tradition, Red and Firecrackers

According to legend in ancient China, the "Nian" (meaning year) was a man-eating beast dwelling in the mountains (in other versions living under the sea), which came out every 12 months somewhere close to winter to prey on humans. People were naturally afraid and hid on the evening the "Nian" was out on the prowl for food. Later people believed that the Nian was sensitive to loud noises and the colour red, so they scared it away with explosions, fireworks and the abundant use of the colour red. These customs led to the first New Year celebrations. "Guo nian", which means to celebrate the new year, literally means the passover of the year.

Christmas Party 2013

20/12/2013

Many thanks to all those who attended the Christmas Party and brought some great food. Lovely to see you there and good to see you showing off some tai chi to friends and family…

The photos turned out well and some great shots have been posted in the photo gallery.

Please contact me if you would like me to forward any particular photos to you. (Use the slide numbers to identify the photos you wish…)

Christmas Party

25/11/2013

on Monday 16th December - 17:00 onwards

All present and past students are welcome at the 17:00 class. Friends and family are invited from 18:00 onwards (or at 17:00 if they want to join in).

Please RSVP so we can organise sufficient festive drinks/edibles…

Look forward to seeing you there!

Chinese and Aussie Zodiac Animals

Chinese New Year

Christmas Party 2013

Christmas Party

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