The Dragon Dance itself originated during the Han Dynasty and was started by the Chinese who had shown great belief and respect towards the dragon. It is believed to have begun as part of the farming and harvest culture, also with origins as a method of healing and preventing sickness. It was already a popular event during the Song Dynasty where it had become a folk activity and like the lion dance, was most often seen in festive celebrations.From its origins in combining stylized depictions of natural animals, the Chinese dragon evolved to become a mythical creature revered in Chinese culture. Its physical form is a combination of many animals, including the horns of a stag, ears of a bull, eyes of a rabbit, claws of a tiger and the scales of a fish, all on a long serpent’s body. With these traits, it was believed that dragons were amphibious with the ability to move on land, fly through the air and swim in the sea, bestowing them roles as governors of cloud and rain in weather.

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Lion dance is a form of traditional dance in Chinese culture, in which performers mimic a lion's movements in a lion costume. The lion dance is often mistaken as dragon dance. An easy way to tell the difference is that a lion is operated by two people, while a dragon needs many people. Also, in a lion dance, the performers' faces are covered, since they are inside the lion. In a dragon dance, the performers can be seen since the dragon is held upon poles. Basic lion dance fundamental movements can be found in most Chinese martial arts.

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There are a lot of fun things to make on Chinese New Year for kids like paper lanterns.What you'll need:Construction paper,Scissors,Tape,Stapler,Ruler,Pencil,Glue, glitter and sequins, if you like to put extra decoration on to your lantern.How to make it:
Use your ruler to measure and cut one inch off the short end of your paper. Set aside to use as the handle.
1.Fold your paper in half lengthwise.

2.Draw a line one inch from the end of the long edge of the paper opposite the folded edge. This will be the line where you stop cutting.

3.Measure and mark lines one inch apart starting at the folded edge and moving towards the "stop cutting" line.

4.Cut on the marked lines up to the "stop cutting" line.
Unfold the paper.

5.Re-crease the paper in the opposite direction. This will hide any pencil marks.
Match the long edges together on the lantern and use tape to hold it in place.

6.Staple the handle to the top of the lantern.

7.Make as many lanterns as you wish and display them around your home.
If you wish, add glue, glitter, sequins or other things to decorate your lanterns.

measuThe Tiger is one of the most beautiful creatures on the planet, and is feared and revered in equal .It features in many Asian cultures as a manifestation of courage, power, passion and royalty. In Feng Shui, it is one of the four celestial animals where it takes its place as the White Tiger. The other three celestial animals are the Green Dragon, Red Phoenix and Black Tortoise. The Tiger symbolizes the female Yin energy as opposed to the Yang male energy of the dragon. Ancient Chinese believe that the markings on the forehead of tigers resemble the Chinese character for the King. In Imperial China, where the dragon is the insignia of the emperors, the tiger is the military emblem of the highest supreme commanders of the army symbolizing fearlessness and victory. The Tiger also represents earth, while the dragon represents Heaven. The powerful and stealth prowess of the Tiger inspire the martial art movements of many Kung-Fu masters.

According to the Chinese Zodiac, the Year of 2010 is the Year of a Golden Tiger, which begins on February 14, 2010 and ends on February 2, 2011. The first day of the lunar New Year 2010 falls on the 14th day of February, which is Saint Valentine's Day, so it is a day the West celebrates as a lovers' day, a day of romance. To the Chinese, it is the start of the Golden Tiger Year. The Tiger is the third sign in the cycle of Chinese Zodiac, which consists of 12 animal signs. It's a sign of courage. This fearless and fiery fighter is revered by the ancient Chinese as the sign that wards off the three main disasters of a household fire, thieves and ghosts. On New Year's day itself, it is beneficial to celebrate, to be happy, to have smiling faces, and to refrain from scowling, quarreling, or criticizing anyone.

In Chinese philosophy, the concept of yin yang yin – simplified Chinese traditional Chinese pinyin: yīn yang - simplified Chinese traditional Chinese pinyin yáng often referred to in the west as yin and yang) is used to describe how polar or seemingly contrary forces are interconnected and interdependent in the natural world, and how they give rise to each other in turn. The concept lies at the heart of many branches of classical Chinese science and philosophy, as well as being a primary guideline of traditional Chinese medicine,1and a central principle of different forms of Chinese martial arts and exercise, such as baguazhang, taijiquan, and qigong and of I Ching divination. Many natural dualities — e.g. dark and light, female and male, low and high, cold and hot — are viewed in Chinese thought as manifestations of yin and yang (respectively).

The Chinese New Year is a hub of activity and purchasing new clothes is one of them. Chinese New Year Dress in a true sense reflects a long and complex interaction between elegance and tradition. And don't be surprised to see a traditional Chinese New Year Dress being carried by a model on the ramp as they are the ultimate inspiration for all the fashion designers.