Happy Chinese New Year

5 ways to celebrate the year of the Ox – Chinese style

1. Get your hair cut on new year’s eve for a fresh start to the new year

2. Eat noodles for longevity along with fish and remember to leave some uneaten for ‘surpluses every year’

3. Go to a Chinese New Year flower market and pick out a plum blossom tree for luck

4. Bathe in pomelo leaves to wash away bad luck and bring you good health for the coming year

5. Get dressed in red clothes to scare away evil spirits

If you still aren’t satisfied there’s always the Chinese New Year celebrations in China town and Leicester Sq this coming Sunday 1st Feb with dragon dancing and lots of food

The London Chinese Film Festival is running at BFI, Museum of London Docklands and Odeon Covent Garden.

http://www.chineseculturalcentre.org.uk

A gift of money is usually given in a paper packet called Hung Bao (English translation). The pictures shown are of different types you might receive (if you’re very lucky!).

To find out more about your Chinese sign, follow the link http://www.chinesezodiac.com/index.php

By Siu-Lan Choi