Polar Bear Swim

Every year on New Year's Day some people in Vancouver swim in the ocean. This event is called the Polar Bear Swim. The water and the air are usually very cold on January first. 

Celebrating Chinese New Year

The Chinese New Year is in February. People celebrate in many ways. For example:

1. Before the new year, people pay off debts and clean their homes.

2. On New Year's Day people wear new clothes and shoes.

3. People say "Gung hay fat choy". This means good luck in the new year.

4. Children get money in little red envelopes. It is called lai see or "lucky money". 

Background Information

Talk about some of the things people do that may seem strange to you like riding a bike in the winter when it's -40 C. Why do you think people do these things?

Questions

1. What do some people in Vancouver do on New Year's Day?

2. What is an event?

3. What is the event called?

4. What is another word for ocean?

5. What temperature are the water and air at that time of year?

6. What do you think would happen to a person's body if he or she jumped into freezing cold water?

Background Information

People from different cultures sometimes celebrate holidays differently than you may or they might not celebrate them at all. Talk about how you celebrate New Year's and if you know anyone who might celebrate New Year's at a different time or in a different way.

Questions

1. When is the Chinese New Year?

2. What does celebrate mean?

3. What do people do before the new year?

4. Why do you think people wear new clothes on New Year's Day?

5. What do people say?

6. What is luck?

7. What is another way to say children?

8. What kind of envelopes do children get?

9. What is lai see?

10. What other Chinese customs do you know of?