Happy New Year! 新年快乐! (Xin nián kuái lè! (Mandarin) Gong hey fat choi! (Cantonese)
Get ready for Chinese New Year, a highlight for many people around the world. Each year, over a period of fifteen days, Chinese communities gather to celebrate the Spring Festival/Lunar New Year, prepare food, and reunite with families and friends.
The Chinese New Year is celebrated in many countries, including China and East Asia, USA, Canada, Ireland and others. 2021 is Chinese New Year of the Ox and takes place on 12 February this year.
Learn about some ancient artifacts and painting with thanks to our friends at the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CHINESE NEW YEAR HERE!
© Trustees of the Chester Beatty Library Dublin
The Lunar New Year falls on the new moon between 21 January and 20 February. Each New Year is named after one of the twelve animals from the Chinese zodiac as it is believed the Buddha was visited by a number of animals.
The Buddha named the years after each animal that came before him. In Chinese culture, it is believed that people take on special qualities of the animal of their birth year. 2021 is the Year of the Ox – this is the Chinese character for ox牛. People born in the Year of the Ox are believed to be hardworking, honest and loyal.
© Trustees of the Chester Beatty Library Dublin
Check out the painting demonstration video at the top of the article. It is inspired by a snuff bottle from the Chinese collection in the Chester Beatty. It depicts a five-clawed dragon chasing a pearl.
Watch artist Heather Gray transfer the image to paper using a traditional bamboo brush, black ink and xuan paper (a type of Chinese paper). Create your own painting using art materials you can find at home.
Chinese collection in the Chester Beatty.
Did you know that the Chester Beatty has a collection of paintings, prints, calligraphy (hand writing) and objects from China?
Sir Alfred Chester Beatty collected over 950 Chinese snuff bottles. Snuff (powdered tobacco) was particularly popular in China in the 1750-1850s.
A snuff bottle can fit into the palm of your hand. These bottles were beautifully carved with all sorts of popular images from Chinese culture including fish, dragons, butterflies, mountains and figures.
Why not check out images of our amazing snuff bottles online and see if you can spot some animals?
