The Lucky Zodiac
There are this many animals in the Chinese Zodiac cycle.
What is twelve?
Children receive these red paper items filled with lucky money.
What are red envelopes (or Hong Bao)?
These are shaped as ancient gold ingots. The more you eat, the more wealth you accumulate.
What are dumplings?
The Lion Dance is performed to bring this to the community and chase away bad spirits.
What is good luck (or good fortune)?
People born in the Year of the Horse are said to have a lot of this (they don't like sitting still!).
What is energy?
This reptile appeared right before the Horse in the Zodiac race (and was the animal for 2025).
What is the Snake?
This color is worn to scare away bad luck and bring happiness.
What is red?
You should never cut these during the New Year meal because they represent a long life.
What are noodles?
This musical instrument, often big and round, is beaten loudly to guide the lion's movements and simulate a heartbeat.
What is a drum?
The 2026 element associated with the Horse is this hot element.
What is Fire?
According to legend, the animals were racing to cross one of these to determine their order.
What is a river?
People do this to their homes before the New Year arrives to "sweep away" bad luck from the past year.
What is cleaning (or sweeping)?
This seafood dish is eaten because the word for it sounds like the Chinese word for "abundance" or "surplus" (having extra).
What is fish?
During the dance, the lion "eats" a head of this vegetable, which is hung high up, to symbolize wealth and luck.
What is lettuce (or cabbage)?
Lunar New Year 2026 falls in this winter month.
What is February?
This animal won the Great Race by riding on the Ox’s back and jumping off at the last second.
What is the Rat?
This loud activity is done to scare away evil spirits and wake up the new year.
What are firecrackers (or fireworks), gongs and cymbals?
The boiling broth represents a warm, thriving life.
What is hot pot?
Unlike a real lion, the costume in the dance is usually operated by this many dancers hiding underneath it.
What is two? (One for the head, one for the tail).
In the Great Race, the Horse was frightened by this animal wrapped around its leg, causing the Horse to fall back to 7th place.
What is the Snake?
You are considered this "animal" if you were born in 2015. (Hint: It loves grass and has horns).
What is the Goat (or Sheep/Ram)?
The Lunar New Year celebration lasts for 15 days and ends with this glowing festival.
What is the Lantern Festival?
This sticky treat, often made of glutinous rice, is eaten because the name sounds like "union" and "togetherness".
What is tang yuan?
People often confuse the Lion Dance with the Dragon Dance, but you can tell them apart because the Dragon is held up by this instead of people inside a costume.
What are poles (or sticks/rods)?
This means success arrives swiftly.
What is "Ma dao cheng gong"?