The Lucky Zodiac
There are this many animals in the Chinese Zodiac cycle.
What is 12?
Children receive these red paper items filled with lucky money.
What are red envelopes (or Hong Bao)?
This is the most important meal of the Lunar New Year, where all family and extended family gather to celebrate. Think Thanksgiving x 10!
What is the Reunion Dinner?
The Lion Dance is performed to chase away bad spirits and bring this.
What is good luck (or good fortune)?
Lunar New Year 2026 falls in this winter month.
What is February?
This animal hid on the Horse's hoof and jumped off at the last second to steal 6th place.
What is the Snake?
This color is worn to scare away bad luck and bring happiness.
What is red?
These are shaped like ancient gold ingots. The more you eat, the more wealth you accumulate.
What are dumplings?
This musical instrument, often big and round, is beaten loudly to guide the lion's movements and simulate a heartbeat.
What is a drum?
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?
In the Jade Emperor's Great Race, the animals had to cross this flowing body of water to reach the finish line.
What is a river?
Before the New Year, we do this to our homes to "sweep away" bad luck from the past year.
What is cleaning (or sweeping)?
This seafood dish is served because it sounds like the Chinese word for "abundance" or "surplus" (having extra).
What is fish (yu)?
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)?
This is the element of the 2026 Year of the Horse.
What is fire?
This animal won the Great Race by riding on the Ox’s back and jumping off at the last second.
What is the Rat?
These loud items are used to scare away evil spirits and welcome the new year. Name at least two of the four you learned about.
What are firecrackers (or fireworks), drums, gongs and cymbals?
This treat is sweet and round, eaten because it represents "union" and "togetherness".
What are sticky rice balls / Tang Yuan?
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).
The Lunar New Year is based on this kind of calendar.
What is the Lunisolar Calendar?
If you were born in 2016, you are considered this animal.
What is the Monkey?
The Lunar New Year celebration lasts for 15 days and ends with this Grand Finale.
What is the Lantern Festival?
This citrus fruit is often displayed during Lunar New Year celebrations to symbolize good luck and wealth.
What are oranges (or tangerines)?
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)?
The quote of the year is "Ma dao cheng gong" which means this.
What is Success arrives swiftly - like a war horse.