The fifth grade students at Parsons Elementary celebrated the arrival of the year 4712 or as referred to in the Chinese culture, the Year of the Horse. The Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival as it is referred to in China, is an important National holiday in the traditional Chinese Zodiac calendar. This year’s festivities began on January 31 and lasted for fifteen days.
The color red is thought to symbolize fire which according to legend can drive away evil and bad luck. Although the customary fireworks were not seen and Parsons’ children did not receive red envelopes filled with money, the students of Parsons did participate in the Chinese New Year by learning to make Chinese Dumplings and cards of red with inspirational Chinese symbols.
There are twelve animals that comprise the Chinese Zodiac calendar – the Rat, the Ox, the Tiger, the Rabbit, the Dragon, the Snake, the Horse, the Goat, the Monkey, the Rooster, the Dog, and the Pig. It is believed that those born in the Year of the Horse are energetic, intelligent, able, and warm-hearted. They tend to be great communicators but are also known for their distaste for restraint.
