This year we welcome in the year of the Ox (牛年), the second of the zodiac animals, representing strength, integrity and hard work.

I like to try and introduce the children to elements of Chinese culture that they miss living in England.

This year we learnt and sung this New Year song that's popular in China. Here you can find a great video to learn to sing it - and below is the Chinese and in pinyin for practicing!

恭喜恭喜

每条大街小巷，
每个人的嘴里
见面第一句话，
就是恭喜恭喜。

恭喜恭喜恭喜你呀
恭喜恭喜恭喜你

冬天已到尽头，
真是好的消息；
温暖的春风，
吹醒了大地。

恭喜恭喜恭喜你呀
恭喜恭喜恭喜你

皓皓冰雪溶解，
眼看梅花吐蕊
漫漫长夜过去，
听到一声鸡啼

恭喜恭喜恭喜你呀
恭喜恭喜恭喜你

經過多少困難
經歷多少磨練
多少心兒盼望
春天的消息

恭喜恭喜恭喜你呀
恭喜恭喜恭喜你

(gōng xǐ gōng xǐ)

Měi tiáo dà jiē xiǎo xiàng,
měi ge rén de zuǐ lǐ,
jiàn miàn dì yī jù huà,
jiù shì gōng xǐ gōng xǐ

Gōng xǐ gōng xǐ gōng xǐ nǐ ya,
Gōng xǐ gōng xǐ gōng xǐ nǐ

Dōng tiān yǐ dào jìn tóu
zhēn shì hǎo de xiāo xī
wēn nuǎn de chūn fēng
jiù yào chuī xǐng dà dì

Gōng xǐ gōng xǐ gōng xǐ nǐ ya
Gōng xǐ gōng xǐ gōng xǐ nǐ

Hào hào bīng xuĕ róng jiĕ
yăn kàn méi huā tŭ ruĭ
Mànmàn cháng yè guò qù,
tīng dào yì shēng jī tí

Gōng xǐ gōng xǐ gōng xǐ nǐ ya
Gōng xǐ gōng xǐ gōng xǐ nǐ

Jīng guò duō shăo kùn nan
jīng lì duō shăo mó liàn
duō shăo xīn ér pàn wàng
chūn tiān de xiāo xi

Gōng xǐ gōng xǐ gōng xǐ nǐ ya
Gōng xǐ gōng xǐ gōng xǐ nǐ