NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
January 24, 2007
Media Contact:
Helen W. Kuhns
Education Coordinator
(757) 393-5258 Ext. 17
kuhnsh@portsmouthva.gov
PORTSMOUTH – Welcome in the Chinese New Year – the Year of the Pig – at the Children’s Museum of Virginia from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10.
The celebration of the Chinese New Year has occurred for more than 4,000 years. This celebration is a time for feasting and visiting with friends and family. Commemorating this event is thought to bring luck, health, happiness, and wealth to the coming year.
A full day of activities celebrating the Chinese New Year will occur at the Children’s Museum of Virginia, including the making of:
- Colorful paper dragon puppets, with paper folds and cutouts suspended on wooden rods.
- Bird kites, using simple paper cutouts, paper straws and string.
- Paper lanterns, decorated with symbols of good wishes. Paper lanterns are a traditional symbol of the Chinese New Year and are used in the annual Lantern Festival, which ends the 15-day Chinese New Year Celebration.
- Red envelopes, which symbolize the giving of good fortune. In the Chinese culture, “lucky money” is passed in red envelopes to family members to bring good fortune to the recipient.
- Chinese paper cutouts, an ancient art that passes along wishes of longevity, happiness and prosperity to the households in which they are displayed.
Also enjoy traditional demonstrations of brush painting and calligraphy, along with a performance of the traditional Chinese “Lion Dance.” The educational staff at the Children’s Museum of Virginia worked with Roger Wang of China Garden Restaurant to plan this event.
The Children's Museum of Virginia is located at 221 High St. in Olde Towne Portsmouth. It is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. Admission is $6 per person; children under 2 admitted free. Visit www.childrensmuseumva.com to learn more about the Children’s Museum of Virginia. Free parking offered in all city garages every weekend. Call 757-393-5258, Ext. 17, for additional information.