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Celebrations Overseas

FROM PROTESTS IN THE U.S., WE TURN TO CELEBRATIONS OVERSEAS, AS SEVERAL COUNTRIES HAD TRADITIONAL HOLIDAYS TO OBSERVE.
[INDIA’S REPUBLIC DAY]

INDIA'S MILITARY MIGHT AND THE COUNTRY'S RICH CULTURAL DIVERSITY WERE ON
FULL DISPLAY DURING THE 68TH REPUBLIC DAY CELEBRATIONS IN NEW DELHI LAST WEEK.
REPUBLIC DAY CELEBRATES THE ANNIVERSARY OF INDIA ADOPTING ITS OWN CONSTITUTION AND GAINING INDEPENDENCE FROM GREAT BRITAIN – SORT OF LIKE INDIA’S VERSION OF THE FOURTH OF JULY!

MEANWHILE, THE LAND DOWN UNDER ALSO CELEBRATED A DAY OF PATRIOTISM: AUSTRALIA DAY, WHICH MARKS THE ARRIVAL OF THE FIRST FLEET FROM ENGLAND 229 YEARS AGO.
BUT THESE HOLIDAYS SIMPLY DON’T COMPARE TO CHINA’S OLDEST AND MOST CELEBRATED DATE: CHINESE NEW YEAR. IF YOU’RE WONDERING WHY THEY’RE CELEBRATING THE NEW YEAR SO LATE, YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT CHINA USES A DIFFERENT CALENDAR THAN WE DO!

THE CHINESE LUNAR CALENDAR BEGAN ON JANUARY 28 -- AND EACH 'NEW YEAR' IS ASSOCIATED WITH ONE OF THE TWELVE ANIMALS ON THE CHINESE ZODIAC CYCLE. UP NEXT, WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE NATIONAL CELEBRATIONS.  IT'S TIME TO SAY GOODBYE TO THE MONKEY... AND HELLO TO THE YEAR OF THE ROOSTER...
MILLIONS ACROSS ASIA ARE CELEBRATING THE START OF THE LUNAR NEW YEAR... LOTS OF DANCING AND FIREWORKS ARE A COMMON SIGHT DURING THE HOLIDAY. *AND* ALL OVER CHINA, LANTERNS AND LIGHT SHOWS BRIGHTEN THE FESTIVITIES. THE LIGHTS WILL STAY UP FOR TWO WEEKS -- AND THE CELEBRATIONS WILL WRAP UP WITH LANTERN PARADES.


Instructional Links


Website Article: DK Find Out, Festivals and Holidays, India Republic Day

Website Article & Video: History.com, Chinese New Year

Website Article: Smithsonian, Tween Tribune, China’s Lantern Makers are Gearing Up for the New Year | Leveled reading with quiz

Website Article: Ducksters, Holiday, Australia Day

Website: Australia Day | Official website