Our presenter for a tour through the Chinese New Year is Nadine Ong who was born in Belfast, and whose parents are from Malaysia. We're introduced to the idea that New Year's Day isn't always the first of January, find out how to scare off people eating monsters and hear why Chinese children are happy to clean their bedrooms in the hope of generous red packets!

Nadine brings us to Mrs San's home, where we find out why cleaning your house is so important and why red and gold decorations and banners with upside down writing are to be found in all Chinese homes at New Year. We also hear that Chinese "selection boxes" bear no resemblance to the chocolate filled versions local children are used to.

In one of Belfast's Chinese Supermarkets, Nadine's mum translates for us as we hear about eating lotus seed to make sure you have a son every year, nibbling on oysters to be prosperous and new year cake so you do well at school! Eating really long noodles is a good idea too, because the longer the noodle, the longer your life!

Lions, dragons and unicorns eat whole lettuces – at least, the dancing versions do – but maybe because there's a red packet full of money tied to it. Nadine chats with Alan Lui who explains about the animal heads and the dance. The story behind the Nian – the New Year Monster – is told by Nadine's dad, George.
 

 
By the end of the programme pupils should:

 
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