The Year of the Rooster

"Gung Hay Fat Choy!" Happy New Year! The Children's Museum is ready to party like it's the year 4702 - which it is - according to the Chinese lunar calendar.

The Chinese New Year celebration, which begins this year on Feb. 9 and traditionally lasts for 15 days, gets underway this morning at 10 a.m. at the museum with arts, crafts, puppet lion heads, lanterns and story time led by the Carson City Public Library's own Cory King.

Saturday's fun lasts from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with Chinese jump rope, lessons in the art of paper origami and the use of chopsticks.

Children hoping for an authentic taste of China will be able to apply their chopstick skills to freshly made Chinese noodles, cooked up by Beijing Palace.

"The Chinese word for "noodle" actually means "long life," said Penny Holbrook, board member and volunteer at the museum.

Holbrook is leading a group of children in a ceremonial dragon's head around the museum in preparation for the New Year's fun. The plaster creature weaves around the exhibits following the music from a plastic Fisher-Price cassette player that cranks out traditional Chinese music. The dragon opens and closes its heavy eyelids in surreal, dopey blinks - exposing its beautiful eyes.

Underneath the head and colorful ribbon of flowing mane are eight little socked feet.

"We're flying," says one of the kids, jumping up and down at the tail.

The University of Nevada, Reno's Chinese Student Association will be on hand during Saturday's celebration doing the lion dance and teaching the craft of Chinese calligraphy.

"We'll also have fresh almond cookies and lots of little surprises," Holbrook said, dressed in a red silk blouse.

Among the must-sees, the traditional Peacock dance, performed by the UNR's Chinese Student Association.

"When you watch the peacock dance it will bring you good luck for the rest of the year," promises Holbrook.

In the gift shop, a tree full of Chinese New Year ornaments, all of which are 75 percent off, have been donated by the Greenhouse Garden Center.

"The Year of the Rooster is traditionally thought to be a balanced, calmer year than others," Holbrook said.

And what was 2004?

The Year of the Monkey.

"We had a great turnout last year," Holbroo said. "We're always trying to do ethnic things because ... well, because we like it."

"It's important to expose children to all different types of cultures in today's world," she added. "We had a Kwanzaa celebration this year and are always trying to come up with fresh ideas.

"I think it's so important for us to come together."

n Contact reporter Peter Thompson at pthompson@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1215.

If you go

What: Chinese New Year

Where: Children's Museum of Northern Nevada, 813 N. Carson St.

Cost: Regular paid admission: $5 adults, $3 for ages 3-13, free for children 2 and under.

When: Through Saturday.

School groups welcome; call Penny Holbrook at 884-4669

Call: 884-2226 for more details

On the Net

www.cmnn.org/