Chinese New Year 2022 is an extra special celebration for me this year as it ushers in the Year of the Tiger which is my birth year. Of all the zodiac animals this is one of the coolest (better than being a rat or a rooster!) but maybe not quite as cool as the dragon.

Tigers are people born in 2010, 1998, 1986. 1974, 1962 and 1950 (but not the January of those years as the Chinese zodiac follows the Lunar years.

We always decorate the library and even change all the face on book displays to ones with red covers. It makes the space feel lovely and warm.

Chinese New Year is always a lot of fun in the library. We dress in red and this year we have lots of tiger decorations.

My team always get me a gift at Chinese New Year (I give them one at Christmas). This year was extra special as they got me all ready for my animal year. They really are the best and look after me so well.

In the year of your zodiac animal you are supposed to face a year of challenges, set backs and bad luck. But you can counter this malign influence with the right protection

The bracelet has to be worn for the whole year and not taken off until the year of the rabbit starts in 2023. The bracelet is worn on the left hand because that is the hand that gains wealth and prosperity whereas the right hand is the one that spends the money!

There was also a set of red tiger themed socks. Apparently it is customary during the year of your animal that you wear hidden red ie red underwear. This is trickier for me to do as most of the underwear here does not come in ‘western’ sizes. I can do socks during the cold weather but I think that I will just have to rely on the bracelet for most of my protection this year.

I had the chance to do some calligraphy. This is the character for Tai. Not bad for a first attempt but I think that I need more practice.

At the whole school assembly we were treated to a dragon dance