Play Bingo This Chinese New year
Chinese New Year 2021 will take place on Friday, 12 February and will start the Year of the Ox! Print out and play our free Chinese New Year Bingo as part of your celebrations!
2021 is the Year of the Ox. The Ox is the second of the twelve Chinese zodiac animals. Legend states that the Jade Emperor proclaimed that order of the Chinese Zodiac would be set by the order that they arrived at his party. The Ox was destined to be the first to arrive, however the Rat tricked the Ox into giving him a ride! Just as they arrived at the party, the sneaky Rat jumped down ahead of Ox to become the first animal!
Oxen are best known for diligence, dependability, strength and determination!
If you want more fun games to play this Chinese New Year, why not download our free printable Chinese New Year Activity Set!
500 Years of Bingo
The game of Bingo is surprisingly old. Bingo originated in Italy way back in 1530, where they operated a lottery called “Lo Giuoco del Lotto D’Italia”, which today is still played every Saturday.
From Italy, the game made its way to France in the late 1770s, where it was called “Le Lotto”, and was played predominantly amongst the wealthy. Germany played a similar version of the game in the 1800s, used mainly as a child’s game to help students learn math, spelling, and history.
The British took the game to the next level. In the early 20th century bingo halls started popping up all over the United Kingdom, particularly in the East End of London where they developed “Bingo Lingo” based on cockney rhyming slang.
The game arrived in the US in the late 1920’s and was originally called “beano”. It was at a country fair game where a dealer would select numbered discs from a cigar box and players would mark their cards with beans. They yelled “beano” if they won. Edwin S. Lowe, New York toy salesman, renamed the game “bingo” after he overheard someone accidentally yell “bingo” instead of “beano”.
Chinese New Year BINGO
We think Chinese New Year Bingo works best for 3-10 players. In order to play Chinese New Year Bingo you will need to download and print the Fun Crafts Kids Chinese New Year Bingo pack.
The Chinese New Year Bingo pack includes:
- 10 x different Bingo scorecards (download them via the printable button below!)
- 1 x caller card (25x square caller cards with Chinese New Year shapes
In addition, you will need the following household items:
- Scissors to cut out the 25x square calling cards
- A box or bag for the caller cards
- Bingo chips – maybe use coins, poker chips, games counters or pieces of paper
PREPARATION
- Cut out the 25x square caller cards
- Shuffle caller cards and put into the box or bag so that the caller or players cannot see!
- Nominate a caller who will read out the caller cards to the players
- Give a Bingo scorecard to each player (up to 10-players)
- Give each player 15 Bingo chips – worthwhile having a few extra to hand just in case players run out!
- Now you are ready to play!
HOW TO PLAY Chinese New Year BINGO
The game is played on a Bingo scorecard made up of 25 squares — if you get 5 squares in a row, column, or diagonal, you win!
- The Caller takes the caller cards.
- Players take the bingo cards.
- The caller randomly draws a square caller card and calls from the bag or box out the Chinese New Year shape and then show the players the card.
- Players then look at their Bingo scorecard to see if they have the Chinese New Year shape called out. If yes, then place a bingo chip over the shape.
- Repeat the process until one player has filled all the patterns in a column, row, or diagonal and shouts “Bingo”.
- The first player to fill all the patterns in a column, row or diagonal and shouts “Bingo” wins the game.
- The louder the shout the better!
Looking for other Chinese New Year ideas?
We love Red Ted Art’s Dragon Puppet and Free Printable! This is a great craft for the kids!
Fun Crafts Kids wishes you a prosperous 2021. Happy Chinese New Year!
新年快乐!