Auslan Celebrations

Front 1

Celebration, cheering, anniversary, celebrate, rejoice, cheer, victorious, win, hooray

Back 1

SOON handshapes with index finger hooked over extended thumb. Spin both hands in outwards circles at head height.

Front 2

Party, go out, socialise, rave, dance party

Back 2

Extend little finger and thumb upwards from fists of both hands with palms facing ears. Move hands simultaneously and backwards a small amount a few times. Can also be done one handed.Usage Notes: Commonly being adopted for ‘raves’ or very large music events like ‘dance parties’, ‘beach parties’ etc.

Front 3

Party / get together

Back 3

Starting with fingers bunched to thumb on both hands and fingertips near either side of chin; move hands forward and spread fingers out so that they are pointing forwards and upwards and palms are forward.

Front 4

Holiday

Back 4

With both hands flat and held in front of sides, fingers pointing upwards and thumbs pointing towards opposite hand; move hands in small outwards circles.

Alternatively, with middle fingers pointing up on each hand.

Front 5

Birthday

Back 5

Start with hands flat, palms up, at hips. Move hands up and forward in an arc so that arms cross past each other and end at side of head.

Front 6

Christmas / santa

Back 6

With a cupped hand moving down in a circular motion, as though outlining your long beard.

Front 7

Easter

Back 7

With pointer and middle fingers extended draw a cross on the back of wrist; first from wrist to finger tips and then across hand.

Front 8

Easter eggs / easter (QLD)

Back 8

With both hands in a claw shape, as though holding an egg near ear, shake hands slightly.

Front 9

Chocolate

Back 9

Fist is held up to cheek, thumb (touching cheek) and forefinger extended and curved. Pivot hand forward at wrist twice.

Front 10

Egg

Back 10

Hold one hand still in a fist in front of you, palm facing stomach. Extend the pointer and middle fingers on other hand, palm upwards, and tap fingers against the side of fist twice.

Front 11

Present / ribbon

Back 11

Extended pointer and index finger form loops, and them move outwards, like a bow and ribbon.

Front 12

Wrap / gift / parcel / present

Back 12

Have both hands flat in front of your, palms towards you, one hand higher and closer to you than the other. Simultaneously move both hands in a circle so that bottom hand goes back and up where high hand was and that hand goes forward and down and so on.

Front 13

Gather / assembly

Back 13

Wiggle spread hands, palms down, from chest height, down and towards each other.

Front 14

Paper / wrapping paper

Back 14

Start with both fists in front of stomach, knuckles slightly apart, thumbs at tops of fists. Tap knuckles together twice.

Front 15

New

Back 15

Hold one hand flat, palm down, fingers pointing forward. Brush the back of hand with the blade of your other (flat, palm facing backwards) hand.

Front 16

Year

Back 16

Sign Y - Hold one hand flat, palm down, fingers pointing forward. Brush the back of hand with the blade of your other (flat, palm facing backwards) hand.

Front 17

Balloon

Back 17

Clench hands one in front of the other then open them out as if hands are a balloon being blown up.Hint: Mime a balloon getting bigger while you blow.

Front 18

Champagne

Back 18

Mime opening the champagne by knocking the bent thumb of alternate hand up using the extended knuckle of index finger on dominant hand. Once thumb is up, mime cork flying off by launching dominant hand up into GOOD handshape.

Front 19

Cake

Back 19

Tap back of downwards facing palm with clawed fingertips of other hand twice.

Front 20

Dessert / sweets

Back 20

With both hands flat tap base of palms together twice.

Front 21

Ice-cream, icecream cone, icy-pole, lollypop

Back 21

Rotate upright fist towards mouth twice. May have tongue out as though licking ice-cream.

Front 22

Lollies

Back 22

Point index finger to cheek, twist wrist forwards and backwards, twice.

Front 23

Icing

Back 23

Form a circle with fingers and thumb so knuckles face forward in front of stomach. With other hand flat, fingertips pointing forward, start with fingers against the fingers of circle; sliding them upwards and then around the top of the circle so they end with the blade facing forward.

Front 24

Wish / hope

Back 24

Move two hands with crossed pointer and middle fingers forward. Can be single handed.

Front 25

Merry

Back 25

Sign HAPPY - Tap palms of flat hands together in small circles.

Front 26

Happy New Year

Back 26

HAPPY - Tap palms of flat hands together in small circles.

NEW - Brush the back of hand with the blade of your other (flat, palm facing backwards) hand.

YEAR - Sign Y by tapping back of gap between thumb and index finger.

Front 27

Angel / Halo

Back 27

Use your dominant pointer finger to draw a halo (circle) above your head.

Front 28

Star / twinkle

Back 28

Tap middle finger to thumb twice. (Also signed by children by just wiggling fingers.) Hint: Stars twinkle in the sky.

Front 29

Fireworks

Back 29

Shoot index finger upward in a diagonal line, then bring all fingertips together at the start of the explosion and rotate spread hands outward to show lights spreading. Then repeat in opposite direction.

Can be done with both rockets first, then explosions, or just explosions.

Front 30

Elf

Back 30

Use your pointer finger and thumb to outline a pointy elf ear around your ear.

Front 31

Reindeer

Back 31

Sign DEER - Hold up hands each side of head with fingers spread, like antlers, and move outwards.

Front 32

Christmas lights

Back 32

Christmas - Upward cupped hand loops down away from chin.

Light - Hand opens so spread fingers point down from above shoulder height.

Front 33

Christmas tree

Back 33

Christmas - Upward cupped hand loops down away from chin.

Tree - Resting elbow on flat hand of arm held flat, quickly rotate wrist of spread hand pointing upwards.

Front 34

Toy

Back 34

Start with hand in fist, palm facing away from you, thumb extended and pointer finger arched over thumb. Draw hand down, twisting palm towards you, and extending little finger and thumb.

Front 35

Card / receipt / ticket

Back 35

Start with pointer fingers and thumbs extended from fists, so they form a diamond shape with pointer fingertips touching at top, thumb tips at bottom. Draw hands apart , then join pointer to thumb tip.

Front 36

Workshop

Back 36

WORK - Chop wrist with blade of hand.

SHOP - Tap knocking knuckles against palm-side of flat hand.

Front 37

North pole

Back 37

North - Touch extended pointer and middle fingertips to the up facing palm of your other hand and move hands forwards together.

Pole / cylinder / bottle - With both hands cupped, one on the other, move top hand upwards, as though sliding up.

Front 38

Snowman

Back 38

SNOW - Let wiggling fingers gently fall, waving side to side,

MAN - pull thumb-side of fist down from chin.

Front 39

Candle

Back 39

Spread fingers upwards, palm facing opposite side, in front of chest. Rest tip of extended pointer finger at the base of the other palm. Wiggle the spread fingers, like the flickering flame on the candle.

Front 40

Basket

Back 40

First draw the basket with flat hands, starting at base, then make fist (to signify the handle) and move fist up and down.

Hint: 2 part sign consisting of BOWL and BAG

Front 41

Sack

Back 41

With hands cupped, palms facing each other, curve hands in the shape of the sack/basket.

Front 42

Sleigh /sled ASL

Back 42

Extend pointer fingers in a hook, pointing upwards and slightly towards body up near arm pits. Simultaneously move both hands forward and downward in an arc (as though tracing the front of the sleigh)

Front 43

Rabbit

Back 43

With pointer and middle fingers of one hand extended and pointing upwards, thumb extended and touching temple, bend fingers forward twice quickly. Can be done with both hands.

Front 44

Jesus

Back 44

Start with one hand flat in front of chest, fingers pointing upwards, palm sideways. With the other hand also flat, palms facing, bend middle finger sideways and tap to the centre of other palm. Then straighten middle finger, and repeat movement with opposite hands.