The Spring Festival Sing a song 新年好xīn

The Spring Festival

Sing a song: 新年好xīn nián hǎo ya, xīn nián hǎo ya 新年好呀，新年好呀 zhù hè dà jiā xīn nián hǎo 祝贺大家新年好。 wǒ men chàng gē wǒ men tiào wǔ 我们唱歌，我们跳舞 zhù hè dà jiā xīn nián hǎo 祝贺大家新年好。

What to do/eat/see?

23 rd, Jan 2012 No fixed date. It normally falls in late Jan. or early Feb.

In 2012, the Year of Dragon, Chinese New Year falls on January 23 rd.

鼠 shǔ 猪 zhū 牛 niú 狗 gǒu 虎 hǔ 鸡 jī 兔 tù 猴 hóu 龙 lóng 羊 yáng 蛇 shé 马 mǎ

Promising in the Year of Dragon Satisfaction and Happiness

Born in 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012. In Chinese daily language, excellent and outstanding people are compared to the dragon. A number of Chinese proverbs feature references to the dragon, for example: "Hoping one's son will become a dragon" 龙 lóng

Chinese New Year starts with the on the first day of the new year, and ends on the The festival lasts 15 new moon full moon. days.

preparations Before the Spring Festival, what will the people do?

Do some cleaning on the 24 th day of the last lunar month

House Cleaning w The entire house should be cleaned before New Year's Day. On New Year's Eve, all brooms, brushes, dusters, dust pans and other cleaning equipment are put away. Sweeping or dusting should not be done on New Year's Day for fear that good fortune will be swept away. After New Year's Day, the floors may be swept.

Shop for the decoration

- w Spring Festival Paintings 年画

Decorations of the New year -Nian Hua w The New Year poster, as a special type of art, enjoys a long history and far-reaching influence. Many artists are farmers who express their good wishes and future dreams in the poster. It also reflects their ideal life and artistic taste.

Hang up the Chinese knot to decorate houses meaning good luck or happiness.

Hang up the lantern to decorate the houses or the streets

Lighting the way A sea of traditional Chinese lanterns in capital Beijing

couplet Traditionally people use couplets to decorate doors

w Chun Lian – “Red Couplets”, which are Chinese good luck sayings written on red paper, often with gold trimmings and usually ask for luck in terms of long life, wealth etc.

The Spring Festival Things w Paper-cutting decoration and the Chinese character “福” 窗花和福字

Decorations of the New year -Chinese Characters which means Luck and Happiness

New Year Plants and Flowers buy flowers to decorate their houses or offices

On Spring Festival’s Eve what do people usually do?

On Spring Festival’s Eve, families get together to have a big dinner.

Spring Festival Eve w all family members eating dinner together chatting and watching TV, often, the Spring Festival party broadcast on China Central Television staying up to midnight to see the new year in ◆ burning fireworks and firecrackers ◆

What’s this? jiǎo zi

New Year’s food w Chinese dumpling is one of the most important foods in Chinese New Year. Since the shape of Chinese dumplings is similar to ancient Chinese gold or silver ingots, they symbolize wealth. w Traditionally, the members of a family get together to make dumplings during the New Year's Eve. They may hide a coin in one of the dumplings. The person who find the coin will likely have a good fortune in the New Year. w Chinese dumpling is also popular in other Chinese holidays or festivals, so it is part of the Chinese culture or tradition.

What to eat? 羊(yáng) 鱼(yú)

Fish which must remain as a whole To represent togetherness and abundance

A chicken for prosperity jī 鸡火(huǒ)鸡(jī)

Chicken must be presented with a head, tail and feet to symbolize completeness.

miàn tiáo 面条 miàn bāo 面包 Noodles should be uncut, as it represents long

年糕 nián gāo

What to say? You can’t say bad words!

新 (xīn) 年 (nián) 好 (hǎo) ！恭 (gōng) 喜(xǐ) 发(fā) 财(cái) ！ Wish you prosperity! Peace all year round!

bai nian 拜年 Wish sb a Happy New Year

the first days of the new year w extending greetings to parents and grandparents w children receiving “Hong Bao”, money wrapped up in red paper, as a New Year gift

The present: what’s in it? Elders give out lucky money to the children and unmarried adults.

Hong Bao ( Lucky money)

What to wear? Traditional costume for the Spring Festival

What to do? Let off firework at the garden.

yan hua 烟花 fireworks To wake up the dragon to bring the spring rain for the crops; to scare away all evil spirits and misfortunes.

dragon dance

Dragon Dance

lion dance

other celebrating activities w Chinese fan dance w run land boat w stilted parade

guang miao hui 逛庙会

firework show.

visit their friends and relatives.

yuan xiao jie元宵节 The Lantern Festival This holiday is also based on the lunar calendar, but usually comes in mid-tolate-February. The Lantern Festival marks the end of the Spring Festival. This holiday is celebrated with parades and by hanging lanterns outside the home.

Rice dumplings , a sweet glutinous rice ball

Quiz about Spring Festival w

1. Which one is the most important Chinese festival? a. The Mid-autumn festival b. The Dragon boat festival c. The Spring festival

2. What is another name of Chinese new year? a. Spring festival b. Summer festival c. Autumn festival

3. Where do people usually stay on spring festival? a. In big parks b. Stay at home with families c. on the great wall

4. what do people usually do on 12 o’clock on spring festival a. Burning fireworks b. sleeping c. singing and dancing outside

w 5. How long does spring festival celebration last? a. 1 day b. 10 days c. 15 days

6. Who in the family will get money on spring festival? a. grandparents b. parents c. children

7. Which one is the traditional food people will eat on the first day after spring festival? a. noodles b. dumplings c. rice

8. On spring festival , which character people will paste on the door? a. Rich b. healthy c. happiness

9. When is spring festival ? a. on the first day of the first lunar month b. on the third day of the first lunar month c. on the tenth day of the spring festival

10. Which is a new tradition on spring festival? a. Watching spring festival gala b. eating ice cream on spring festival c. watching movie on spring festival

11. Which color is the auspicious color in China? a. red b. yellow c. white

12. Which one is the traditional food people will eat on the first day after spring festival? a. noodles b. dumplings c. rice

Are there any differences or similarities between Christmas and the Spring Festival? Christmas VS Chinese New Year

Christmas VS Chinese New Year 1. Christmas tree 2. Christmas decorations 3. Christmas dinner 4. Christmas market 5. Christmas presents 1. Orange tree, peach 2. Red decorations 3. Chinese New Year’s Eve dinner 4. Flower market 5. Lucky money