The Spring Festival Spring chn festival ji The

The Spring Festival （春 节）

Spring: 春 chūn festival: 节 jié The Spring Festival is Chinese New Year (新年xīn nián)

HOLIDAYS FOR CHINESE NEW YEAR Chinese people generally have seven days off for the Chinese New Year(from the last day of the “old year”to 6 th day of the “new year”) How many days off school do you think pupils enjoy? One week before New Year’s Eve and 2 weeks after that. From this year, pupils in junior middle school and primary school enjoy 4 -week holiday.

A legend about “nian年 ” was a fierce monster in ancient times. It looked like a strong bull with a head like that of a lion. Usually the monster stayed deep in the mountains and caught and ate other beasts. But during the winter, it could not find enough food. So it entered villages to eat whatever it could catch.

Villagers became very frightened and moved away to escape the monster. But later the people found that Nian was afraid of three things: the red color, color bright flame, flame and loud noise After learning this, they figured out how to prevent Nian from entering their villages.

Every household painted their door red and burned a fire in front of their door-ways. Besides, the people did not go to bed. Instead, they stayed up all night beating on things to make a loud noise. Ever since, Nian has never again come to the villages. Thus, a tradition was established and the customs have been kept through the years.

What do people usually do before Chinese New Year’s Eve? shopping decoration

What do people usually do before Chinese New Year’s Eve? New Year’s shopping

What do people usually do before Chinese New Year’s Eve? Decoration s Paper cutting Pasting up-sided Fu. FU DAO LE

What do people usually do before Chinese New Year’s Eve? Decorations Nian hua spring couplets (dui lian)

Quiz Why do Chinese decorate houses with red couplets and red lanterns? Because Nian is scared by red colour.

How do people celebrate Spring Festival? On Chinese New Year’s Eve Family getting together and having a feast.

How do people celebrate Spring Festival? On Spring Festival Eve The CCTV New Year’s Gala

How do people celebrate Spring Festival? On Spring Festival Eve Setting off fireworks or firecrackers

Quiz People set off firecrackers for the Spring Festival. Why?

Later, the people found that bamboo could make a crackling sound when burned. Thus, the burning bamboo was used to take the place of beating on things. In time, the noise of crackling bamboo was replaced with bang of firecrackers This is how the Chinese people began to set off firecrackers for the Spring Festival.

How do people celebrate Spring Festival? On Spring Festival Eve Making phone calls or sending text messages to say “Happy New Year”.

How do people celebrate Spring Festival? The first day 拜年 bài nián Families visit the senior members of their extended Family to say ‘Happy New Year’.

Gift money Parents give children and unmarried members of the family red envelopes containing money, money often decorated with pictures and good-luck messages. It will bring them good luck.

How do people celebrate Spring Festival? 2 nd or 3 rd Day v The Chinese pray to their ancestors and sweep the tombs.

How do people celebrate Spring Festival? 3 rd & 4 th Day v It is for married daughters to visit their birth parents; for the sons-in-law to pay respect to their parents-in-law.

How do people celebrate Spring Festival? During the spring festival Dragon dance or lion dance watching To spread happiness and good luck.

The 15 th day is called the Lantern Festival, Festival which is celebrated at night with lantern displays and children carrying lanterns in a parade.

The traditional food at New Year’s Eve dumplings/ jiǎo zi （ 饺子）

The traditional food for the Lantern Festival tāng yuán/ yuan xiao /rice dumplings （汤圆）

Lucky food: Chicken �/吉(jī) means fortunate Fish � /余(yú) means plenty to spare.

See if you know… The lucky colour: Red (good luck) Why do children like the Spring Festival? 1. Having holidays. 2. New clothes 2. 3. Delicious food 4. Gift money 3. 5. Gifts 6. Crackers 4. 7. Lion dancing and dragon dancing 5. 8. Growing up

See if you know… The most commonly used character: 1. Fu 2. Gong xi fa cai 3. xin nian hao The most welcomed food: 1. Jiao zi 2. Yu 3. Ji 4. Tang yuan (Yuan xiao)