Chinese Festival

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Spring festival Mid- autumn festival Chinese valentine’s day

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Spring Festival: 1st day of the 1st lunar month

Meaning of“Fu”

Why eat spring roll

Why burning fireworks

Origin Quick question

The Chinese character "fu" (meaning blessing or happiness) is a must. The character put on paper can be pasted normally or upside down, for in Chinese the "reversed fu" is homophonic with "fu comes", both being pronounced as "fudaole."

The meaning of “Fu”

The picture is people sticking “fu”

Why eat Spring rollIn China, spring rolls are closely associated with the Spring Festival, which explains the origin of their name. The Spring Festival celebrates the new year and new growth, and many foods are served during the multi-day festival to get celebrants in the mood.

Traditional spring rolls have fresh vegetables, green shoots, and light wrappers so that they have a delicate flavor and a light texture which is meant to evoke spring.

Why burning fireworks

Burning fireworks was once the most typical custom on the Spring Festival. People thought the spluttering sound could help drive away evil spirits. some people break little balloons to get the sound too, while others buy firecracker handicrafts to hang in the living room.

The beautiful firework!

Origin

The word Nian means year, but it originates from the mythical monster Nian who, according to legend, came to terrorize people on the last day of the lunar year. One year it was discovered that Nian had a fear of loud noise and the color red.

Everyone pasted red paper couplets and images of the door god on walls and doors, hung red lanterns and set off firecrackers to scare the monster away. That night, no one went to bed in case Nian attacked. This story is the origin of Spring Festival traditions.

What is your favorite part in this Festival? Do you think it is very interesting to burn the fireworks? Talk with your group member about your feeling.

QUICK QUESTION

When is the Spring Festival?

A.1st day of the 1st lunar month

B.2nd day of the 1st lunar month

C.1st day of the 2nd lunar month

D.2nd day of the 2nd lunar month

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Mid-autumn Festival: 15th day of 8th lunar month

Why we eat moon cake

Moon at that day

Why family get together

origin Quick question

Why we eat moon cake

During the Yuan dynasty (A.D.1280-1368) China was ruled by the Mongolian people. Leaders from the preceding Sung dynasty (A.D.960-1280) were unhappy to live under foreign rule. They decided to coordinate a rebellion without it being discovered. The leaders of the rebellion, knowing that the Moon Festival was drawing near, ordered the making of special cakes.

Inside each moon cake was a message with the outline of the attack. Because it's a Han (the main clan before the Mongolian took over) cake, the Mongolian people are not interested. On the night of the Moon Festival, the rebels successfully attacked and overthrew the government. What followed was the establishment of the Ming dynasty (A.D. 1368-1644). Today, moon cakes are eaten to commemorate this legend.

Why people watch moon today

A perfect night for the festival is if it is a quiet night without a silk of cloud and with a little mild breeze from the sea. Lovers spend such a romatic night together tasting the delicious moon cake with some wine while watching the full moon. Even for a couple who can‘t be together, they can still enjoy the night by watching the moon at the same time so it seems that they are together at that hour.

The bright and round moon that day!

Why family get together

When the moon is full, mankind is one" -- In China, the full moon has always represented the gatherings of friends and family. Thus, Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for family reunions. On this night, families will go together to scenic spots and parks for moon appreciation parties, eating mooncakes and pomeloes in the cool night air and praying for a safe year.

The picture shows the whole family gather together

Origin 1

The time of this story is around 2170 B.C. The earth once had ten suns circling over it, each took its turn to illuminate to the earth. But one day all ten suns appeared together, scorching the earth with their heat. The earth was saved by a strong and tyrannical archer Hou Yi. He succeeded in shooting down nine of the suns.

One day, Hou Yi stole the elixir of life from a goddess. However his beautiful wife Chang Er drank the elixir of life in order to save the people from her husband's tyrannical rule. After drinking it, she found herself floating and flew to the moon. Hou Yi loved his beautiful wife so much, he didn't shoot down the moon.

origin2In this legend, three fairy sages transformed themselves into pitiful old men and begged for something to eat from a fox, a monkey and a rabbit. The fox and the monkey both had food to give to the old men, but the rabbit, empty-handed, offered his own flesh instead, jumping into a blazing fire to cook himself. The sages were so touched by the rabbit's sacrifice that they let him live in the Moon Palace where he became the "Jade Rabbit."

Do you want to try the delicious moon cake? Which legend story you think is more interesting? discuss it in your small group.

Quick Question

Why people watch moon at Mia autumn festival

A. Moon looks extremely round, big and bright

B. Moon looks extremely small

C. The distance from earth to moon is farthest this day

D. For fun, no meaning

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Chinese valentine’s day: 7th day of 7th lunar month

What is Vega& Altair Why people go to temple

origin Quick question

What is Vega& Altair

The star Vega (Weaving Maid) is the 5th brightest star in the sky. Therefore, it's very easy to find in the summer night. The size of Vega is 16 times bigger than the Sun. The brightness of Vega is 25 times brighter than the Sun. It's 25 light years away from the Earth.The star Altair (Cowherd) is the 11th brightest star in the sky. Therefore, it's not difficult to find in the summer night.

The size of Altair is 4 times bigger than the Sun. The brightness of Altair is 11 times brighter than the Sun. It's 17 light years away from the Earth. There are two stars, Alshain and Tarazed, next to the Altair. They said those two stars on Altair's each side are the Cowherd's two children in the story. The distance between the Vega and the Altair is 16 light years. They cannot meet in the sky, as they are too far apart.

Why people go to temple

On the Chinese Valentine's Day, people in love like to go to the temple of Matchmaker and pray for their love and the possible marriage in China. People still single will do the same thing to ask their luck of love in the Matchmaker temple.

origin

Niu lang&Zhi nv

Do you think this story is romantic? Which valentine’s day do you like more? Chinese’s or western’s . Discuss in small group now.

Quick question

When is Chinese valentine’s day

A.14th Feb

B.7th day of the 7th lunar month

C.7th July

D.14th day of the 2nd lunar month

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QUIZ TIME

Into the quiz

What is the day people eat

mooncakes?A) Spring Festival

B) Mid-Autumn Festival

C) Chinese Valentine’s Day

D) Christmas

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What day will people Stick “fu”

A) Mid-Autumn Festival

B) Spring Festival

C) Chinese Valentine’s Day

D) Chinese National Day

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Who is the character in fairy tale of Mid Autumn Festival

A) Zhi Nv

B) Nian

C) Niu Lang

D) Hou Yi

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When is the Mid Autumn Festival

A) 15th day of 8th lunar month

B) 5th day of 8th lunar month

C) 8th day of 5th lunar month

D) 15th day of 5th lunar month

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Who is the character in fairy tale of Chinese Valentine Day

A) Hou Yi

B) Chang’e

C) Zhi Nv

D) Nian

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