Spring FestivalSpring Festival新年快乐

Mei Xiang

Chinese New YearChinese New Year or or Spring FestivalSpring Festival is the most i is the most important of the mportant of the traditional Chinese holidaystraditional Chinese holidays. It is s. It is sometimes called the ometimes called the Lunar New YearLunar New Year, especially by , especially by people outside China. The festival traditionally begpeople outside China. The festival traditionally begins on the first day of the first lunar month (ins on the first day of the first lunar month (ChineseChinese: : 正月正月 ; ; pinyinpinyin: zhēng yuè) in the : zhēng yuè) in the Chinese calendarChinese calendar and ends on the 15th; this day is and ends on the 15th; this day is called called Lantern FestivalLantern Festival. Chinese New Year's Eve is k. Chinese New Year's Eve is known as nown as ChúxīChúxī ( ( 除夕除夕 , , chúxīchúxī,). It literally means "Ye,). It literally means "Year-pass Eve".ar-pass Eve".Usually, it’s 15 days longUsually, it’s 15 days long

Time: Dated back to 4000 years Time: Dated back to 4000 years agoago

PlacesPlaces Celebrated in areas with large populations of Celebrated in areas with large populations of

ethnic Chineseethnic Chinese, Chinese New Year is considered a major hol, Chinese New Year is considered a major holiday for the Chinese and has had influence on the new year iday for the Chinese and has had influence on the new year celebrations of its geographic neighbours, as well as culturcelebrations of its geographic neighbours, as well as cultures with whom the Chinese have had extensive interaction. es with whom the Chinese have had extensive interaction. These include Aboriginal Taiwanese people, These include Aboriginal Taiwanese people, KoreansKoreans, , MongoliansMongolians, , VietnameseVietnamese, and formerly the , and formerly the JapaneseJapanese before before 1873. In 1873. In SingaporeSingapore, , IndonesiaIndonesia, , MalaysiaMalaysia, the , the PhilippinesPhilippines, , ThailandThailand, and other countries with significant Chinese pop, and other countries with significant Chinese populations, Chinese New Year is also celebrated, largely by ulations, Chinese New Year is also celebrated, largely by overseas Chineseoverseas Chinese, and has, to varying degrees, become par, and has, to varying degrees, become part of the traditional culture of these countries. In t of the traditional culture of these countries. In CanadaCanada, al, although Chinese New Year is not an official holiday, many ethough Chinese New Year is not an official holiday, many ethnic Chinese hold large celebrations and thnic Chinese hold large celebrations and Canada PostCanada Post issu issues New Year's themed stamps in domestic and internationes New Year's themed stamps in domestic and international rates.al rates.

What time is it this year?What time is it this year?

除夕除夕 , chúxī: The day before the new year, chúxī: The day before the new year20102010 年二月十四日年二月十四日

Please readPlease read

The traditionsThe traditions

New-year visits and greetingsNew-year visits and greetings拜年拜年 ; ; pinyinpinyin: bàinián: bàinián

Different ways to practice new year visit with Different ways to practice new year visit with gifts and greetings, wearing new clothesgifts and greetings, wearing new clothes

Let’s practice itLet’s practice itGreetings:1. Happy new year:新年快乐 Xīnnián kuàilè过年好 guònian hǎo

2. Congratulations and be prosperous:恭喜发财 Gōngxǐ fācái

2. New year practice: Red packets 2. New year practice: Red packets

红 包 红 包 hóng bāohóng bāo

OrOr压 岁 钱 压 岁 钱 yā suì qián yā suì qián

the money used to suppress or put down the evil spiritthe money used to suppress or put down the evil spirit

Let’s see itLet’s see itGōngxǐ fācái, hóngbāo nálái 恭喜发财，红包拿来Congratulations and be prosperous, now give me a red envelope

3. Do the Spring Cleaning 3. Do the Spring Cleaning

4. shǒu suì 4. shǒu suì 守 岁守 岁Occurs when members of the family gather Occurs when members of the family gather around throughout the night after the reuniaround throughout the night after the reunion dinner and reminisce about the year thaon dinner and reminisce about the year that has passed while welcoming the year that t has passed while welcoming the year that has arrived. Some believe that children who has arrived. Some believe that children who Shou SuiShou Sui will increase the longevity of the p will increase the longevity of the parents. arents.

nián yè fàn nián yè fàn 年 夜 饭 年 夜 饭 reunion dinner of the New year evereunion dinner of the New year eve

FoodFood

1) Fish: 1) Fish: yú yú 鱼鱼 homophone for "surpluses" homophone for "surpluses"

2) 2) nián ɡāo nián ɡāo 年 糕 年 糕 puddingpudding

3) jiǎo zi 3) jiǎo zi 饺 子 饺 子

44 ）） tānɡ yuán tānɡ yuán 汤 圆 汤 圆 Rice dumplingsRice dumplings

The fifteenth day of the new year is celebrated as Yuánxiāo jié ( 元宵节 )Rice dumplings ， sweet glutinous rice ball brewed in a soup, is eaten this day.

Candles are lit outside houses as a way to guide wayward spirits home. This day is celebrated as the Lantern Festival, and families walk the street carrying lighted lanterns.

This day often marks the end of the Chinese New Year festivities.

tānɡ yuán tānɡ yuán 汤 圆 汤 圆 Rice dumplingsRice dumplings

ActivitiesActivities

IndoorsIndoors

Chinese calligraphyChinese calligraphy posters show posters show Chinese idiomsChinese idioms

New year pictureNew year picture, , Chinese knotsChinese knots, and , and paper cuttingpaper cutting and and coupletscouplets..

Couplets

Couplets

Paper cuttings

Paper cuttings

OutdoorsOutdoors

FireworksFireworks

Lantern Festival and RiddlesLantern Festival and Riddles

Dragon danceDragon dance and and Lion danceLion dance

Lantern Festival and Riddles

异曲同工、自圆其说、可圈可点、一五一十、异曲同工、自圆其说、可圈可点、一五一十、口是心非、心直口快、无与伦比、哭笑不得、口是心非、心直口快、无与伦比、哭笑不得、里应外合、三教九流、五音不全、不置可否、里应外合、三教九流、五音不全、不置可否、一塌糊涂、多此一举、左右开弓、天方夜谭、一塌糊涂、多此一举、左右开弓、天方夜谭、风月无边、白纸黑字、俯首称臣、石破天惊、风月无边、白纸黑字、俯首称臣、石破天惊、能屈能伸、三纲五常、风花雪月、四大皆空、能屈能伸、三纲五常、风花雪月、四大皆空、德高望重、四脚朝天、三言两语、入木三分、德高望重、四脚朝天、三言两语、入木三分、扬眉吐气、比翼双飞、正中下怀、举一反三、扬眉吐气、比翼双飞、正中下怀、举一反三、马失前蹄、点到为止、莫名其妙 马失前蹄、点到为止、莫名其妙

cái shén cái shén 财 神 财 神 Fortune godsFortune gods

Let’s listenLet’s listencái shén dào cái shén dào

财 神 到 财 神 到

Dragon danceDragon dance and and Lion danceLion danceDragon and lion dances are common Dragon and lion dances are common during Chinese New Year. It is during Chinese New Year. It is believed that the loud beats of the believed that the loud beats of the drum and the deafening sounds of the drum and the deafening sounds of the cymbals together with the face of the cymbals together with the face of the dragon or lion dancing aggressively dragon or lion dancing aggressively can evict bad or evil spirits. Lion can evict bad or evil spirits. Lion dances are also popular for opening dances are also popular for opening of businessesof businesses . .

Video of the dancingVideo of the dancing

http://v.youku.com/v_show/http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XNTg3MjAyNTY=.htmlid_XNTg3MjAyNTY=.html

http://www.youku.com/playlist_show/http://www.youku.com/playlist_show/id_1737076.htmlid_1737076.html

New year songsNew year songs

http://www.youku.com/playlist_showhttp://www.youku.com/playlist_show/id_2817933_ascending_1_page_1.ht/id_2817933_ascending_1_page_1.htmlml

推荐：推荐：发财发福发财发福 ------ 中国娃娃中国娃娃新年快乐新年快乐 --- --- 谢雨欣谢雨欣恭喜发财恭喜发财 --- --- 刘德华刘德华卓依婷若干卓依婷若干

Let’s make our double happiness paper cuttingFold your paper twice and draw lines like this,Then cut out the part with shade and when you Unfold your paper you will get the double Happiness word 喜喜 which will bring you Good luck!