The Spring The Spring Festival Festival （春 节）（春 节）

Spring:Spring: 春 春 chūnchūn festival:festival: 节 节 jiéjié

The Spring Festival is

Chinese Chinese New YearNew Year (( 新年新年 xīn niánxīn nián))

Chinese people generally have sevenseven days off for the Chinese New Year(from the last day of the “old year”to 6th day of the “new year”)

HOLIDAYS FOR CHINESE NEW HOLIDAYS FOR CHINESE NEW YEARYEAR

How many days off school do you think How many days off school do you think pupils enjoy?pupils enjoy?

OneOne week before New Year’s Eve and week before New Year’s Eve and 22 weeks after that. weeks after that.

From this year, pupils in junior middle From this year, pupils in junior middle school and primary school enjoy school and primary school enjoy 4-4-weekweek holiday. holiday.

A legend about “niannian 年年 ”

“niannian 年年 ” 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 NiaNiann was afraid of three things: the red the red colorcolor, bright flamebright flame, and loud noiseloud noise. After learning this, they figured out how to prevent NianNian 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, NianNian 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 What do people usually do before Chinese New Year’s Eve?before Chinese New Year’s Eve?

shoppingshopping decorationdecoration

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

New Year’s shoppingNew Year’s shopping

DecorationsWhat do people usually do What do people usually do before Chinese New Year’s before Chinese New Year’s

Eve?Eve?

Pasting up-sided Pasting up-sided Fu.Fu.

Paper Paper cuttingcutting

FU DAO LEFU DAO LE

DecorationsWhat do people usually do What do people usually do before Chinese New Year’s before Chinese New Year’s

Eve?Eve?

Nian huaNian hua spring coupletsspring couplets

(dui lian)(dui lian)

Why do Chinese decorate houses with red couplets and red lanterns?

Quiz

Because Nian is scared by red colour.

Family getting together and having a feast.

On Chinese New Year’s Eve

How do people celebrate Spring How do people celebrate Spring Festival?Festival?

The CCTV New Year’s Gala

On Spring Festival Eve

How do people celebrate Spring How do people celebrate Spring Festival?Festival?

Setting off fireworks or firecrackersSetting off fireworks or firecrackers

On Spring Festival Eve

How do people celebrate Spring How do people celebrate Spring Festival?Festival?

People set off firecrackers for the Spring Festival. Why?

Quiz

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 firecrackersfirecrackers.

This is how the Chinese This is how the Chinese people began to set off people began to set off firecrackers for the Spring firecrackers for the Spring Festival.Festival.

Making phone calls or sending

text messages

to say “Happy

New Year”.

On Spring Festival Eve

How do people celebrate Spring How do people celebrate Spring Festival?Festival?

Families visit the senior members of their extended Family to say ‘Happy New Year’.

拜年bài nián

The first day

How do people celebrate Spring How do people celebrate Spring Festival?Festival?

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

Gift money

2nd or 3rd DayThe Chinese pray to their ancestors and

sweep the tombs.

How do people celebrate Spring How do people celebrate Spring Festival?Festival?

3rd & 4th Day 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 How do people celebrate Spring Festival?Festival?

Dragon danceragon dance or lion dance watchinglion dance watching To spread happinesshappiness and good luck.good luck.

During the spring festival

How do people celebrate Spring How do people celebrate Spring Festival?Festival?

The 15th day

The 15th15th day is called the Lantern the Lantern FestivalFestival, which is celebrated at night with lantern displays and children carrying lanterns in a parade.

dumplings/ jiǎo zi

（ 饺子）

The traditional food at New Year’s Eve

tāng yuán/ yuan xiao /rice dumplings（汤圆）

The traditional food for the Lantern Festival

ChickenChicken 鸡鸡 // 吉吉 (jī) me(jī) means fortunateans fortunate

Lucky food:

Fish Fish 鱼 鱼 // 余余 (yú) means (yú) means plenty to spare.plenty to spare.

“Happy New Year”

过年好过年好 !( gu!( guòò nián hǎo) nián hǎo)

恭喜发财恭喜发财 !(!(ggōō ng xng xǐǐ f fāā c cáá ii))

The lucky colour:RedRed (good luck)(good luck)

Why do children like the Spring Festival?1. Having holidays. 2. New clothes

3. Delicious food 4. Gift money

5. Gifts 6. Crackers

7. Lion dancing and dragon dancing

8. Growing up

See if you know…

The most commonly used character:

See if you know…

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)