The Spring Festival

Do you like the Spring Festival? Why?

When is the Spring Festival It is on the first day of a year in the lunar calendar.

The lunar calendar

农历；阴历

The solar calendar

阳历

What do people prepare for the celebration

of the Spring Festival?

cleaning the house

Hanging up red lanterns

Pasting colorful paper-cuts and couplets

Preparing many kinds of Chinese traditional food

What do people usually do on the Lunar New Year’s Eve?

a family reunion

have delicious food

set off fireworks and firecrackers

watching TV

paste the couplets

What do people usually do on the first

morning of the Lunar New Year?

express good wishes

receive the lucky money

How do you spend your gift money?

New Year’s Visit and Gift Money

On the first day of the Chinese lunar year, everybody puts on their best clothes and pays ceremonial calls on their relatives and friends, wishing them all the luck in the coming year. Juniors will greet seniors, wishing them health and longevity, while seniors will give juniors some gift money as a wish for their safety in the coming year. When friends meet, they will wish each other happiness and prosperity with a big smile. Nowadays it is common to send New Year’s greetings by telephones, e-mails and message.

Useful Words and Expressions Paper-cuts 剪纸 New Year paintings 年画 Special purchases for the Spring Festival 买年货 Propose a toast 敬酒 Lantern 灯笼 Fireworks 烟花 Firecrackers 鞭炮 Red packets 红包

Lion dance 舞狮 Dragon dance 舞龙 Staying-up/ stay up late on New Year’s Eve 守岁 Pay New Year’s call/ New Year’s visit 拜年 Spring Festival Gala/ Chinese New Year Gala 春节联欢晚会 Bid farewell to the old year 辞旧岁 Wishing you prosperity 恭喜发财 May all your wishes come true 心想事成 Peace all year round 岁岁平安

Progress in studies 学业进步 May all go well with you 万事如意 Hope you get what you long for 心想事成 May your business be prosperous 生意兴隆 Harmony brings wealth 和气生财 May you be prosperous 恭喜发财 Everything goes well 吉祥如意 Money and treasures will be plentiful 招财进宝 Wishing you every success 一帆风顺 Promoting to a higher position 步步高升 Safe trip wherever you go 出入平安