The Spring FestivalThe Spring Festival

The Spring FestivalThe Spring Festival

The The Most Important Holiday

in China

The Spring Festival, also known as the Chinese New Year is on the 1st day of the 1st lunar month. The date for this annual celebration is determined by the lunar calendar rather than the Gregorian calendar, so the timing of the holiday varies from late January to early February.

The Timing of the Holiday

To the ordinary Chinese, the festival actually begins on the eve of the lunar New Year's Day and ends on the fifth day of the first month of the lunar calendar. But the 15th of the first month, which normally is called the Lantern Festival, means the official end of the Spring Festival in many parts of the country.

The Legend of The Legend of NianNian Monster Monster

The Legend of The Legend of NianNian Monster Monster• In ancient times, there was a monster called In ancient times, there was a monster called

""NianNian" ("year") that would come out to eat " ("year") that would come out to eat people and animals on the eve of last day of people and animals on the eve of last day of last lunar month. To avoid the monster's last lunar month. To avoid the monster's attack, people would flee to the depth of the attack, people would flee to the depth of the mountains and call this day "mountains and call this day "NianNian GuanGuan" " (meaning "the Pass of (meaning "the Pass of NianNian"). On one of the "). On one of the eve, there came an old beggar in eve, there came an old beggar in Peach Peach Blossom VillageBlossom Village, where an old lady gave him , where an old lady gave him some food and asked him to hide himself in some food and asked him to hide himself in the mountain to avoid the monster the mountain to avoid the monster NianNian. .

The Legend of The Legend of NianNian Monster Monster

• The old man promised that he could drive the The old man promised that he could drive the monster away as long as he was put up for the monster away as long as he was put up for the night at the old lady's home. Being unable to night at the old lady's home. Being unable to persuade the old man into hiding in the mountain, persuade the old man into hiding in the mountain, the old lady went alone. In the middle of the the old lady went alone. In the middle of the night, the monster Nian dashed into the village. night, the monster Nian dashed into the village. He trembled and cried when he saw the He trembled and cried when he saw the red paperred paper on the door of the old lady's house, which was on the door of the old lady's house, which was brightly litbrightly lit. Just as the monster reached the . Just as the monster reached the entrance, there came entrance, there came blasting soundsblasting sounds that that prevented him from moving any further. prevented him from moving any further.

The Legend of The Legend of NianNian Monster Monster• At that time, the old man, wearing a At that time, the old man, wearing a red red

roberobe, opened the door and the monster , opened the door and the monster was scared away. Actually, the was scared away. Actually, the color red, color red, firelight and blasting soundsfirelight and blasting sounds were the were the things the monster feared most. After that, things the monster feared most. After that, on every New Year's Eve, on every New Year's Eve, every every household would paste red couplets, let household would paste red couplets, let off firecrackers and light candles as well off firecrackers and light candles as well as stay up the whole nightas stay up the whole night to avoid being to avoid being attacked by the monster. This is how these attacked by the monster. This is how these customs came into being.customs came into being.

Celebration Activities Do the Spring CleaningDo the Spring Cleaning

Paste red coupletsPaste red coupletsLet off firecrackersLet off firecrackersLight candles or lampsLight candles or lampsPut on new clothesPut on new clothes

Celebration Activities

Stay up all nightStay up all night

Family Get together and have Family Get together and have Family Family Reunion DinnerReunion Dinner on the New Year eveon the New Year eve

Make and eat dumplingsMake and eat dumplings

Visit friends and relatives and Visit friends and relatives and Express best wishes to each other Express best wishes to each other

Give or receiver red envelopesGive or receiver red envelopes

Watch Spring Festival Special TV Programs

Order or have ahave a reunion dinner of the reunion dinner of the New year eve in a restaurantNew year eve in a restaurant

Have a travel

Modern Practice

Auspicious food for Spring FestivalAuspicious food for Spring Festival• Dumpling Dumpling （（ JIAOZIJIAOZI ））• New Year Cake ( Glutinous Rice Cake, NIANGAO)New Year Cake ( Glutinous Rice Cake, NIANGAO)

(or other raised food)(or other raised food)• FishFish• ChickenChicken• Pork (for non Muslim family) Pork (for non Muslim family) • TofuTofu• Bean sprouts Bean sprouts • Bamboo ShootsBamboo Shoots• ……..

The Symbolic Meaning of JIAOZIThe Symbolic Meaning of JIAOZI

1. In China, the most traditional and popular 1. In China, the most traditional and popular Spring Festival food is dumpling, which looks Spring Festival food is dumpling, which looks like the moon with vegetables and meat mixed like the moon with vegetables and meat mixed in it. The Chinese name of dumpling is “JIAO in it. The Chinese name of dumpling is “JIAO ZI”, ”JIAO” means ”cross”, ”ZI” is Chinese ZI”, ”JIAO” means ”cross”, ”ZI” is Chinese traditional time represents “24:00”, so the traditional time represents “24:00”, so the Chinese word “JIAO ZI”(Chinese word “JIAO ZI”( 交子交子 ) means “cross ) means “cross 24:00”, just the dividing point of last year and 24:00”, just the dividing point of last year and next year. So when it comes to 24:00, every next year. So when it comes to 24:00, every family begins eating dumplings.family begins eating dumplings.

Dumpling Dumpling （（ JIAOZIJIAOZI ））

The Symbolic Meaning of JIAOZIThe Symbolic Meaning of JIAOZI2. Chinese Dumplings look like silver ingots. Legend has it that the more dumplings you eat during New Year celebration, the more money you can make in the New Year. they symbolize money and great fortune.

"New Year Cake" "New Year Cake" • "New Year Cake" is a kind of "New Year Cake" is a kind of

Glutinous Rice Cake. In South Glutinous Rice Cake. In South China, during the New Year, there China, during the New Year, there are many sweet pastries to try are many sweet pastries to try (more so than in the North). Sweet (more so than in the North). Sweet pastries are not normally consumed pastries are not normally consumed in the Chinese diet, but they are in the Chinese diet, but they are considered special treats for festive considered special treats for festive occasions. occasions.

• homophone for "promotion step by homophone for "promotion step by step" step"

FishFish• In Chinese, Fish sounds like “surplus” or In Chinese, Fish sounds like “surplus” or

"save more". Chinese People always like "save more". Chinese People always like save more money at the end of year because save more money at the end of year because they think if they save more, they can make they think if they save more, they can make more in the next year. more in the next year.

Auspicious food for Spring FestivalAuspicious food for Spring Festival

• Chicken is homophone for “auspicious”.Chicken is homophone for “auspicious”.

• Tofu is homophone for “good luck to all the Tofu is homophone for “good luck to all the family”.family”.

• Pork is symbolic for great fortune or good Pork is symbolic for great fortune or good luck because of the fat image of pig.luck because of the fat image of pig.

• Bean sprouts and Bamboo Shoots symbolize Bean sprouts and Bamboo Shoots symbolize “prosperous” for their quick growth.“prosperous” for their quick growth.

Idioms an AllusionsIdioms an Allusions• 瑞雪兆丰年：瑞雪兆丰年：A timely snow promises a good harvest.A timely snow promises a good harvest.• 人逢喜事精神爽：人逢喜事精神爽：Joy puts heart into a man.Joy puts heart into a man.• 岁岁平安岁岁平安Safe and sound all year round.Safe and sound all year round.• 招财进宝：招财进宝：Money and treasures will be plentifulMoney and treasures will be plentiful

逢凶化吉逢凶化吉turn ill luck into goodturn ill luck into good  

Words for the Spring FestivalWords for the Spring Festival

春节 The Spring Festival 农历 lunar calendar 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year 初一 the beginning of New Year 元宵节 The Lantern Festival 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 春联 Spring Festival couplets 剪纸 paper-cuts 年画 New Year paintings 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping

敬酒 propose a toast 灯笼 lantern: a portable light 烟花 fireworks 爆竹 firecrackers 红包 red packets 舞狮 lion dance 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) 戏曲 traditional opera 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns 灯会 exhibit of lanterns 守岁 staying-up 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning

Follow-up ActivityFollow-up Activity

• How is the Spring Festival celebrated in How is the Spring Festival celebrated in your hometown? Are there any special your hometown? Are there any special customs for the festival in your hometown?customs for the festival in your hometown?

May the season's joy fill you May the season's joy fill you all the year roundall the year round ! !

Thank you Thank you