Chapter 5Chapter 5

Traditional Traditional FestivalsFestivals

A Glimpse of Chinese A Glimpse of Chinese

CultureCulture

Chinese Major Traditional Chinese Major Traditional FestivalsFestivals

Spring Festival;Spring Festival; Lantern Festival;Lantern Festival; Qingming Festival,;Qingming Festival,; Dragon Boat Festival,;Dragon Boat Festival,; Mid-Autumn Festival ;Mid-Autumn Festival ; Double Ninth Festival.Double Ninth Festival.

Spring FestivalSpring Festival

ChinaChina’’s most important festival s most important festival falls on the 1st day of the 1st lunar falls on the 1st day of the 1st lunar month each year. Family members month each year. Family members gather just as they do for gather just as they do for Christmas in the West. Christmas in the West.

In fact, with so many people In fact, with so many people returning home, it is the busiest returning home, it is the busiest time for transportation systems. time for transportation systems.

Its OriginIts Origin

Spring Festival is also called Spring Festival is also called guonian,guonian, which means keeping the which means keeping the monster monster Nian Nian away. There are away. There are many legends about the origin of many legends about the origin of NianNian. A popular legend from . A popular legend from ancient times describedancient times described Nian Nian as a as a fierce monster resembling a bull fierce monster resembling a bull with a lionwith a lion’’s head. During winter, s head. During winter, when food was scarce when food was scarce NianNian would would leave his mountain lair (leave his mountain lair ( 兽穴兽穴 ) ) to to eat local villagers or drive them eat local villagers or drive them from their homes. from their homes.

Tell the Story of Tell the Story of NianNian (student) (student)

Preliminary Year (Xiaonian )Preliminary Year (Xiaonian )

The 23rd day of the 12th lunar The 23rd day of the 12th lunar month is Preliminary Year. month is Preliminary Year. Sacrifices are offered to the Sacrifices are offered to the Kitchen God with families Kitchen God with families sharing delicious food sharing delicious food followed by preparations for followed by preparations for the coming Spring Festival.the coming Spring Festival.

Foods, decorations, new clothes Foods, decorations, new clothes and shoes for children as well and shoes for children as well as gifts for the elderly, friends as gifts for the elderly, friends and relatives are prepared. and relatives are prepared. Houses are thoroughly cleaned.Houses are thoroughly cleaned.

Spring Festival CoupletsSpring Festival Couplets

These are Chinese good luck These are Chinese good luck proverbs on red paper, often with proverbs on red paper, often with golden trimming and are usually golden trimming and are usually about happiness, wealth, about happiness, wealth, longevity , and a satisfactory longevity , and a satisfactory marriage, including more children. marriage, including more children.

Spring Festival EveSpring Festival Eve Houses are brightly lit and a large Houses are brightly lit and a large

sumptuous family dinner is served. sumptuous family dinner is served.

Dishes such as chicken, fish and tofuDishes such as chicken, fish and tofu must be included, for in Chinese, their must be included, for in Chinese, their pronunciations, respectively pronunciations, respectively JiJi, , yuyu and and doufudoufu, mean “auspicious, abundant and , mean “auspicious, abundant and blessed”. blessed”.

NiangaoNiangao means means ““higher and higher and higher, one year higher, one year after another.”after another.”

JiaoziJiaozi, or , or dumpling, means dumpling, means “bidding farewell “bidding farewell to the old and to the old and ushering in the ushering in the new” (new” ( 辞旧迎新辞旧迎新 ))

The Spring Festival GalaThe Spring Festival Gala

In recent years, In recent years, the Spring Festival the Spring Festival Gala, broadcast on Gala, broadcast on China Central China Central Television Station Television Station (CCTV), lasting 5 (CCTV), lasting 5 to 6 hours has to 6 hours has been an essential been an essential entertainment for entertainment for the Chinese both the Chinese both at home and at home and abroad. abroad.

New YearNew Year

During the first five days of During the first five days of the Spring Festival, relatives, the Spring Festival, relatives, friends, classmates and friends, classmates and colleagues exchange colleagues exchange greetings and gifts by visiting, greetings and gifts by visiting, calling or sending messages. calling or sending messages. Telephones lines and cables Telephones lines and cables are busily engaged on these are busily engaged on these days. days.

Lantern FestivalLantern Festival

The Lantern Festival, The Lantern Festival, celebrated on the 15th day of celebrated on the 15th day of the first lunar month, is the first lunar month, is closely related to the Spring closely related to the Spring Festival. It marks the end of Festival. It marks the end of the New Year celebrations, the New Year celebrations, following which life returns to following which life returns to normal. The most prominent normal. The most prominent activity of the Lantern Festival activity of the Lantern Festival is the grand display of is the grand display of beautiful lanterns. beautiful lanterns.

Guessing RiddlesGuessing Riddles Guessing riddles pasted onto lanterns is a Guessing riddles pasted onto lanterns is a

Lantern Festival tradition from the Song Lantern Festival tradition from the Song Dynasty. Visitors who solve a riddle may Dynasty. Visitors who solve a riddle may get prizes. get prizes.

YuanxiaoYuanxiao Also called Also called tangyuantangyuan. .

They are small They are small dumpling balls made of dumpling balls made of glutinous rice flour with glutinous rice flour with sesame (sesame ( 芝麻芝麻 ), bean ), bean paste, jujube paste (paste, jujube paste ( 枣枣泥泥 ), walnut meat (), walnut meat ( 核桃核桃肉肉 ), dried fruit, or sugar ), dried fruit, or sugar and edible oil as filling. and edible oil as filling. What's more, What's more, tangyuan tangyuan in Chinese has a similar in Chinese has a similar pronunciation to pronunciation to ““tuanyuantuanyuan””, meaning , meaning reunion. reunion.

Qingming (ToQingming (Tomb-sweepingmb-sweeping) Festival) Festival

The Qingming Festival (or The Qingming Festival (or Pure Brightness Festival) is a Pure Brightness Festival) is a day for mourning (day for mourning ( 哀悼哀悼 )) the the dead. It is one of the 24 dead. It is one of the 24 seasonal division points (seasonal division points ( 二二十四节气划分十四节气划分 ) in the lunar ) in the lunar calendar, falling on April 4th-calendar, falling on April 4th-6th each year. After the 6th each year. After the festival, the temperature rises festival, the temperature rises and rainfall increases in and rainfall increases in readiness for spring plowing readiness for spring plowing (( 春耕春耕 ) and sowing.) and sowing.

Hanshi Day (Hanshi Day ( 寒食寒食 ))

Hanshi Day (or Cold Hanshi Day (or Cold Food Day) is the day Food Day) is the day before Qingming before Qingming Festival, when no fire Festival, when no fire or smoke is allowed or smoke is allowed and people only eat and people only eat cold food.cold food.

寒 食寒 食 [[ 唐唐 ] ] 韩翃 韩翃

春城无处不飞花， 春城无处不飞花， 寒食东风御柳斜。 寒食东风御柳斜。

日暮汉官传蜡烛， 日暮汉官传蜡烛， 轻烟散入五侯家。 轻烟散入五侯家。

A Riverside Scene at A Riverside Scene at Qingming FestivalQingming Festival

Zhang Zeduan (Zhang Zeduan ( 张择端张择端 )) of the Song of the Song Dynasty produced one of ChinaDynasty produced one of China’’s s most famous works of art: most famous works of art: A A Riverside Scene at Qingming Riverside Scene at Qingming FestivalFestival. .

There are more than 500 people in There are more than 500 people in the painting, as well as scores of the painting, as well as scores of (( 许多许多 )) different animals, carriages different animals, carriages and sedan chairs (and sedan chairs ( 轿子轿子 ),), and and bridges and boats. It is a vivid bridges and boats. It is a vivid record of the festivities and hustle record of the festivities and hustle and bustle (and bustle ( 熙熙攘攘熙熙攘攘 ) of the ) of the Qingming Festival. Qingming Festival.

Dragon Boat FestivalDragon Boat Festival

The Dragon The Dragon Boat Festival Boat Festival falls on the 5th falls on the 5th day of the 5th day of the 5th lunar month. lunar month.

Tell the Story of Its Origin Tell the Story of Its Origin (student)(student)

Dragon Boat RacingDragon Boat Racing Dragon Boat Racing Competition Dragon Boat Racing Competition

is an indispensable part of the is an indispensable part of the festival, held all over the country. festival, held all over the country. Teams in dragon-shaped boats Teams in dragon-shaped boats row in time to the beat of rapid row in time to the beat of rapid drums. drums.

Mid-Autumn FestivalMid-Autumn Festival

The Mid-Autumn Festival falls The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15th day of the 8th on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, usually in lunar month, usually in October.October.

The round shape to a Chinese The round shape to a Chinese means family reunion, means family reunion, therefore the Mid-Autumn therefore the Mid-Autumn Festival is most romanticized Festival is most romanticized in China as a day of family in China as a day of family reunion and a festival with reunion and a festival with friends.friends.

Tell the Story of Its Origin Tell the Story of Its Origin (student)(student)

Appreciation of Some Famous Appreciation of Some Famous LinesLines

I raised my head, the splendid I raised my head, the splendid moon I see; Then droop my moon I see; Then droop my head and sink to dreams of my head and sink to dreams of my hometown.hometown. ( ( 举头望明月， 低头思举头望明月， 低头思故乡故乡 ))

My one wish for you, then , is My one wish for you, then , is long life; And a share in this long life; And a share in this loveliness(the moon)loveliness(the moon) far, far far, far away. (away. ( 但愿人长久， 千里共婵娟但愿人长久， 千里共婵娟 ))

Double Ninth FestivalDouble Ninth Festival The Double Ninth Festival or The Double Ninth Festival or

Chongyang Festival is Chongyang Festival is celebrated on the 9th day of the celebrated on the 9th day of the 9th lunar month. It usually falls 9th lunar month. It usually falls in October.in October.

Double Ninth Festival can also Double Ninth Festival can also be called Height Ascending be called Height Ascending Festival (Festival ( 登高节登高节 ) when people ) when people customarily climb mountains or customarily climb mountains or towers, bringing along towers, bringing along chrysanthemum wine (chrysanthemum wine ( 菊花酒菊花酒 ).).

Tell the Story of Its Origin Tell the Story of Its Origin (student)(student)

In 1989, the Chinese In 1989, the Chinese government government designated (designated ( 指定指定 )) Double Ninth Double Ninth Festival as Seniors' Festival as Seniors' Day (Day ( 老人节老人节 )) as nine as nine is the highest odd is the highest odd number and two number and two nines are taken to nines are taken to signify longevity. signify longevity. Since then, the Since then, the Double Ninth Double Ninth Festival has become Festival has become a day of loving and a day of loving and respecting the aged respecting the aged nationwide. nationwide.

Other traditional festivalsOther traditional festivals

Double Seventh FestivalDouble Seventh Festival Laba (Laba ( 腊八腊八 ) and the Eight-) and the Eight-

Treasure PorridgeTreasure Porridge

Double Seventh FestivalDouble Seventh Festival

The Double Seventh Festival, The Double Seventh Festival, on the 7th day of the 7th lunar on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, is a traditional festival month, is a traditional festival full of romance. It often falls full of romance. It often falls on a day in August.on a day in August.

It has been regarded as It has been regarded as China’s Valentine's Day.China’s Valentine's Day.

Tell the Story of the Legend of the Tell the Story of the Legend of the Cowherd and Weaver Maid Cowherd and Weaver Maid (student)(student)

Laba and the Eight-Treasure PorridgeLaba and the Eight-Treasure Porridge

Laba is celebrated on the 8th Laba is celebrated on the 8th day of the 12th lunar month. The day of the 12th lunar month. The 12th lunar month is called the 12th lunar month is called the LaLa month, which means a world month, which means a world of ice and snow. of ice and snow. BaBa means means eight. The 8th day of that month eight. The 8th day of that month was considered a day for was considered a day for making sacrifices to gods and making sacrifices to gods and ancestors to ensure a peaceful ancestors to ensure a peaceful life and a good harvest in the life and a good harvest in the next year. next year.

LabaLaba Porridge Porridge

Also called the Eight-Treasure Also called the Eight-Treasure Porridge.Porridge.

The main materials usually The main materials usually consist of beans like red beans, consist of beans like red beans, mung beans (mung beans ( 绿豆绿豆 ), cowpeas ), cowpeas (( 豇豆豇豆 ), haricots (), haricots ( 扁豆扁豆 ), peas ), peas and broad beans, and grain like and broad beans, and grain like rice, millet (rice, millet ( 小米小米 ), polished ), polished round-grained rice, glutinous round-grained rice, glutinous rice, wheat, oat, corn and rice, wheat, oat, corn and broomcorn (broomcorn ( 高粱高粱 ). ).

Ethnic Festivals Ethnic Festivals

China is a multi-ethnic China is a multi-ethnic country where festivals and country where festivals and celebrations vary from one celebrations vary from one ethnic group to another. ethnic group to another.

Water Splashing FestivalWater Splashing Festival

Water Splashing Water Splashing Festival is the DaiFestival is the Dai’’s s New Year, as well as New Year, as well as the most important the most important traditional festival traditional festival observed by the Dai observed by the Dai people in Chinapeople in China’’s s Yunnan province. Yunnan province.

Nadam FairNadam Fair （那达慕大会）（那达慕大会） Nadam Fair is a traditional festival Nadam Fair is a traditional festival

observed by the Mongolian people observed by the Mongolian people who inhabit Inner Mongolia, Gansu, who inhabit Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Qinghai and Xinjiang. Qinghai and Xinjiang.

The festival is celebrated in July or The festival is celebrated in July or August when the pastures have August when the pastures have plenty of water, lush grass, thriving plenty of water, lush grass, thriving herds, and fine weather. The festive herds, and fine weather. The festive celebration lasts for one to eight celebration lasts for one to eight days.days.

Torch FestivalTorch Festival

Torch Festival is a Torch Festival is a traditional festival traditional festival of the Yi, Bai,Hani, of the Yi, Bai,Hani, Naxi, and some Naxi, and some other ethinic other ethinic groups inhabiting groups inhabiting southwest China. southwest China. It falls around the It falls around the 24th of the 6th 24th of the 6th lunar month.lunar month.

Please find more Please find more information from the information from the internet about other internet about other ethnic festivals and ethnic festivals and share it with your share it with your classmates.classmates.

DiscussionDiscussion

Why do you think young Why do you think young people in China are people in China are increasingly interested in increasingly interested in celebrating some western celebrating some western festivals nowadays?festivals nowadays?

ExercisesExercises

Discussion topic for Discussion topic for next class:next class:

Among the Chinese Among the Chinese ““Eight Eight Regional CuisinesRegional Cuisines””, which , which one do you like most? Why?one do you like most? Why?