Chinese New Year nián

Let’s write and read it

Chinese New Year or Spring Festival is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is sometimes called the Lunar New Year, especially by people outside China. The festival traditionally begins on the first day of the first lunar month (Chinese: 正月 ; pinyin: zhēng yuè) in the Chinese calendar and ends on the 15th; this day is called Lantern Festival. Chinese New Year's Eve is known as Chúxī ( 除夕 , chúxī,). It literally means "Year-pass Eve".Usually, it’s 15 days long

Time: Dated back to 4000 years ago

Places

Celebrated in areas with large populations of ethnic Chinese, Chinese New Year is considered a major holiday for the Chinese and has had influence on the new year celebrations of its geographic neighbours, as well as cultures with whom the Chinese have had extensive interaction. These include Aboriginal Taiwanese people, Koreans, Mongolians, Nepalese, Bhutanese, Vietnamese, and formerly the Japanese before 1873. In Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and other countries with significant Chinese populations, Chinese New Year is also celebrated, largely by overseas Chinese, and has, to varying degrees, become part of the traditional culture of these countries. In Canada, although Chinese New Year is not an official holiday, many ethnic Chinese hold large celebrations and Canada Post issues New Year's themed stamps in domestic and international rates.

What time is it this year?

• 除夕 , chúxī: The day before the new year二〇〇九年一月二十五日

Please read

The traditions New-year visits and greetings

拜年 ; pinyin: bàinián

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

Let’s practice it Greetings: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

红 包 hónɡ bāo

Or压 岁 钱 yā suì qián

the money used to suppress or put down the evil spirit

Let’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

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

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

Food

• 1) Fish: yú 鱼 homophone for "surpluses"

• 2) nián ɡāo 年 糕 pudding

• 3) jiǎo zi 饺 子

4 ） tānɡ yuán 汤 圆 Rice 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 汤 圆 Rice dumplings

Activities

• IndoorsChinese calligraphy posters show Chinese idiomsNew year picture, Chinese knots, and paper cutting and couplets.

Couplets

Couplets

Paper cuttings

Paper cuttings

• OutdoorsFireworksLantern Festival and RiddlesDragon dance and Lion dance

Lantern Festival and Riddles

• 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、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、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、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、马失前蹄、点到为止、莫名其妙

cái shén 财 神 Fortune gods

Let’s listencái shén dào 财 神 到

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

• Video of the dancinghttp://v.youku.com/v_show/

id_XNTg3MjAyNTY=.html

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

New year songs• http://www.youku.com/playlist_show

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• 推荐：• 发财发福 --- 中国娃娃• 新年快乐 --- 谢雨欣• 恭喜发财 --- 刘德华• 卓依婷若干