Spring Festival

Helpful words and expressions The Spring Festival 春节

fireworks 烟花

Spring Festival couplets 春联

the dinner on New Year’s Eve 年夜饭

lunar calendar 农历

firecrackers 爆竹

spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 扫房

family reunion dinner 团圆饭

lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar 正月

red packets 红包

staying-up 守岁

lantern 灯笼

New Year’s Eve; eve of lunar New Year 除夕

gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift 压岁钱

do Spring Festival shopping买年货

The Lantern Festival 元宵节

Discussion Questions

• 1. When do you people celebrate the Spring Festival?

• 2. Before the Spring Festival comes, what do people do to prepare for it?

• 3. During the Spring Festival, what do people usually do to celebrate it?

words for the listening

similar 相似的late January 一月底lunar calendar 农历Mid-Autumn Festival 中秋节celebrate 庆祝decorate 装饰red packets 红包

special performances 特别节目dress up 穿着打扮outdoor carnivals 户外狂欢hold a few events 举行几样活动Beijing opera 京剧dumpling 饺子

Questions asked

• What are some of the festivals celebrated in your country?

• Which is your favorite?• How do people celebrate the spring Festival?• What do people do outside of their home?

More expression

celebrate We celebrate Spring Festival by having a big dinner.

festival We have a few important festivals every year.

decorate People decorate their houses for New Year.

red packets

My parents will give me red packets during Chinese New Year.

take place

Spring Festival takes place in late January or early February.

dumpling It is a tradition for many Beijing people to have dumplings.

big dinner We have a big dinner during Mid-Autumn Festival.

parade The biggest parade was during China’s 50th anniversary.

moon cake Mid-Autumn Festival is a time we eat a lot of moon cakes.

carnival We usually go to a Miao Hui, which is just a carnival.

have a good time

I always have a good time with my family.

Matching1. Spring Festival is a time when ...

A. People have a day off and often go traveling.

2. Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for ...

B. People give out red packets of money to people.

3. During our National Day, many …

C. People watch boat races near the river.

4. On Dragon Boat Day you’ll see…

D. People buy flags to show their love for the nation.

5. May Day is the time of year when …

E. People buy and give moon-cakes to each other.

legend

• The Spring Festival is also called "guonian” (meaning “passing a year”). According to legend, it is said that the "nian” (year) was a strong monster which was fierce and cruel and it liked to eat animals, including humans. Human beings were scared about it and had to hide on the evening since "nian" came out to to eat animals in the evening.

• Later, people found that “nian” was very scared about the red color and fireworks. Therefore, people use red color and fireworks or firecrackers to drive away "nian” every year. After that, the animal "nian" never came out again, but the custom of using red color and setting off fireworks remains to this day.

Assignment

• Retell the legend about the spring festival in your own words.

• Which is your favorite festival and why?