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Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival, is a significant celebration in Chinese culture with origins over 4,000 years ago, rooted in folklore and agricultural traditions. The festival lasts 15 days, featuring family reunions, traditional meals, and customs like cleaning homes, wearing red, and giving red envelopes for good fortune. Celebrations have spread globally, fostering cultural exchange through vibrant public festivities and educational events.

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12 views2 pages

Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival, is a significant celebration in Chinese culture with origins over 4,000 years ago, rooted in folklore and agricultural traditions. The festival lasts 15 days, featuring family reunions, traditional meals, and customs like cleaning homes, wearing red, and giving red envelopes for good fortune. Celebrations have spread globally, fostering cultural exchange through vibrant public festivities and educational events.

Uploaded by

Laura L
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Chinese New Year: A Festival of History, Traditions, and Global Celebration

The Origins of Chinese New Year


Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is one of Chinese culture's most ancient and
significant celebrations. Its history dates back over 4,000 years and is deeply rooted in folklore.
According to legend, the celebration originated as a way to protect people from a terrifying mythical
creature called Nian. This beast would show up at the start of the lunar year, attacking villages and
destroying crops. Over time, people figured out that loud noises, bright lights, and the colour red
would scare Nian off. These protective measures became traditions that have stood the test of
time.

Chinese New Year also has agricultural roots, marking the end of winter and the arrival of spring.
For centuries, it has been a time to honour ancestors, celebrate new beginnings, and pray for a
prosperous year.

Traditional Celebrations in China


The Spring Festival spans 15 days, beginning on the first day of the lunar calendar and wrapping
up with the Lantern Festival. Preparation for the festivities starts weeks in advance. Families go all
out to clean their homes, sweeping away bad luck and making space for good fortune. This deep
cleaning is seen as a way to wipe the slate clean and start fresh. Houses are then decked out with
red paper cutouts and banners that display phrases wishing for happiness, wealth, and longevity.

On New Year’s Eve, families gather for a grand reunion dinner, often considered the most
important meal of the year. Traditional dishes such as dumplings, fish, spring rolls, and sticky rice
cakes are served. Each food carries a symbolic meaning: dumplings represent wealth because
they look like ancient gold ingots, while fish symbolize abundance. Families often tuck into these
dishes while exchanging stories and reflecting on the past year.

On New Year’s Day, people dress up in new clothes, preferably red, as the colour is believed to
bring good luck and ward off evil spirits. Elders hand out red envelopes, or hongbao, filled with
money to children as a way to pass on blessings and good fortune. Throughout the festival,
fireworks and firecrackers light up the sky to scare off bad spirits and welcome a fresh start. The
celebration concludes with the Lantern Festival when families gather to admire colourful lantern
displays and enjoy sweet glutinous rice balls, symbolizing family unity.

Chinese New Year Around the World


Chinese New Year has gone global, with celebrations taking root in countries like Malaysia,
Singapore, Indonesia, and the United States. Large cities with significant Chinese populations,
such as London, San Francisco, and Sydney, pull out all the stops for vibrant public festivities.
Parades featuring dragon and lion dances, traditional music, and dazzling fireworks draw massive
crowds. These events are a great way for people from different backgrounds to join in and soak up
the festive atmosphere.

Schools, cultural centres, and governments also chip in by organizing events to educate others
about the festival’s significance. Through food, performances, and workshops, Chinese New Year
has become more than just a holiday; it’s a bridge that brings people together and promotes
cultural exchange.

Decide if the statements are True (T) or False (F) and underline evidence in the text:

1. The Chinese New Year celebration is based on the Gregorian calendar.


2. The color red is used during Chinese New Year to attract wealth and repel evil spirits.
3. Cleaning the house before the festival is a way to honor ancestors and preserve old
traditions.
4. Dumplings are served at the reunion dinner because they represent health and longevity.
5. The Lantern Festival takes place in the middle of Chinese New Year celebrations.
6. Firecrackers are used during the festival to welcome prosperity and drive away misfortune.
7. Red envelopes are given to children as a reward for their good behavior throughout the year.
8. Chinese New Year celebrations are popular in countries with significant Chinese
populations, including Australia and Malaysia.
9. Families stop cleaning their homes after the first day of the New Year to avoid sweeping
away good luck.
10.The Spring Festival has been celebrated for over 2,000 years, making it a relatively modern
tradition in China.

Synonyms

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