Introduction to Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) – Part 1
The Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is the most important traditional festival in China. It is celebrated on the first day of the lunar calendar and lasts for 15 days. The festival is a time for family reunions, feasts, and various cultural activities. In this article, we will discuss the customs and traditions associated with the Chinese New Year.
One of the most iconic customs during the Chinese New Year is the lion dance. Dancers dress in elaborate lion costumes and perform acrobatic moves to the beat of drums and cymbals. The lion dance is believed to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits. It is a common sight in both rural villages and bustling cities during the festival.
Another important tradition is the giving and receiving of red envelopes. Red envelopes, known as "hongbao" in Chinese, are small red packets containing money. They are given by married couples or elder family members to unmarried younger ones as a symbol of good luck and blessings for the coming year. The amount of money inside the red envelopes is usually an even number, as odd numbers are associated with funerals.
Decorating homes with red lanterns, couplets, and paper cuttings is also a popular tradition during the Chinese New Year. Red is considered an auspicious color that can bring good luck and happiness. Lanterns are hung outside homes to guide the way for the gods and ancestors who visit during the festival. Couplets, which are poetic phrases written on red paper, are pasted on door frames to bring good fortune and ward off evil spirits. Paper cuttings, intricately designed with scissors, are displayed on windows to create a festive atmosphere.
Food plays a significant role during the Chinese New Year, with various delicacies prepared for family feasts. Dumplings, or jiaozi, are a must-have dish, as they symbolize wealth and prosperity. Fish is another popular dish, as its pronunciation in Chinese sounds similar to the word for "surplus," symbolizing abundance in the coming year. Nian gao, a sticky rice cake, is also commonly eaten as it represents a higher income or position in the new year.
In addition to these customs, the Chinese New Year is a time for visiting relatives and friends. People travel long distances to be with their loved ones and exchange greetings and well-wishes. It is a time to appreciate family ties and strengthen bonds.
To sum up, the Chinese New Year is a time of celebration, tradition, and cultural significance. The lion dance, red envelopes, decorations, and special food all contribute to the festive atmosphere. It is a time for family reunions and spreading joy and good fortune for the year ahead.
Introduction to Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) – Part 2
Continuing from the previous article, we will now explore more customs and traditions associated with the Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival.
Fireworks and firecrackers are a significant part of the Chinese New Year celebrations. The loud noise and bright colors are believed to drive away evil spirits and bad luck. Fireworks displays can be seen in almost every city and town, creating a spectacular sight in the night sky. However, due to safety concerns, many places have now restricted the use of fireworks, and people often gather in designated areas to enjoy the fireworks together.
The traditional dragon dance is another highlight of the Chinese New Year. Similar to the lion dance, the dragon dance involves a team of dancers holding up a long dragon puppet and performing coordinated movements to the beat of drums and music. The dragon is considered a mythical creature that brings good luck, and the dance is believed to bring prosperity and fortune for the coming year.
The Lantern Festival marks the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations. It falls on the fifteenth day of the lunar calendar, and people celebrate by lighting and admiring lanterns, solving riddles written on lanterns, and eating tangyuan, a type of sweet rice dumpling. The festival is a beautiful and joyful occasion, with lanterns of various shapes and sizes illuminating the night sky.
Another important aspect of the Chinese New Year is the zodiac animal. Each year is associated with one of the twelve zodiac animals in the Chinese calendar. The animal for each year is believed to have a significant influence on a person's personality and destiny. For example, 2022 is the Year of the Tiger, symbolizing courage, power, and independence. People born in the Year of the Tiger are believed to possess these characteristics.
Lastly, the Chinese New Year holiday is an opportunity for people to relax and take a break from work or school. Many businesses and schools close during the festival, allowing people to spend time with their families and engage in leisure activities. It is a time for rest, reflection, and rejuvenation before the start of a new year.
In conclusion, the Chinese New Year is a rich and vibrant festival with a wide range of customs and traditions. From lion dances and fireworks to lanterns and zodiac animals, each element contributes to the festive atmosphere. The festival is a time for family, joy, and renewal, as people bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new one.
介绍春节的英语作文 篇三
Chinese Spring Festival celebrating the end of winter and the warmth of spring. It began in the last day of the lunar year, end in the 15th day of lunar New Year, also is the Lantern Festival. During the Spring Festival, people use red lantern and Spring Festival couplets decorate a house, put on all kinds of colored clothes, often visit friends and relatives or together eat dumplings, fish, meat and other delicious food. The children are looking forward to receiving red envelope money, and together they play each other the fireworks, with happy. Street with dragon and lion dance and some other carnival activities, CCTV will held the grand Spring Festival gala.
中国的春节庆祝冬天的结束和温暖春天的来临。它开始于农历年的最后一天,结束于农历正月十五,也就是元宵节。在春节期间,人们用红灯笼和春联装饰房子,穿上各式各样的彩色衣服,经常拜访亲戚朋友或聚在一起吃饺子、鱼、肉和其他美味的食物。孩子们盼望着收到红包的压岁钱,他们一起放烟花,相互玩的跟开心。大街上有舞龙、舞狮和其他一些狂欢活动,中央电视台会举行盛大的春节联欢晚会。
介绍春节的英语作文 篇四
Spring Festival is the most important festival in China .In the evening before the Spring Festival ,families get together and have a big meal .In many places people like to set off firecrackers .Dumplings are the most traditional food .Children like the festival very much ,because they can have delicious food and wear new clothes .They can also get some money from their parents. This money is given to children for good luck . People put New Year scrolls on the wall for good fortune .
介绍春节的英语作文 篇五
The Spring Festival is the most important festival for the Chinese people and is when all family members get together, just like Christmas in the West.
The Spring Festival falls on the 1st day of the 1st lunar month, often one month later than the Gregorian calendar. It originated in the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600 BC-c. 1100 BC) from the people's sacrifice to gods and ancestors at the end of an old year and the beginning of a new one.
Strictly speaking, the Spring Festival starts every year in the early days of the 12th lunar month and will last till the mid 1st lunar month of the next year. Of them, the most important days are Spring Festival Eve and the first three days. Most people will have a week off , thus, this time is known as golden week.
春节,又叫农历新年,是中国民间最隆重、最热闹的一个节日,是举家欢庆团团圆圆的大好时节,就像西方的圣诞节一样。春季是每年农历正月初一,通常比公历新年要晚一个月。它起源于殷商时期年头岁尾的民间祭祖活动。严格来讲,春节不只是一天的庆祝,而是从农历的12月底到新年的正月十五,不过最重要的几天当属除夕夜和新年头三天。春节是法定假日,大家一般都会放七天假,又叫做黄金周。
介绍春节的英语作文 篇六
The Chinese New Year has a great history. In our past, people lived in an agricultural society and worked all year long. They only took a break after the harvest and before the planting of seeds. This happens to coincide with the beginning of the lunar New Year.
The Chinese New Year is very similar to the Western one, rich in traditions, folklores and rituals. It has been said that it is a combination of the Western Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year. This is hardly an exaggeration!
The origin of the Chinese New Year itself is centuries old - in fact, too old to actually be traced. It is popularly recognized as the Spring Festival and celebrations last 15 days.
Preparations tend to begin a month before the date of the Chinese New Year (similar to a Western Christmas). During this time people start buying presents, decoration materials, food and clothing. A huge clean-up gets underway days before the New Year, when Chinese houses are cleaned from top to bottom. This ritual is supposed to sweep away all traces of bad luck. Doors and windowpanes are often given a new coat of paint, usually red, then decorated with paper cuts and couplets with themes such as happiness, wealth and longevity printed on them.
The end of the New Year is marked by the Festival of Lanterns, which is a celebration with singing, dancing and lantern shows.
At the Festival, all traditions are honored. The predominant colors are red and gold. "Good Wish" banners are hung from the ceilings and walls. The "God of Fortune" is there to give Hong Baos. Lion dancers perform on stage continuously. Visitors take home plants and flowers symbolizing good luck. An array of New Years specialty food is available in the Food Market. Visitors purchase new clothing, shoes and pottery at the Market Fair. Bargaining for the best deal is commonplace!