chun1 jie2

Xin1 Nian2 kuai4 le4

gong1 xi3 fa1 cai2

Chinese New Year starts with the new moon on the first day of the new year and ends on the full moon. The festival lasts 15 days.

Probably more food is consumed during the New Year celebrations than any other time of the year. Vast amounts of traditional food is prepared for family and friends.

Other foods include a whole to represent togetherness and abundance, yang2 羊 yu2 鱼

and a chicken for prosperity. The chicken must be presented with a head, tail and feet to symbolize completeness. ji1 鸡 ya1 鸭

Noodles should be uncut, as this food represents long life. mian4 tiao2 面 条 mian4 bao1 面 包

What’s this? Jiao3 zi

In the north, small meat dumplings ( jiao3 zi ) is the preferred food.

bao1 jiao3 zi 包 饺 子

dui4 lian2 对联

tie1 dui4 lian2 贴 对 联

fang4 放 yan1 烟 huo3 火

Fate and fireworks Standing by a statue of the god of fortune. People watch fireworks in Singapore.

guang4 miao4 hui4 逛 庙 会

When people give money to children in the new year, it is given in hong2bao1 like this. The envelopes are always red, because red represents happiness in China. This is a hong2 bao1 红 包 huang2 bao1 黄 包

= 15 pence 2 yuan

= 30 pence 5 yuan

= 60 pence 10 yuan

= £ yuan Mao Ze Dong, who was the first chairman of China. ？

= 3 pounds 50 yuan

= 6 pounds 100 yuan

The Lantern Festival This holiday is also based on the lunar calendar, but usually comes in mid-to- late-February. The Lantern Festival marks the end of the Spring Festival. This holiday is celebrated with parades and by hanging lanterns outside the home.

wu3 long2 deng1 舞 龙 灯

Men perform a dragon dance in downtown Bangkok. (From Guardian)

Roar power Entertainers perform a lion dance at the Temple of Earth in Beijing. (From The Guardian)

Walking tall Actors and actress perform on stilts at a temple fair In Beijing. (from Guardian)

Lighting the way A sea of traditional Chinese lanterns in Kuala Lumpur. (From The Guardian)

Key words: Chun1 jie2 spring festival Xin1 nian2 kuai4 le4 happy new year Yu2 fish Ya1 duck Mian4 tiao2 noodles Jiao3 zi dumplings Key sentences: Zhu4 ni3 xin1 nian2 kuai4 le4! Have a Happy New Year! Zhu4 ni3 sheng4 dan4 kuai4 le4! Have a Happy Christmas! Zhong1 guo2 ren2 chun1 jie2 chi1 jiao3 zi. Chinese people eat dumplings in Spring Festival.

Happy new year Key words: New year: xin1 nian2 Happy: gao1 xing4 good: hao3 All: da4 jia1 We: wo3 men Dance: tiao4 wu3 Sing: chang4 ge1 Wish: zhu4 he4

Happy new year Happy new year to you all We are singing We are dancing Wish you all a Happy new year!

Xin1 nian2 ge1 Xin1 nian2 hao3 ya Zhu4 he4 da4 jia1 xin1 nian2 hao3 Wo3 men chang4 ge1 Wo3 men tiao4 wu3 Zhu4 he4 da4 jia1 xin1 nian2 hao3

Safe trip wherever you go Everything goes well May all your wishes come true Promoting to a higher position Wishing you every success Harmony brings wealth Money and treasures will be plentiful Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round