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 celebrateWe celebrate Spring Festival by having a big dinner. festivalWe have a few important festivals every year. decoratePeople 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.

dumplingIt is a tradition for many Beijing people to have dumplings. big dinnerWe have a big dinner during Mid-Autumn Festival. paradeThe biggest parade was during China’s 50th anniversary. moon cakeMid-Autumn Festival is a time we eat a lot of moon cakes. carnivalWe usually go to a Miao Hui, which is just a carnival. have a good time I always have a good time with my family.

Matching 1. 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?