Spring Festival春节英语知识.doc

The Spring Festival Celebration The Spring Festival is also known as the Lunar New Year or the Chinese New Year. It is the most important traditional festival in China and celebrated in late January or early February. The historical reason for beginning the year during cold weather is that it is the time between the “autumn harvest and winter storage” and “spring plowing and summer wedding”. In other words, this is the time for rest and relaxation after a year’s toil, and for celebration as well. In addition to the practical reasons of having the Spring Festival during the cold weather, a Chinese folklore民间传说，民俗学，民间风俗 [di:m?n] n. 魔鬼，恶魔，精力充沛的人，高手 使苦恼，折“surplus”多余的，过剩的 and symbolizes “surplus every year”. After the dinner, the whole family will usually watch the holiday special TV programmes together. At midnight, people used to set off firecrackers to bring in the new year. But recent years this custom hs been forbidden in cities because of the fear of causing fire. Instead, townspeople put on electric firecracker or red lanterns灯笼. Some people also post paintings of the Door God on the gates, while some post a big Chinese character “Fu” in an upside down way, meaning the blessing祝福，祷告，幸事 has arrived at the door. The Spring Festival lasts many days. On the first day, people put on their new clothes and shoes and exchange new year greetings with their neighbous and relatives. They will greet each other with “Xin Nian Hao” (Happy New Year), “Gong Xi Fa Cai ” (Wish you a happy and prosperous 兴旺的，繁荣的year). Children especially like the Spring Festival, as they can get “lucky money” (money wrapped in a red paper envelop wishing them good luck) from their parents and relatives. Lion dances and dragon龙， danced are performed, especilly in the countryside. Besides, people play Mahjong at home. Do?you?know?Spring?Festival(春节你知道多少) ? The oldest and most important festival in China is the Spring Festival， more commonly known in the West as Chinese New Year. Like all Chinese fes