中国历史文化概况(英文版)unit8traditionalholidaysandcelebrations.pptVIP

Unit 8 Traditional Holidays and Celebrations Spring Festival: 1)The time of the Spring Festival 2)Legends about it 3)Celebrations Mid-Autumn Festival 1)The time of the Mid-Autumn 2)Legends about it 3)Celebrations The time of the Spring Festival The first day of the first lunar month is regarded as the new year of the Chinese. It is the most important and ceremonious traditional festival in China, just as Christmas Day to the Westerners. Legends about Spring Festival There was a monster called Nian (year) that would come out to eat people and animals on the eve of every New Year. To avoid the monster’s attack, people would flee to the depth of the mountains and call this day Nian Guan (meaning the Pass of Nian). On one New Years Eve, there came an old beggar in Peach Blossom Village, where an old lady gave him some food and asked him to hide himself in the mountain to avoid the monster Nian. The old man promised that he could drive the monster away as long as he was put up for the night at the old ladys home. Being unable to persuade the old man into hiding in the mountain, the old lady went alone. In the middle of the night, the monster Nian dashed into the village. He trembled and cried when he saw the red paper on the door of the old ladys house, which was brightly lit. Just as the monster reached the entrance, there came blasting sounds that prevented him from moving any further. At that time, the old man, wearing a red robe, opened the door and the monster was scared away. Actually, the color red, firelight and blasting sounds were the things the monster feared most. Spring Festival Couplets During the Spring Festival of every year, all families in both urban and rural areas traditionally handpick a pair of Spring Festival couplets to paste on the door, adding some joyous atmosphere to the festival. The couplet is composed of two parts, the first line and the second line. There are a few points one should bear in mind when writing or buying the coupl