TraditionalChineseFestivalsLinYurongTheSpringFestival春節(jié)TheLanternFestival元宵節(jié)TheTombSweepingFestival清明節(jié)TheDragonBoatFestival端午節(jié)TheMid-AutumnFestival中秋節(jié)TheSpringFestival*originatingfromamemorialceremonyinprimitivesociety(HeandZhang,2006)

*prayingforgoodharvestsandprotectionofmenandlivestockagainstdiseasesanddisasters*The1911Revolution:TheSpringFestivalwassetonthefirstdayofthefirstlunarmonthinanewyear.

*theendofthewinterseasonandthebeginningofspring

(Yang,WangKeqi,andWangHengzhan,2006)Colorful&FestiveDecorationsNewYearcouplets春聯(lián)(05/09/2012)characterofFu“福”Colorful&FestiveDecorations(05/09/2012)NewYearpictures年畫Colorful&FestiveDecorationsPapercuts剪紙ATimeforFamilyReunionWherevertheyare,peopletrytheirbesttohurryhomefortheNewYearEvedinner.(05/09/2012)ASumptuousDinnerontheEvedumplingsinthenorth餃子ASumptuousDinnerontheEvericecakeinthesouth年糕anindispensabledish—fish魚ASumptuousDinnerontheEveRingouttheOldYearandRingintheNewYear守歲*eatingandchatting*playingcardsormahjong*watchingNewYearGalaonCCTV(ChinaCentralTelevision)*settingofffirecrackersLegendofnian(年)*afrighteningmonster*likeanoxinshapeandsize*eatpeopleontheeveoftheSpringFestival

(Yang,WangKeqi,andWangHengzhan,2006)Legendofnian(年)

(Yang,WangKeqi,andWangHengzhan,2006)*afraidofthesightoffireandthesoundoffirecrackers*Peoplesitaroundafireandthrowpiecesofbamboointothefire.CelebratingActivitiesLion/DragonDance(05/09/2012)CelebratingActivitiesYanggeDancingandWalkingonStilts(05/09/2012)TheLanternFestival*

thefifteenthdayofthefirstmonthintheChineselunarcalendar*theendofthewholeSpringFestivalseasonTheJadeEmperor(玉帝)intheHeavenwasangryatatownforkillinghisfavoritegooseanddecidedtoburnthetown.Afairyintheheavenwarnedtheworldlypeopleofthecomingdisasterandinstructedthemtolightlanternsthroughoutthetownatanappointedtime.

TheLegendThetownsfolkdidastoldanditlookedfromHeavenasifthetownwereblazing.EmperorJadewassatisfied,believingthathisgoosewasavenged.Fromthenon,peoplewouldcelebrateonthatdayeachyearbycarryinglanternsofvariousshapesandcolorsandwalkingalongthestreets.

TheLegend(T.Connors,2012)

TypicalFood

roundglutinousdumplingsIntheNorth:yuanxiao(元宵)IntheSouth:tangyuan(湯圓)(05/09/2012)CelebratingActivities*lanterndisplay*riddleguessing(05/09/2012)TheTombSweepingFestival

*theonlyoneobservedaccordingtotheGregoriancalendar5thApril*alsocalledQingming,oneofthe24solartermsusedtoclocktimeandguideagriculturalactivitiesinancienttimes

FocusoftheFestival*Tohonorancestors:sweeptombsandoffersacrificetoancestors.*Nowadays,“ancestors”,inthebroadsense,includeallthosewhohavemadegreatcontributionstothenation.Studentsareorganizedtoshowrespecttothesegreatpeopleandlearnfromtheirhonorabledeeds.

ColdFoodDayThestoryofJiezitui(介子推)*JinDynasty(晉國)inSpringandAutumnPeriod(春秋時期)*Chong’er(重耳)：sonoftheDukeofJinstate

ColdFoodDay*Chong’eronexileformorethan10yearswithfollowers*Jiezitui:loyalandpious*Chong’errestoredpower,forgotJie*Jieretreatedwithhismothertoamountainandlivedinseclusion

ColdFoodDay*Chong’erorderedtosetthemountainonfire,whichlastedover3days.*Jieandhismotherdiedunderaburnedwillowtree.*NofireonthatdaytocommemorateJie

(Yang,WangKeqi,andWangHengzhan,2006)

OtherActivities*gooutforafieldtrip*playswings*flykites*tug-of-warcompetition*plantwillowsTheDragonBoatFestival*DoubleFifthFestival*the5thdayofthe5thlunarmonth*ahistoryofmorethan2,000years(Gong,2010)

Origin*AncientTimes:thefifthmonth—amonthfullofevils(Gong,2010)*WarringStatesPeriod:475-221B.C)Somespecialcustomswereobserved:

Originbecarefulnottobearbabythatwouldbeborninthefifthmonth2.gathervariousherbs3.bathewithorchidwater4.climbhighmountainscorenotion:toavoidevilspirit(Gong,2010)AssociationwithQuYuan(屈原)

OriginastatesmanandpoetofthestateofChu(楚),WarringStatesPeriod(05/09/2012)

Origin*patriotic,anti-corruption*sentintoexile*thestateofQin(秦)conqueredChu(楚)*threwhimselfintoMiluoRiver(汨羅江)

Origin*roweddragonboatsinanattempttofindhisremains*threwZongzi(粽子)intorivertofeedfishtokeephisremainsfrombeingbittenbyfish(05/09/2012)TheMid-AutumnFestival*alsoknownasMoonFestival*thefifteenthdayoftheeighthmonthinthelunarcalendar,theexactmiddleofautumn

Origin1.moonadorationinancienttimes2.worshippingofChang’e—themoongoddess

(05/09/2012)

Origin3.worshippingGodofEarthafterharvestinautumn4.moon-watchingfashioninearlyTangDynasty(唐朝)*theliteratescreatepoems*SongDynasty:agalaforcommonfamilies(Gong,2010)

CelebrationOnthatnight,thewholefamilysittogetherinacircleintheyardoronthebalconywhereeverythingisbathedinthesilverymoonlight.Onthetable,mooncakes