Spring Festival,rat 1984. 1996.2008,ox 1985. 1997,tiger 1986.1998,rabbit 1987.1999,dragon 1988.2000,snake 1989. 2001,horse 1990.2002,sheep 1991.2003,monkey 1992. 2004,rooster 1993. 2005,dog 1994. 2006,pig 1995. 2007,How can we describe a festival?Spring Festival,1. What do you do in the Spring Festival? 2. When does the Spring Festival finish? 3. What do you do on Spring Festivals Eve? 4. What traditions do you have at the Spring Festival?,cleaning the house,learning a dragon dance,cooking the meal,sweeping the floor,making lanterns,习俗 Customs,春联 Spring Festival couplet 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 敬酒 propose a toast 灯笼 lantern: a portable light 烟花 fireworks 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.),舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) 守岁 staying-up 拜年 pay New Years call; give New Years greetings; New Years visit 禁忌 taboo 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to ones ancestors 压岁钱 Red Envelope,食品 Food,年糕 Nian-gao; rice cake; New Year cake 团圆饭 family reunion dinner 年夜饭 the dinner on New Years Eve 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli 糖果盘 candy tray 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune,Spring Festival The most important festival for the Chinese people and is when all family members get together, just like Christmas in the West. (The busiest time for transportation systems of about half a month )It originated in the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600 BC-c. 1100 BC) from the peoples sacrifice to gods and ancestors at the end of an old year and the beginning of a new one.,Many customs accompany the Spring Festival. Some are still followed today, but others have weakened. The 23rd day of the 12th lunar month is called Preliminary Eve. At this time, people offer sacrifice to the kitchen god. After the Preliminary Eve, people begin preparing for the coming New Year. People completely clean the indoors and outdoors of their homes as well as their clothes, bedclothes and all their utensils.,Then people begin decorating their clean rooms featuring an atmosphere of rejoicing and festivity. All the door panels will be pasted with Spring Festival couplets The Chinese character “fu” (福）(meaning blessing or happiness) People attach great importance to Spring Festival Eve. At that time, all family members eat dinner together. the Spring Festival party broadcast on China Central Television Station (CCTV),Waking up on New Year, everybody dresses up. First they extend greetings to their parents. Then each child will get money as a New Year gift, wrapped up in red paper. People in northern China will eat dumplings Southern Chinese eat niangao (New Year cake made of glutinous rice flour) on this occasion The first five days after the Spring Festival are a good time for relatives, friends, and classmates as well as colleagues to exchange greetings, gifts and chat leisurely.,Burning fireworks was once the most typical custom on the Spring Festival. On streets and lanes. A series of activities such as lion dancing, dragon lantern dancing, lantern festivals and temple fairs will be held for days. The Spring Festival then comes to an end when the Lantern Festival is finished.,The content varies from house owners wishes for a bright future to good luck for the New Year. Also, pictures of the god of doors and wealth will be posted on front doors to ward off evil spirits and welcome peace and abundance,财神 The God of Wealth,18,学联对联译联,知联 好联 乐联,放 开 眼 孔 观 书,立 定 脚 跟 做 人,国内汉英词典各种版本对“对联”的英译名一般为“Chinese couplet”或“antithetical couplet”；最新林语堂汉英词典（1987）定义为“a pair of scrolls coating a poetic couplet”；梁实秋主编的远东汉英大辞典（1996）定义是“a Chinese couplet（often written and mounted on scrolls to be hung up on the wall）”。,Treasures fill the home,Auspicious words:,Business flourishes,Peace all year round,Red couplets,Wishing you prosperity,Harmony brings wealth,May all your wishes come true,Everything goes well,The country flourishes and people live in peace,Money and treasures will be plentiful,Wishing you every success,Promoting to a higher position,Safe trip wherever you go,意如祥吉,春 满 乾 坤 福 满 门,天 增 岁 月 人 增 寿,Top (Horizontal across, from right to left): Good Fortune As One WishesLeft (Vertical) line: Heaven attains greater age and people live to longer years;Right (Vertical) line: Spring fills the earth and every hearth procures more happiness.,24,大地回春,风 和 日 丽 春 光 好,万 紫 千 红 江 山 骄,Top (Horizontal across, from left to right): Spring Has Come RoundRight (Vertical) line: The warm sun and the gentle breeze make a spring wonderful.Left (Vertical) line: All the brilliant flowers make the landscape most beautiful.,25,Top (Horizontal across) : Whole Earth Returns Spring Left (Vertical) line: spring comes bird sings flower fragrant Right (Vertical) line: winter gone mountain clear water sparkles,Lantern Festival,The Lantern Festival,29,February,