三一 (7) National Customs.doc

National CustomsWords and phrasesthe Spring Festival春节 lunar calendar农历lunar January正月 New Years Eve除夕the beginning of New Year初一 the Lantern Festival元宵节poetic couplet 对联 Spring Festival couplet 春联paper-cut剪纸 New Year painting年画propose a toast敬酒 lantern 灯笼firework烟花 firecracker 爆竹lion dance 舞狮 dragon dance 舞龙traditional opera戏曲 variety show 杂耍riddles written on lanterns灯谜 exhibit of lanterns灯会staying-up守岁 lucky money 压岁钱Passage Social CustomsChina, as one of the worlds oldest countries of civilization, is famous for her social customs. Many social customs are unique and splendid, such as wedding ceremony, birthday celebration.When it comes to birthday ceremony，the customs become more complex. When a baby was born, family members will bring newborns food and present, with gifts of clothes or toys decorated with tigers because people believe that tigers can protect children. It is often the grown-up sons and daughters who celebrate their parents birthdays to show their respect and express their thanks for what the parents have done for their children. On the birthday morning the father or mother will eat a bowl of long-life noodles. In China long noodles symbolize a long life.Customs can improve peoples relationship. Thats why I love Chinese customs.Questions and answersWhat are the customs of Dragon Boat Festival?It is celebrated on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month. In China, legend says that the festival commemorates Chinas patriotic poet, Qu Yuan. He drowned himself in the Miluo River. Because of peoples love for him, they tried to save him and jumped into their boats and searched the river for him. They also threw Zongzi to the fish, hoping to keep them from eating Qu Yuans body. The poet was never found, but is still remembered each Dragon boat Festival. Today, people honor the festival by eating Zongzi and watching or competing in dragon boat races. Zongzi is glutinous rice wrapped in the bamboo leaves.What are the customs of Mid-Autumn Festival?The Mid-autumn Festival falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, which is a season when crops and fruits are all ripe and weather is pleasant. In the Ming and Qing dynasties, it grew to be a major festival of China. Its a time for the whole family to get together to think of their relatives and friends. Today people will enjoy the full moon. On that day, the moon looks extremely round, big and bright. In China, a full moon symbolizes reunion. People also eat moon cakes on that day. The cakes are stuffed with meat, eggs, melon seeds and so on.What are the customs of Halloween?Halloween is a holiday celebrated on the night of October 31st. The main thing for children to do is trick-or-treat. They will knock at neighbors door and yell “trick or treat!” to ask for candies or small gifts. Children also dress up in costumes, such as a ghost, a superman or a mummy. Today jack-o-lanterns in the windows of a house on Halloween let children know that there are gifts waiting for them, if they knock and say “Trick or Treat!” Their neighbors often hand out small candies, chocolate bars, stickers, or even crayons and pencils.Whats the ancient Chinese wedding ceremony like?Chinese obey all the traditional customs, such as using sedan chair to pick up the bride, having arm-crossed drink, groom wearing gown, bride wearing red veiling. The bride and the groom are led to their parents. First, they bow to Heaven and Earth. Then, they bow to their parents to show respect to their parents and ancestors. At last they bow to each other to make sure they will love each other for ever. After the ceremony, all the relatives and friends will share a big wedding feast together. Because of the western cultures influence, Chinese wedding has been westernized a lot.What are the customs of Water-Splashing Festival?It is the New Year, as well as the most important traditional festival celebrated by the Dai minority in Yunnan Province of China. It is usually between 13th and 15th April in solar calendar. Upon that day, people splash water to each other, showing their sincere blessing with splashing, wishing that they would be lucky and free from diseases.What are the customs of Torch Festival?It falls on the 24th day of the sixth lunar month, which is a traditional festival of the Yi, Bai, Naxi and some other minorities. People gather together and participate in various activities, such as dancing and fireworks displaying. And its a good chance for young men and women to meet their future spouse. They will gather around a big torch, singing and dancing through the night in the hope of prosperities in the coming year.Additional questions1. What are the traditional Chinese festivals?2. Are there any changes in celebrating traditional festivals in China?3. Do you think fireworks should be banned in Beijing in celebrating Chinese New year?4. How many western festivals do you know?5. Do you celebrate western festivals?PracticeWhen is the Spring Festival? When is the Lantern festive? When is the Mid-autumn festival?The Spring Festival is on the first day of the lunar New Year. The Lantern Festival falls on January the 15th on the Chinese lunar calendar. The Mid-Autumn Festival is on August 15th according to Chinese lunar calendar. What is special about the festival? How is it celebrated?The Spring Festival is the most important and traditional festival in China. It is time for family reunion. Family members get together for a big reunion dinner on the Eve. Then they sit up for the night, watching gala on TV or having fun in many other ways. At midnight, people set off fireworks and crackers to welcome the Chinese New Year. Dumplings or Niangao are the main food for the Spring Festival. Fish is also a very traditional food. Its also a tradition to give children lucky money in red envelops. People wear red clothes because red is lucky color in our culture. Do people still celebrate the Spring Festival in the traditional way?Yes, people still celebrate it in the traditional way. As young people know less and less about the traditional ways to celebrate the festival, our Chinese government are trying hard to enhance peoples sense of traditions. So people can enjoy it in a better way.ShouldweobserveChinesetraditionalcustoms?Yes,weshoulddefinitelyobserveourChinesetraditionalcustoms.Withthedevelopmentofsociety,foreigncustomsbecomemoreandmorepopularamongyoungpeople.ManypeopleworryaboutthedeclineofChinesetraditionsandcustoms.Someevenappealedtothegovernmentforhelptohonorournationaltraditionsbyincludingmoretraditionalfestivalsintotheofficialholidaysystem.Somethinkweshouldobserve it, because as Chinese liveinChina,thetraditionalcustomscandatebacktothousands of years ago. TheyarethesymbolofChina.Eventhoughweacceptforeigncustoms,butwestillshouldobserveourowncustoms.Inthisage,wecantalwaysinsistontraditionalcustoms.Andweshouldcombinetraditionalcustomswithforeigncustoms.Inthisway,wecancatchupwiththeworld.Whetherourtraditionalfestivalswouldbereplacedbyothercultures?Everyculturehasitsownhistoryanddevelopingbackground.Oneculturecanneverreplaceanother.SoourChinesecustomsandtraditionalculturewouldneverbereplacedbywesternculture.Inrecentyears,withthedevelopmentofthesociety,weletinsomewesterncultures.Atthesametimesomefo