Chinese Festivals

Similar Chinese Festivals to

Western Ones

Jie He

• Spring Festival VS Christmas

• Qi Xi VS Valentine’s Day

(the night of sevens)

• The Ghost Day VS Halloween

• Mid-autumn Day VS Thanks-giving Day

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Spring Festival Qi Xi ( the Night of Sevens)

Chinese Ghost Day Mid-autumn Day

Chinese New Year & Spring Festival

•An important festival: 1st to 15th of the first month

•Based on lunar calendar (Lunar New Year)

•Chú Xī (Chu = "pass", Xi means "Eve")

•Traditional preparations before the Eve:

•Burning incense at home on the Eve

(1) to pay respects to ancestors and

(2) to wish for good health and fortune next year.

• What do Chinese wrap inside some dumplings?

• On Spring Festival, there’s a popular dish Chinese eat to wish next year’s abundance. What do you think it is, pork, beef, chicken, fish or duck?

• On which day do Chinese stay up until early morning, Spring Festival Eve, Spring Festival Day or the First Day after Spring Festival?

Q&A:

新 年 好

xin nian hao

(Happy New Year)

Qi Xi & "The Night of Sevens”

• The 7th of the 7th lunar month

• Chinese Valentine’s Day

• When a young girl makes wishes for a

good husband or gives a He Bao as the

pledge to her lover.

He Bao, a pouch

Q&A:

• What do we put in He Bao?

• What to say “I love you” in Chinese?

我 爱 你

wo ai ni

(I Love You)

•The 15th night of the seventh lunar month

•Ghost Month (the seventh month)

The Qingming Festival

The Ghost Day

•Tomb-sweeping Day, April 5th (NOT by lunar calendar)

•Visit to the deceased relatives Burning incenses and ghost

money in front of their tombs

•When ghosts and spirits of the deceased

ancestors come out from the lower realm

to visit the living

见 鬼

jian gui

(oh, my …)

The Mid-Autumn Festival

•Moon Festival, the celebration for abundance and family reunion

•Time to appreciate the fullest, brightest moon in the open air

•The 15th day of the eighth lunar month

•Started since over 3,000 years ago.

•Moon cakes (round or rectangular pastries )

Q&A:

• In what way is Mid-autumn Day similar to

Thanks-giving Day?

• Why do we put moon-cakes and fruit out on

the windowsill for a while before eating?

水調歌頭

明月几时有 把酒问青天不知天上宫 今夕是何年我欲乘风归去 唯恐琼楼玉宇高处不胜寒 起舞弄清影何似在人间转朱阁 低绮户 照无眠不应有恨 何事长向别时圆人有悲欢离合 月有阴晴圆缺此事古难全 单愿人长久 千里共婵娟

How long will the full moon appear?

Wine cup in hand, I ask the sky.I do not know what time of year’T would be tonight in the palace on high.Riding the wind, there I would fly,Yet I’m afraid the crystalline palace would beToo high and cold for me.I rise and dance, with my shadow I play.On high as on earth, would it be as gay?

The moon goes round the mansions redThrough gauze-draped windows soft to shedHer light upon the sleepless bed.Against man she should have no spite.Why then when people part, is she oft full and bright?Men have sorrow and joy; them part or meet again;The moon is bright or dim and moon may wax or wane.There has been nothing perfect since the olden days.I’ll wish my man live long as he can!Though miles apart, we’ll share the beauty the moon.

Create a new festival for Chinese

• Gather in groups of 3 to 5

• Create a new Chinese festival including

(1) time, (2) reason, (3) a description of what

it is like, and (4) suggested activities and/or

stories.