Dragon dancing
The Dragon dance is a famous image of China that is known throughout the world.
Many anceint Still are strong in dailylife in china. These traditions include respecting elders and ancestor, avoiding shame and humiliation, sharing food after hard work, and finding peace in nature and joy in festivals. As chinese have moved to other countries, many other cultures have had an oppuntity to expirence the chinese celebrations and traditions.
In ancient China people believed that dragons brought happiness and good fortune.
Chinese New Year
新年快樂: Chinese New Year written in chinese
Chinese New Year is the most important of the traditional chinese holidays. It is held in late January or early February. During this fifteen holiday gatheres to share meals and exchange gifts. Chinese new year always starts with a new moon. Every traditional Chinese household should also have live blooming plants to symbolize rebirth and new growth. Flowers are believed to be symbolic of wealth and high positions in one's career.Everyone celebrates the new beginning. People clean their houses, buy new clothes, pay back money they owe and settle arguments. A highlight of this festival is the dragon dance in the streets, when noisy firecrackers are let off to scare evil spirits.This is good luck for the coming year. More food is consumed during the Chinese New Year celebration than any other time of the year. Vast amounts of traditional food is prepared for family and friends, as well as those close to them who have died. All food that is consumed on New Year is made days before. Chinese duplings, fish, spring rolls and Nian Gao are usually seen as delicious and eaten around this time.
新年快樂: Chinese New Year written in chinese
Chinese New Year is the most important of the traditional chinese holidays. It is held in late January or early February. During this fifteen holiday gatheres to share meals and exchange gifts. Chinese new year always starts with a new moon. Every traditional Chinese household should also have live blooming plants to symbolize rebirth and new growth. Flowers are believed to be symbolic of wealth and high positions in one's career.Everyone celebrates the new beginning. People clean their houses, buy new clothes, pay back money they owe and settle arguments. A highlight of this festival is the dragon dance in the streets, when noisy firecrackers are let off to scare evil spirits.This is good luck for the coming year. More food is consumed during the Chinese New Year celebration than any other time of the year. Vast amounts of traditional food is prepared for family and friends, as well as those close to them who have died. All food that is consumed on New Year is made days before. Chinese duplings, fish, spring rolls and Nian Gao are usually seen as delicious and eaten around this time.
Intresting Fact: During the Chinese New Year it is considered bad luck to use a broom on this day.
Lantern Festival
元宵節: Lantern Festival written in chinese
At the Lantern festival(Yuanxiao Jie), held early in the year, people make or buy beautiful paper lanterns. Lanterns were made out of paper, slk, horn or class.When evening comes, they light them and gather in the streets and parks. People display multi coloured lantern on the streets and court yeards. Traditionally people eat sweet dumplings, this symbolizes reunion. During the Lantern festival there are two traditional foods Tangyuan and Yuanxiao. The round shape of the tangyuan an Yuanxiao, symbolizes wholeness, completness and comity. People admire the lantens at night. According to the historical records, the lantern festival began in the Western Han Dynasty (206 B.C.- 24 A .D.) and during the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907 A .D.) . Lanterns can break darkness, illuminate the land as well as bring brightness and hope to people. So the Lantern Festival has been observed by people for more than 1,000 years and celebrated all over the country.
元宵節: Lantern Festival written in chinese
At the Lantern festival(Yuanxiao Jie), held early in the year, people make or buy beautiful paper lanterns. Lanterns were made out of paper, slk, horn or class.When evening comes, they light them and gather in the streets and parks. People display multi coloured lantern on the streets and court yeards. Traditionally people eat sweet dumplings, this symbolizes reunion. During the Lantern festival there are two traditional foods Tangyuan and Yuanxiao. The round shape of the tangyuan an Yuanxiao, symbolizes wholeness, completness and comity. People admire the lantens at night. According to the historical records, the lantern festival began in the Western Han Dynasty (206 B.C.- 24 A .D.) and during the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907 A .D.) . Lanterns can break darkness, illuminate the land as well as bring brightness and hope to people. So the Lantern Festival has been observed by people for more than 1,000 years and celebrated all over the country.
The Double Ninth Festival
重陽節: The Double Ninth Festival written in chinese
The double ninth festival falls on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month. Chinese tradition says that the ninth day is an auspicious day. To celebrate this festival many chinese people walk up a hill, eat cakes and drink wine. In ancient China, as people ascended to high places. On the Double Ninth Festival, the Chongyang Festival is also known as the Height Ascending Festival. This custom was supposedly started during the Han Dynasty when people usually climbed mountains or towers.
The double ninth festival is also a time when chrysanthemum blooms. China boats deliever different species of chrysanthemum and people have loved them since ancient times.
重陽節: The Double Ninth Festival written in chinese
The double ninth festival falls on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month. Chinese tradition says that the ninth day is an auspicious day. To celebrate this festival many chinese people walk up a hill, eat cakes and drink wine. In ancient China, as people ascended to high places. On the Double Ninth Festival, the Chongyang Festival is also known as the Height Ascending Festival. This custom was supposedly started during the Han Dynasty when people usually climbed mountains or towers.
The double ninth festival is also a time when chrysanthemum blooms. China boats deliever different species of chrysanthemum and people have loved them since ancient times.
How to make Chinese lanterns
Lanterns
How to make chinese lanterns.
Supplies:
Coloured paper
Scissors
Glue, tape, or a stapler
Fold a rectangular piece of paper in half,
making a long, thin rectangle.
Make a series of cuts (about a dozen or
more) along the fold line. Don't cut all the way to the edge of the
paper.
Unfold the paper. Glue or staple the short
edges of the paper together.
Cut a strip of paper 6 inches long and 1/2
inch wide. Glue or staple this strip of paper across one end of the lantern -
this will be the handle of the lantern.
Supplies:
Coloured paper
Scissors
Glue, tape, or a stapler
Fold a rectangular piece of paper in half,
making a long, thin rectangle.
Make a series of cuts (about a dozen or
more) along the fold line. Don't cut all the way to the edge of the
paper.
Unfold the paper. Glue or staple the short
edges of the paper together.
Cut a strip of paper 6 inches long and 1/2
inch wide. Glue or staple this strip of paper across one end of the lantern -
this will be the handle of the lantern.
Bibliography
Book: Ancient China Book: Chinese Culture
Authur: Arthur Cotterell Authur: Charlotte Guillain
Year: 2002 Year: 2008
Website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year
Year: 1998
Website:http://www.chinahighlights.com/festivals/lantern-festival.htm
Year: 1998
Website: http://china.mrdonn.org/lanternfestival.html
Year: 2005
Website: http://www.chinavoc.com/festivals/lantern.htm
Year: 2001
By Brittney 7-1