WorksheetsFestival: Chinese New Year
Total questions: 1
Worksheet time: 18mins
Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year is also known as Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival. It is an important festival in China and many other countries with Chinese communities. People usually celebrate it in January or February to mark the beginning of spring.
Preparation before Chinese New Year
A few days before Chinese New Year, people clean their houses, which symbolises the sweeping away of all the bad luck of the old year, and prepare a fresh start for the new year. Red and gold are lucky colours for Chinese people as red symbolises vitality of life and happiness, and gold represents wealth and prosperity. People decorate their houses by putting up spring couplets, small red and gold banners with messages of good luck, on the walls or around the doorways. They also flock to flower markets on Chinese New Year’s Eve to buy some "lucky plants". Some of the plants hold special meanings during Chinese New Year celebrations. For example, peach blossoms represent growth and prosperity; narcissus symbolise abundance and good fortune; and tangerines mean good luck and wealth. The sweet-scented blossoms fill the air with their refreshing fragrance.
Reunion Dinner on Chinese New Year's Eve
Chinese New Year is a joyful time of the year to bring several generations of families together. On Chinese New Year's Eve, people usually go home to have the most significant reunion dinner with their family members. The traditional dishes served during the festival are rich, diverse and symbolic. For example, fish represent surplus or abundance. As for fried prawns, they symbolise laughter or happiness. Sweet rice balls mean family togetherness. People eat these traditional dishes together and enjoy each other's company.
Visits to Relatives and Friends on the First Day of Chinese New Year
On the first day of Chinese New Year, people usually visit their relatives and friends with festive gifts. It is important to serve people with "lucky" food placed in an exquisitely decorated candy box, the "tray of togetherness". Each tray is filled with candies such as sugared lotus seeds, candied winter melon, chocolate coins or roasted red melon seeds. These sugary treats symbolise the wish to be healthy, wealthy and happy throughout the year. Children greet their grandparents, parents and elder relatives with auspicious words. They then receive money in red envelopes called "red packets". Nowadays, some people send red packets to relatives electronically.
Other Activities during Chinese New Year
Many traditional Chinese New Year events are held to celebrate the festive holiday. In Hong Kong, there is a night parade with lively dragon dances and colourful floats in Tsim Sha Tsui on Chinese New Year's Day. A giant fireworks display at Victoria Harbour is normally held on the second day of Chinese New Year. Some people visit temples to pray for good fortune in the new year. The Chinese Lantern Festival falls on the 15th day of the first month of the lunar calendar. There are lantern displays at some tourist spots and parks. The displays usually last for some time. People can enjoy the beautiful lanterns in their free time. The Chinese Lantern Festival also marks the end of Chinese New Year celebrations.
Some Thoughts about the Festival
People celebrate Chinese New Year in many different ways and they appreciate many unique Chinese traditions. Through these celebrations and activities, people treasure the values of sharing, caring and making good wishes for family members, relatives and friends.
Chinese New Year is also called ________.
Spring New Year
Lunar New Year
Chinese Lunar New Year
New Year Festival
Why do people clean their houses before Chinese New Year?
The house is very dirty and needs to be cleaned.
The house needs to be well furnished.
People want to get rid of bad things of the old year.
People want to bid farewell to the new year.
People usually eat the reunion dinner with________.
friends
visitors
co-workers
family members
Fish and fried prawns are usually served at the reunion dinner on Chinese New Year’s Eve because they symbolise ________ respectively.
family togetherness and prosperity
surplus and happiness
laughter and abundance
growth and luck
People usually visit their relatives and friends________.
a few days before Chinese New Year
on Chinese New Year's Eve
on the first day of Chinese New Year
at the end of Chinese New Year
How do children show their respect to parents and elder relatives during Chinese New Year?
They serve their parents and elder relatives with sugary treats.
They greet their parents and elder relatives with words of blessings.
They give their parents and elder relatives little gifts.
They prepare "red packets" for their parents and elder relatives.
________ is an activity that a lot of people in Hong Kong do during Chinese New Year.
Watching a fireworks display
Eating rice dumplings
Watching dragon boating
Eating cold food
According to this text, what is/are the purpose(s) of celebrating Chinese New Year?
To show our love and care to other people
To appreciate the values of Chinese traditions
To make good wishes to other people
All of the above
Fill in each blank with a word from the reading text. You can find the word in the given paragraph.
A balanced diet and regular exercise are (a) to our body. (Paragraph 1)
Fill in each blank with a word from the reading text. You can find the word in the given paragraph.
A famous football team will come to Hong Kong next week. Hundreds of people will (a) to the football pitch to see the match. (Paragraph 2)
Fill in each blank with a word from the reading text. You can find the word in the given paragraph.
Chinese New Year is a good time to have different (a) of close relatives gather together and greet one another. (Paragraph 3)
Fill in each blank with a word from the reading text. You can find the word in the given paragraph.
Most of the restaurants near our house (a) excellent food. (Paragraph 4)
Fill in each blank with a word from the reading text. You can find the word in the given paragraph.
During Chinese New Year celebrations, the dancers wear (a) costume and perform on stage. (Paragraph 5)
Fill in each blank with a word from the reading text. You can find the word in the given paragraph.
Through the celebrations and activities held during Chinese New Year, we could deepen our appreciation for the (a) Chinese traditions and values. (Paragraph 6)
