Lesson No.

9 The Chinese New Year

Answer these questions in about 30 to 40 words each with reference to the lesson The Chinese New Year. Q.1. Name the animals the Chinese years are named after. Ans. The Chinese have a cycle of twelve years. Each year is named after one of these animals: rat, ox, tiger, hare, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, chicken, dog and tortoise. Q.2. If 2002 was a horse year, what name will be given to the year 2003? Ans. If 2002 was a horse year, the name of the year 2003 will be goat year. Q.3. When does each of the Chinese month start? Ans. Each of the Chinese month starts on the day of the new moon. Q.4. How many days are there in each lunar month? Ans. There are 29 or 30 days in each lunar month. Q.5. When does the new year start? Ans. The new year starts between January, the twenty first, and February, the twentieth. Q.6. What do some of the traditional families do before the New Year Day? Ans. Before the New Year Day, some of the traditional Chinese families clean out their houses very carefully. They make many kinds of cakes and other sweet dishes. They also buy new clothes. Q.7. Where do the religious Chinese go and what do they do there? Ans. The religious Chinese go to the temples. They burn incense and other fragrant sticks there and make offerings to their gods. Q.8. Which is the favourite colour of the Chinese? What does this colour mean to them? Ans. Red is the favourite colour

of the Chinese. They believe that red colour is for life, strength and valour. Q.9. Describe the New Year Eve and the special functions on that day. Ans. On the New Year Eve, the Chinese arrange a big family dinner. All the family members are invited to this dinner. They are supposed to be present there for the great meal with their older generation. After the dinner, the children keep awake to welcome the New Year.

Q.10. Do people keep the old grievances and quarrels in mind on the last day of the passing year? Ans. No, the people do not keep the old complaints and quarrels in mind on the last day of the passing year. Rather, everybody tries to be the first to forget quarrels and petty disputes and welcome the members of the opponent family. Q.11. How many days do the celebrations last? Ans. The New Year celebrations last for fifteen days from the new moon to the full moon. Q.12. What do the Chinese believe and do on the first meal of the New Year? Ans. The Chinese believe that the first meal on the New Year must not contain any meat so they make many kinds of cakes and other sweet dishes. They believe and hope that the sweet sticky juice cake will keep their kitchens stored with a lot of bread, rice and other food cereals. After the meal is over, people go to the temples to pray for peace, good health and give thanks for the happiness of the past year. The children and unmarried people go to visit their elders and greet them with wishes for a happy and prosperous life. Often they give a cup of tea to their elders and receive red packets containing money. Parents do not scold their children on the first day of the year. The Chinese people also believe that the whole year will be as good or as bad as New Year Day. They avoid harsh or rude words on this day thinking that they will bring a bad year for them. They believe that the houses must not be swept out on the first day, otherwise all the good luck will be swept away.

Q.13. Why is the fifteenth day or the full moon celebrations so special, especially for the young unmarried people? Ans. The fifteenth day or the full moon celebrations are so special, especially for the young unmarried people because in the evening, young girls throw oranges into the sea or river praying silently for a good husband. Likewise, young men throw dried carrots into the river praying for a good wife. Q.14. Why are children happy on the New Year Day? Give three reasons. Ans. Children are happy on the New Year Day because they wear new clothes, receive red packets containing money from their elders, enjoy delicious food and are not scolded by their parents.