《春节思维导图英语版》
I. Introduction: Chinese New Year (Spring Festival)
- Name: Chinese New Year / Lunar New Year / Spring Festival (Chun Jie)
- Significance: Most important traditional Chinese holiday; a time for family reunion, celebration, and renewal.
- Duration: Typically lasts 15 days, starting from the first day of the lunar calendar.
- Origin: Ancient agricultural society, celebrating the end of winter and the beginning of spring. Rooted in legends and myths (e.g., the story of Nian).
- Themes: Family reunion, new beginnings, good fortune, warding off evil spirits.
- Dates (Example): January 22, 2023 (Year of the Rabbit); February 10, 2024 (Year of the Dragon).
- Celebration Regions: Primarily celebrated in mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and by overseas Chinese communities worldwide. Celebrated as a public holiday in several Asian countries.
II. Preparations (Doing Before)
- Cleaning the House (Da Sao Chu): Thoroughly cleaning the house to sweep away bad luck and make way for good fortune.
- Decorating:
- Red Lanterns (Hong Deng Long): Hanging red lanterns for good luck and prosperity.
- Paper Cuttings (Jian Zhi): Intricate paper cuttings with auspicious symbols and characters.
- Spring Couplets (Chun Lian): Red banners with poetic verses expressing good wishes, pasted on door frames.
- Upside-down "Fu" Character (Dao Fu): Pasting the character "Fu" (fortune) upside down, symbolizing that fortune has "arrived."
- Window Decorations (Chuang Hua): Decorative paper cutouts pasted on windows.
- Peach Blossoms (Tao Hua): Symbolic of longevity and prosperity, especially popular in Southern China.
- Shopping: Buying gifts, food, new clothes (especially red).
- Travel Arrangements: Booking tickets for travel to home towns (Chun Yun - Spring Festival travel rush, the largest annual human migration).
- Preparing Red Envelopes (Hong Bao): Preparing red envelopes filled with money to give to children and unmarried adults.
- Stocking Up on Food: Preparing ingredients for traditional New Year's dishes.
III. Traditions and Customs (Doing During)
- Reunion Dinner (Nian Ye Fan):
- Significance: The most important meal of the year, eaten on the eve of the Lunar New Year.
- Dishes: Each dish has symbolic meaning:
- Fish (Yu): Represents abundance and surplus.
- Dumplings (Jiao Zi): Symbolize wealth due to their shape resembling ancient Chinese money.
- Spring Rolls (Chun Juan): Resemble gold bars, symbolizing wealth.
- Noodles (Chang Shou Mian): Represent longevity.
- Tang Yuan (Sweet Rice Balls): Represent family togetherness.
- Nian Gao (Sticky Rice Cake): Symbolizes progress and rising higher in the coming year.
- Activities: Family members gather to eat, chat, watch TV shows (especially the CCTV New Year's Gala), and give red envelopes.
- Giving Red Envelopes (Hong Bao):
- Recipients: Typically given to children, unmarried adults, and sometimes elderly relatives.
- Purpose: To bestow good luck and ward off evil spirits.
- Modernization: Increasingly common to send digital red envelopes through mobile payment apps.
- Setting off Firecrackers (Fang Bian Pao):
- Purpose: To scare away evil spirits and celebrate the arrival of the New Year.
- Regulation: Restricted or banned in many urban areas due to safety concerns.
- Visiting Relatives and Friends (Bai Nian):
- Custom: Visiting relatives and friends to exchange New Year's greetings and blessings.
- Etiquette: Bringing gifts and offering respectful greetings.
- Lion and Dragon Dances (Wu Shi, Wu Long):
- Performance: Traditional dances performed to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits.
- Elements: Elaborate costumes, vibrant music, and energetic movements.
- Temple Fairs (Miao Hui):
- Attractions: Traditional crafts, food stalls, performances, and religious activities.
- Atmosphere: Lively and festive atmosphere.
- Watching the Spring Festival Gala (Chun Wan): A popular TV program featuring performances and skits.
IV. Taboos (Things to Avoid)
- Sweeping or Cleaning (on the first day): Sweeping away good luck.
- Borrowing or Lending Money: Avoid financial transactions as they are seen as bad luck.
- Breaking Dishes: Seen as a bad omen; if it happens, say "Sui Sui Ping An" (岁岁平安), meaning "peace year after year."
- Wearing White or Black: Colors associated with mourning; wear red for good luck.
- Using Sharp Objects: Avoid using knives or scissors as they symbolize cutting off good fortune.
- Giving Certain Gifts: Clocks (送钟, sounds like "attending a funeral"), pears (梨, sounds like "separation"), and shoes (鞋, sounds like "evil").
V. Lantern Festival (Yuan Xiao Jie)
- Date: The 15th day of the Lunar New Year.
- Significance: Marks the end of the Spring Festival celebrations.
- Customs:
- Eating Tang Yuan (Sweet Rice Balls): Symbolizes family togetherness.
- Lighting Lanterns (Hua Deng): Displaying colorful lanterns, often with riddles written on them.
- Solving Lantern Riddles (Cai Deng Mi): A popular activity at lantern festivals.
- Dragon and Lion Dances: Continued performances.
- Fireworks: Fireworks displays to celebrate the end of the festival.
VI. Greetings (Useful Phrases)
- 新年快乐 (Xīn Nián Kuài Lè): Happy New Year!
- 恭喜发财 (Gōng Xǐ Fā Cái): Wishing you prosperity!
- 万事如意 (Wàn Shì Rú Yì): May all your wishes come true!
- 身体健康 (Shēn Tǐ Jiàn Kāng): Wishing you good health!
- 岁岁平安 (Suì Suì Píng Ān): Peace year after year! (Said when something breaks)
- 年年有余 (Nián Nián Yǒu Yú): May you have abundance year after year!
VII. Zodiac Animals (Sheng Xiao)
- Cycle: A 12-year cycle, each year represented by an animal.
- Animals: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat (Sheep), Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig.
- Significance: People born in a particular year are said to possess characteristics associated with that animal. Each animal also relates to specific elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, water) affecting fortune in certain years. Example: 2024 is the Year of the Wood Dragon.
VIII. Modern Adaptations
- Digital Red Envelopes: Sending money electronically.
- Online Shopping: Buying gifts and food online.
- Virtual Reunions: Connecting with family members through video calls.
- Travel Restrictions: Adjusting celebrations due to travel restrictions.
- Environmental Concerns: Promoting the use of fewer or alternative to firecrackers.
- Globalization: Sharing traditions with people from other cultures.
This outline provides a comprehensive overview of the Chinese New Year, suitable for creating a detailed and informative mind map in English.