Making a Mind Map about Chinese New Year (Spring Festival): Food & Customs

Central Topic: Chinese New Year (Spring Festival)

Main Branches:

• Food
• Customs

Branch 1: Food (食物)

• Sub-Branch 1.1: Reunion Dinner (年夜饭)

  • Dumplings (饺子):
    • English Description: A symbol of wealth and good fortune due to their shape resembling ancient Chinese money. Often filled with meat and vegetables.
    • Keywords: Wealth, Fortune, Meat, Vegetables, Symbolism
  • Spring Rolls (春卷):
    • English Description: Crispy rolls filled with vegetables and sometimes meat. Represent wealth because of their golden color resembling gold bars.
    • Keywords: Wealth, Gold, Crispy, Vegetables, Filling
  • Fish (鱼):
    • English Description: Represents abundance and surplus for the coming year. The Chinese word for fish, "Yu," sounds like the word for surplus.
    • Keywords: Abundance, Surplus, Pronunciation, Yu, Whole Fish
  • Noodles (面条):
    • English Description: Long noodles symbolize longevity and a long life. Should be eaten without breaking them.
    • Keywords: Longevity, Long Life, Unbroken, Symbolism
  • Tangyuan (汤圆):
    • English Description: Sweet glutinous rice balls, often served in soup. Symbolize family togetherness and reunion because of their round shape.
    • Keywords: Reunion, Togetherness, Round, Sweet, Glutinous Rice
  • Niangao (年糕):
    • English Description: Sticky rice cake. Represents progress and rising higher in the coming year. The name sounds like "year high."
    • Keywords: Progress, Rising Higher, Sticky Rice, Year High, Good Fortune

• Sub-Branch 1.2: Snacks & Treats (零食和点心)

  • Seeds (瓜子):
    • English Description: Sunflower seeds, watermelon seeds, etc. Symbolize having many children and a bountiful harvest.
    • Keywords: Children, Harvest, Bountiful, Sunflower, Watermelon
  • Candied Fruits (糖果):
    • English Description: Various fruits candied to offer a sweet start to the new year.
    • Keywords: Sweet, Start, New Year, Variety, Preservation
  • Oranges & Tangerines (橘子):
    • English Description: Represent wealth and good luck. Their round shape and golden color are auspicious.
    • Keywords: Wealth, Good Luck, Round, Golden, Auspicious
  • Rice Cakes (米饼):
    • English Description: Crispy and light snacks made from rice. Symbolize good luck and progress.
    • Keywords: Good Luck, Progress, Crispy, Rice, Snack

Branch 2: Customs (习俗)

• Sub-Branch 2.1: Pre-Festival Activities (节前活动)

  • Spring Cleaning (大扫除):
    • English Description: Thoroughly cleaning the house to sweep away bad luck and make way for good fortune.
    • Keywords: Bad Luck, Good Fortune, Sweep Away, Cleaning, Thorough
  • Decorating (装饰):
    • English Description: Hanging red lanterns, paper cuttings, and Spring Festival couplets (对联) to create a festive atmosphere.
    • Keywords: Red Lanterns, Paper Cuttings, Couplets, Festive, Atmosphere
  • Shopping (购物):
    • English Description: Buying new clothes, food, and gifts for family and friends.
    • Keywords: New Clothes, Food, Gifts, Preparations, Spending

• Sub-Branch 2.2: During the Festival (节日期间)

  • Giving Red Envelopes (红包):
    • English Description: Giving red envelopes (hongbao) filled with money to children and unmarried adults as a symbol of good luck and blessings.
    • Keywords: Red Envelopes, Hongbao, Money, Good Luck, Blessings
  • Lion and Dragon Dances (舞狮和舞龙):
    • English Description: Performing lion and dragon dances to ward off evil spirits and bring good fortune.
    • Keywords: Lion Dance, Dragon Dance, Evil Spirits, Good Fortune, Performance
  • Firecrackers and Fireworks (鞭炮和烟花):
    • English Description: Setting off firecrackers and fireworks to scare away evil spirits and celebrate the new year.
    • Keywords: Firecrackers, Fireworks, Evil Spirits, Celebration, Loud
  • Visiting Family and Friends (拜年):
    • English Description: Visiting relatives and friends to exchange greetings and wishes for the new year.
    • Keywords: Visiting, Relatives, Friends, Greetings, Wishes
  • Watching the Spring Festival Gala (春节联欢晚会):
    • English Description: A popular televised variety show watched by millions of families on New Year's Eve.
    • Keywords: TV Show, Variety, New Year's Eve, Entertainment, Family
  • Temple Fairs (庙会):
    • English Description: Attending temple fairs, which feature traditional performances, food stalls, and various activities.
    • Keywords: Traditional Performances, Food Stalls, Activities, Cultural, Festive

• Sub-Branch 2.3: Lantern Festival (元宵节)

  • English Description: Celebrated on the 15th day of the first lunar month, marking the end of the Spring Festival celebrations.
  • Lanterns (灯笼):
    • English Description: Displaying and lighting lanterns, often with riddles written on them.
    • Keywords: Lanterns, Riddles, Decoration, Celebration
  • Eating Tangyuan (吃汤圆):
    • English Description: Eating Tangyuan (sweet glutinous rice balls) symbolizes family togetherness and reunion.
    • Keywords: Tangyuan, Reunion, Togetherness, Sweet, Rice Balls
  • Lion and Dragon Dances (舞狮和舞龙):
    • English Description: Similar to the main Spring Festival celebrations, these dances continue.
    • Keywords: Lion Dance, Dragon Dance, Performance, Celebration