《中国春节思维导图英语》

I. Overview (春节概览)

• A. Name (名称):
  • Chinese New Year
  • Spring Festival
  • Lunar New Year
• B. Significance (意义):
  • Most important traditional festival in China
  • Marks the beginning of the new year on the lunisolar Chinese calendar
  • A time for family reunions, celebration, and reflection
• C. Duration (时长):
  • Typically 15 days (from Lunar New Year's Eve to the Lantern Festival)
• D. Calendar (日历):
  • Based on the Chinese lunisolar calendar
  • Date varies each year on the Gregorian calendar (usually between January 21st and February 20th)

II. Preparations (准备工作)

• A. Cleaning (大扫除):
  • "Spring cleaning" (掸尘)
  • Symbolizes sweeping away bad luck and old things
  • Prepares the home for good fortune
• B. Shopping (购物):
  • New clothes (新衣服) - symbolizing a fresh start
  • Food (食物) - special festive dishes
  • Decorations (装饰品) - lanterns, paper cuttings, couplets
  • Gifts (礼物) - for family and friends
• C. Decorations (装饰):
  • 1. Red Lanterns (红灯笼):
    • Symbolize good fortune and prosperity
    • Hang outside homes and businesses
  • 2. Paper Cuttings (剪纸):
    • Intricate designs cut from red paper
    • Often depict auspicious symbols or scenes
    • Pasted on windows and doors
  • 3. Couplets (对联):
    • Pairs of poetic lines written on red paper
    • Pasted on door frames
    • Express good wishes for the new year
  • 4. Upside-Down "福" (倒福字):
    • "福" means good fortune
    • Hanging it upside down symbolizes "good fortune arriving" (福到了, Fú dào le) - a homophone play.
• D. Travel (旅行):
  • "Chunyun" (春运) - largest annual human migration
  • People returning home to celebrate with family
  • Heavy traffic congestion

III. Traditions and Customs (传统习俗)

• A. New Year's Eve (除夕):
  • 1. Reunion Dinner (团圆饭):
    • Most important meal of the year
    • All family members gather together
    • Dishes often have symbolic meanings (e.g., fish for abundance, dumplings for wealth)
  • 2. Red Envelopes (红包):
    • Money given to children and unmarried adults
    • Symbolizes good luck and prosperity
  • 3. Watching the CCTV New Year's Gala (春晚):
    • A popular television program featuring performances and comedy sketches
    • A tradition for many families
  • 4. Staying Up Late (守岁):
    • Staying awake until midnight to welcome the new year
    • Believed to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck
• B. New Year's Day (正月初一):
  • 1. Visiting Relatives and Friends (拜年):
    • Offering greetings and wishes for the new year (新年快乐, Xīnnián kuàilè)
    • Exchanging gifts and red envelopes
  • 2. Lion Dance (舞狮):
    • Performed to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits
    • Often accompanied by drums and cymbals
  • 3. Dragon Dance (舞龙):
    • Another traditional dance performed to celebrate the new year
    • Symbolizes power, strength, and good fortune
  • 4. Setting off Firecrackers (放鞭炮):
    • To scare away evil spirits and celebrate the new year
    • Increasingly restricted due to safety concerns
• C. Subsequent Days (后续日子):
  • Visiting more relatives and friends
  • Participating in local temple fairs (庙会)
  • Enjoying traditional foods and activities

IV. Food (食物)

• A. Dumplings (饺子):
  • Symbolize wealth and prosperity
  • Shape resembles ancient Chinese money
  • Eaten on New Year's Eve and throughout the Spring Festival
• B. Spring Rolls (春卷):
  • Symbolize wealth
  • Golden color resembles gold bars
  • Crispy and delicious
• C. Fish (鱼):
  • Symbolizes abundance and surplus (年年有余, Nián nián yǒu yú)
  • "余" (yú) sounds like "fish"
  • Often served whole
• D. Niangao (年糕):
  • Sticky rice cake
  • Symbolizes progress and growth (年年高升, Nián nián gāo shēng)
  • Can be savory or sweet
• E. Tangerines and Oranges (橘子和橙子):
  • Symbolize good luck and wealth
  • Round shape represents completeness and unity
  • Pronunciation of "橘" (jú) sounds similar to "吉" (jí), meaning good luck.

V. Zodiac Animals (生肖)

• A. Cycle (周期):
  • 12-year cycle
  • Each year is associated with a different animal
• B. Animals (动物):
  • Rat (鼠)
  • Ox (牛)
  • Tiger (虎)
  • Rabbit (兔)
  • Dragon (龙)
  • Snake (蛇)
  • Horse (马)
  • Goat (羊)
  • Monkey (猴)
  • Rooster (鸡)
  • Dog (狗)
  • Pig (猪)
• C. Significance (意义):
  • Believed to influence personality traits and fortune
  • People born in a particular year are said to share characteristics with that animal

VI. Lantern Festival (元宵节)

• A. Date (日期):
  • 15th day of the first lunar month
• B. Activities (活动):
  • 1. Lantern Displays (花灯):
    • Beautifully decorated lanterns of all shapes and sizes
    • Often feature riddles written on them (猜灯谜)
  • 2. Eating Tangyuan (汤圆):
    • Sweet rice dumplings filled with sesame paste, peanut butter, or other sweet fillings
    • Symbolize family unity and completeness
  • 3. Lion and Dragon Dances (舞狮舞龙):
    • Continuing the celebrations from earlier in the Spring Festival
  • 4. Fireworks (烟花):
    • Grand displays of fireworks to mark the end of the Spring Festival

VII. Greetings (祝福语)

• A. General (通用):
  • 新年快乐 (Xīnnián kuàilè) - Happy New Year
  • 恭喜发财 (Gōngxǐ fācái) - Wishing you prosperity
  • 万事如意 (Wànshì rúyì) - May all your wishes come true
  • 身体健康 (Shēntǐ jiànkāng) - Wishing you good health
• B. Specific (特定):
  • 过年好 (Guònián hǎo) - Happy Spring Festival
  • 新春快乐 (Xīnchūn kuàilè) - Happy Spring Festival (more formal)
• C. Zodiac Related (生肖相关):
  • (Year of the Rat): 金鼠纳福 (Jīn shǔ nà fú) - Golden Rat brings good fortune
  • (Year of the Ox): 牛气冲天 (Niú qì chōng tiān) - May your spirit soar like an ox
  • (Year of the Tiger): 虎虎生威 (Hǔ hǔ shēng wēi) - Full of the vigor and vitality of a tiger

VIII. Key Vocabulary (关键词汇)

• Spring Festival (春节)
• Chinese New Year's Eve (除夕)
• Reunion Dinner (团圆饭)
• Red Envelope (红包)
• Lantern Festival (元宵节)
• Zodiac (生肖)
• Good Luck (好运)
• Prosperity (繁荣)
• Tradition (传统)
• Custom (习俗)

This outline provides a comprehensive overview of the Chinese Spring Festival in English, suitable for creating a detailed mind map.