Chinese New Year Activities - Mind Map

Central Idea: Chinese New Year (Spring Festival)

Branch 1: Preparations (Before the Festival)

• Cleaning & Decoration (Cleaning for a fresh start)
  • Sub-branch: Thorough cleaning (sweeping, dusting)
  • Sub-branch: Redecorating the house (red lanterns, paper cuttings, New Year paintings)
    • Detail: Red symbolizes good fortune and happiness
  • Sub-branch: Cleaning out old or broken things
• Shopping (Buying necessities for the celebrations)
  • Sub-branch: Food (meat, vegetables, snacks, fruits, candies)
  • Sub-branch: New clothes (especially red clothing)
  • Sub-branch: New Year decorations (firecrackers, couplets)
  • Sub-branch: Gifts (for family and friends)
• New Year's Eve Dinner (Reunion dinner)
  • Sub-branch: Planning the menu (symbolic dishes)
  • Sub-branch: Preparing the dishes (dumplings, fish, spring rolls, noodles)
  • Sub-branch: Buying ingredients
• Getting Haircuts (To start the year fresh)
  • Sub-branch: Avoiding haircuts during the first month (traditionally bad luck)
• Making Red Envelopes (红包/Hóngbāo)
  • Sub-branch: Preparing money to put inside (lucky money)
  • Sub-branch: Buying or making red envelopes

Branch 2: Celebrations (During the Festival)

• New Year's Eve (除夕/Chúxī)
  • Sub-branch: Reunion Dinner (团圆饭/Tuányuánfàn)
    • Detail: Eating dumplings (饺子/Jiǎozi) - for wealth
    • Detail: Eating fish (鱼/Yú) - for abundance
    • Detail: Eating Spring Rolls (春卷/Chūnjuǎn) - for wealth
    • Detail: Eating Noodles (面条/Miàntiáo) - for longevity
  • Sub-branch: Watching the CCTV New Year's Gala (春晚/Chūnwǎn)
  • Sub-branch: Setting off firecrackers (放鞭炮/Fàng biānpào) – to scare away evil spirits
  • Sub-branch: Giving Red Envelopes (发红包/Fā hóngbāo) to children and unmarried adults
  • Sub-branch: Staying up late (守岁/Shǒusuì) – to wish parents longevity
• First Day of the New Year (正月初一/Zhēngyuè chū yī)
  • Sub-branch: Visiting relatives and friends (拜年/Bàinián)
    • Detail: Exchanging New Year greetings (新年快乐/Xīnnián kuàilè)
    • Detail: Giving and receiving red envelopes
  • Sub-branch: Lion and dragon dances (舞狮/Wǔ shī, 舞龙/Wǔ lóng) in public places
  • Sub-branch: Temple fairs (庙会/Miàohuì)
    • Detail: Enjoying traditional performances
    • Detail: Eating street food
    • Detail: Playing traditional games
• Lantern Festival (元宵节/Yuánxiāo jié) - 15th day of the New Year
  • Sub-branch: Eating sweet dumplings (汤圆/Tāngyuán) - symbolizing family reunion
  • Sub-branch: Watching lantern displays (赏花灯/Shǎng huādēng)
  • Sub-branch: Guessing lantern riddles (猜灯谜/Cāi dēngmí)

Branch 3: Food (Essential Part of the Celebration)

• Dumplings (饺子/Jiǎozi)
  • Sub-branch: Symbolizes wealth (shape resembles ancient Chinese money)
  • Sub-branch: Family members often make dumplings together
  • Sub-branch: Different fillings have different meanings
• Fish (鱼/Yú)
  • Sub-branch: Symbolizes abundance (word "yu" sounds like "surplus")
  • Sub-branch: Often served whole, representing completeness
• Spring Rolls (春卷/Chūnjuǎn)
  • Sub-branch: Symbolizes wealth (shape resembles gold bars)
  • Sub-branch: Crispy and delicious
• Noodles (面条/Miàntiáo)
  • Sub-branch: Symbolizes longevity (long noodles represent long life)
  • Sub-branch: Should be eaten without breaking the strands
• Tangerines & Oranges (橘子/Júzi & 橙子/Chéngzi)
  • Sub-branch: Symbolize good fortune and wealth
  • Sub-branch: The round shape represents completeness and unity
• Sweet Rice Cake (年糕/Niángāo)
  • Sub-branch: Symbolizes progress and improvement (sounds like "higher year")
  • Sub-branch: Various flavors and textures
• Sweet Dumplings (汤圆/Tāngyuán)
  • Sub-branch: Symbolizes family reunion (round shape symbolizes completeness)
  • Sub-branch: Eaten during the Lantern Festival

Branch 4: Traditions & Customs (Maintaining Cultural Heritage)

• Paying Respect to Ancestors (祭祖/Jìzǔ)
  • Sub-branch: Visiting ancestral graves
  • Sub-branch: Offering food and burning incense
  • Sub-branch: Remembering and honoring the deceased
• Giving Red Envelopes (发红包/Fā hóngbāo)
  • Sub-branch: A gesture of good luck and blessings
  • Sub-branch: Typically given to children and unmarried adults
  • Sub-branch: The amount of money is usually an even number (except for funerals)
• Setting off Firecrackers (放鞭炮/Fàng biānpào)
  • Sub-branch: To scare away evil spirits and bad luck
  • Sub-branch: Creates a festive atmosphere
  • Sub-branch: Regulations are becoming stricter due to safety and environmental concerns
• Wearing Red (穿红色衣服/Chuān hóngsè yīfu)
  • Sub-branch: Red is considered a lucky and auspicious color
  • Sub-branch: Symbolizes happiness, prosperity, and good fortune
• Decorating with Couplets (贴春联/Tiē chūnlián)
  • Sub-branch: Calligraphic verses expressing good wishes for the new year
  • Sub-branch: Pasted on door frames
  • Sub-branch: Often includes a horizontal scroll with a four-character phrase.
• Avoiding Bad Luck (禁忌/Jìnjì)
  • Sub-branch: Avoiding sweeping the floor on the first day (to avoid sweeping away good luck)
  • Sub-branch: Avoiding washing clothes on the first two days (considered the birthday of the Water God)
  • Sub-branch: Avoiding using sharp objects on the first day (to avoid cutting off good fortune)

This is a detailed mind map outlining various aspects of celebrating the Chinese New Year. It provides a comprehensive overview of the preparations, celebrations, food, and traditions associated with this important festival.