《英语春节思维导图》

中心主题：Chinese New Year (Spring Festival)

I. Pre-Festival Preparations (节前准备)

• A. Cleaning & Decoration (清洁与装饰)
  • 1. Thorough Cleaning (大扫除): "Sweep away bad luck" (扫走厄运), "Welcome good fortune" (迎接好运)
  • 2. Decorations (装饰):
       • a. Red Lanterns (红灯笼): Symbolize prosperity and good luck (象征繁荣和好运)
       • b. Couplets (春联): Good wishes written on red paper strips (写在红纸条上的美好祝愿), e.g., "Wishing you happiness and prosperity" (恭喜发财)
       • c. Paper Cuttings (剪纸): Intricate designs pasted on windows (贴在窗户上的复杂图案), often depicting zodiac animals (通常描绘生肖动物)
       • d. Hanging Upside-down "福" (Hanging Fu Character upside down): "Fortune arrives" (福到了) - a pun on "upside-down" (倒) and "arrive" (到)
       • e. New Year Paintings (年画): Traditional paintings depicting auspicious scenes (描绘吉祥场景的传统绘画)
       • f. Blossom trees (桃花树/梅花树): symbolize renewal and new beginnings (象征着更新和新的开始)
• B. Shopping (购物)
  • 1. New Clothes (新衣服): Wearing red is common (穿红色很常见), symbolizes good luck.
  • 2. Food & Ingredients (食物和食材): For the reunion dinner (年夜饭) and snacks throughout the festival.
  • 3. Gifts (礼物): For family and friends, especially red envelopes (红包).
• C. Travel (旅行)
  • 1. Chunyun (春运): The largest annual human migration in the world (世界上最大规模的人口迁徙).
  • 2. Booking tickets (订票): Often difficult, requiring advanced planning.
  • 3. Traveling Home (回家): Reuniting with family is the priority.

II. Reunion Dinner (年夜饭)

• A. Significance (意义)
  • 1. Family Reunion (家庭团聚): The most important meal of the year.
  • 2. Showing Respect (表达敬意): To ancestors and elders.
  • 3. Sharing Stories (分享故事): Catching up on each other's lives.
• B. Traditional Dishes (传统菜肴)
  • 1. Dumplings (饺子): Shaped like ancient Chinese money (形状像古代中国货币), symbolizing wealth.
  • 2. Fish (鱼): "Surplus" or "abundance" (余) - sounds like the Chinese word for "surplus" (余).
  • 3. Spring Rolls (春卷): Symbolizing wealth because of their gold bar-like shape.
  • 4. Nian Gao (年糕): "Higher year" (年高) - symbolizes progress and growth.
  • 5. Tangyuan (汤圆): Sweet rice balls, symbolizing family togetherness and completeness.
  • 6. Hot Pot (火锅): Represents warmth and gathering around.
• C. Customs (习俗)
  • 1. Giving Red Envelopes (发红包): Filled with money for children and unmarried adults.
  • 2. Watching the CCTV New Year's Gala (看春晚): A popular TV program watched by millions.
  • 3. Setting off Firecrackers (放鞭炮): To ward off evil spirits and welcome the new year. (Increasingly restricted in urban areas due to safety concerns).

III. Festival Activities (节日活动)

• A. Visiting Relatives and Friends (拜年)
  • 1. Exchanging Greetings (互致问候): Common greetings include "Happy New Year" (新年快乐) and "Wishing you wealth and prosperity" (恭喜发财).
  • 2. Giving Gifts (送礼物): Often small tokens of appreciation.
  • 3. Spending Time Together (共度时光): Playing games, chatting, and enjoying meals.
• B. Temple Fairs (庙会)
  • 1. Traditional Performances (传统表演): Dragon dances (舞龙), lion dances (舞狮), opera (戏曲).
  • 2. Street Food (街头小吃): A variety of local delicacies.
  • 3. Handicrafts (手工艺品): Traditional crafts and souvenirs.
• C. Watching Fireworks (看烟花)
  • 1. Spectacular Displays (壮观的表演): Colorful and elaborate firework shows.
  • 2. Public Gatherings (公众聚会): People gather to watch the fireworks together.
• D. Lantern Festival (元宵节)
  • 1. End of the Spring Festival (春节结束): Celebrated on the 15th day of the Lunar New Year.
  • 2. Lanterns (灯笼): Beautifully decorated lanterns with riddles written on them.
  • 3. Eating Tangyuan (吃汤圆): Sweet rice balls symbolizing family togetherness.
  • 4. Dragon and Lion Dances (舞龙舞狮): Continue to be popular performances.

IV. Superstitions and Taboos (迷信与禁忌)

• A. Avoid sweeping (避免扫地): On the first day of the new year, to avoid sweeping away good luck.
• B. Avoid washing clothes (避免洗衣服): On the first and second days, as these are considered the birthday of the Water God.
• C. Avoid lending money (避免借钱): Lending money is seen as giving away your good fortune.
• D. Avoid breaking things (避免打破东西): Breaking something is considered bad luck. If it happens, say "Sui Sui Ping An" (岁岁平安), meaning "Peace all year round"
• E. Avoid wearing white or black (避免穿白色或黑色): These colors are associated with mourning.

V. Zodiac Animals (生肖)

• A. Twelve Animals (十二生肖): Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig.
• B. Rotating Cycle (循环周期): Each animal represents a year in a 12-year cycle.
• C. Personality Traits (性格特征): Each animal is associated with certain personality traits and fortunes. People born in a particular year are believed to inherit some of these traits.
• D. Year of the... (年份): Example: Year of the Dragon (龙年), Year of the Rabbit (兔年)

VI. Vocabulary (词汇)

• A. Greetings (问候语): Happy New Year (新年快乐), Wishing you wealth and prosperity (恭喜发财), Good luck and happiness (吉祥如意)
• B. Food (食物): Dumplings (饺子), Fish (鱼), Spring Rolls (春卷), Nian Gao (年糕), Tangyuan (汤圆)
• C. Decorations (装饰): Lanterns (灯笼), Couplets (春联), Paper Cuttings (剪纸)
• D. Activities (活动): Visiting relatives (拜年), Temple fairs (庙会), Fireworks (烟花), Dragon dance (舞龙), Lion dance (舞狮)
• E. Concepts (概念): Luck (运气), Fortune (财富), Prosperity (繁荣), Reunion (团圆), Tradition (传统)