Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Chinese New Year Int
Chinese New Year Int
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There are many traditional activities associated with Chinese New Year and many of these symbolize new life
and new beginnings. Many are also related to the idea of good luck. Chinese people sweep and clean their
houses before New Year and then put away their brooms so good fortune will not be swept away. They always
pay off their debts before New Years Day because it is bad luck to begin the New Year if you owe money.
People also buy new clothing and new shoes because they believe that bad luck will come to those who step on
the ground in old shoes on New Years morning. It is also important to settle old arguments.
The color red is seen everywhere on Chinese New Year because it represents fire, which according to legend,
can drive away bad luck. Gold is also an important color at this time. It represents wealth and good fortune.
Families decorate their homes with flowers and paper decorations. Exchanging gifts is an important tradition
and children always receive red envelopes containing lucky money. The traditional New Years greeting is
kung hey fah choy, which means I wish you a prosperous New Year.
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Reading continued...
Food is a very important part of the New Year celebrations. Families and friends get together for large feasts
and many of the foods that are eaten have special meanings. Fish is eaten to ensure long life and good fortune.
Red dates bring prosperity, lotus and melon seeds will bring many children, and oranges symbolize wealth.
Ancestors are remembered with offerings of food. The table is usually covered with a red cloth and red candles
and often there are twelve courses to represent the twelve animals of the zodiac.
The dragon and the lion are other popular symbols of Chinese New Year. Many Chinese communities around
the world celebrate with dragon and lion dances and parades through the streets with people dressed in brightly
colored costumes; and of course, a Chinese New Year celebration would not be complete without loud and
colorful fireworks.
In many Chinese communities, the New Year is celebrated as official holidays for three or four days, but often
the celebrations continue until the Festival of Lanterns which is on the fifteenth day of the New Year.
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READING COMPREHENSION
Practice asking and answering the following questions with your partner. Then write the answers in the
spaces below.
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VOCABULARY REVIEW
A. Match the words on the left with the correct meaning on the right.
_____ 1. fixed
a) fight, disagreement
_____ 2. lunar
_____ 3. occur
_____ 4. symbolize
_____ 5. sweep
e) make certain
_____ 6. fortune
_____ 7. debt
_____ 8. argument
h) happen
_____ 9. wealth
j) represent
B. Choose the correct word from the left column above to complete the following sentences.
1. John was born in Canada, but his _________________________________ came from China a long time ago.
2. The floor is very dirty. Could you please _________________________________ it for me.
3. The date for the annual meeting is already _________________________________. I cant change it.
4. He borrowed a lot of money from his friends over the past few years and he still has a lot of
_________________________________.
5. Do you believe that people can really tell your _________________________________ by looking into a
crystal ball or reading your tea leaves?
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C. Choose the words that are closest in meaning to the underlined words in the following sentences.
b) make beautiful
c) buy
b) many children
c) happiness
b) pictures
b) family
c) real
b) red cloth
c) part of a meal
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Ox
Tiger
Rabbit
Dragon
Snake
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Ox
Tiger
Rabbit
Dragon
Snake
- generous
- try to help others less fortunate
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Sheep (Ram)
Monkey
Rooster
Dog
Pig (Boar)
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2015
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Horse
Sheep
Monkey
Rooster
Dog
Pig
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Directions: Walk around the classroom and ask your classmates questions. Find someone...
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Answer Key
ESL Lesson Plans - Holidays (Intermediate) - Chinese New Year
READING COMPREHENSION
1. Chinese New Year is two celebrations in one as it is also the time to celebrate ones birthday.
2. Chinese New Year does not have a fixed date on the western calendar because it is based on the lunar calendar.
3. The Chinese zodiac is represented by 12 animals.
4. A child is associated with the animal and corresponding characteristics that represents his or her birth year.
5. They put away their brooms so good fortune will not be swept away.
6. The color red and the color gold.
7. Children receive red envelopes containing lucky money.
8. There are often twelve courses to represent the twelve animals of the zodiac.
9. Fish is an important dish as it is believed to ensure long life and good fortune.
10. The Festival of Lanterns is on the fifteenth day of the New Year.
VOCABULARY REVIEW
A. Match the words
l. k
2. f
3. h
4. j
9. c
10. d
11. b
12. e
2. sweep
3. fixed
5. l
6. g
4. debt
5. fortune
7. i
8. a
2. a
3. c
4. a
5. c
GROUP WORK
1. (answer will vary)
2. (answer will vary)
11.Tiger
12. Pig
4. Rabbit
14. Pig
5. Sheep
15. Snake
6. Tiger
7. Rabbit
8. 2015
9. Dog
10. Monkey
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Copyright 2010. This eBook is produced and distributed by Red River Press Inc. All rights reserved. The contents within this e-book/document may only be
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