Chinese New Year Today

Transcript

Voice 1
Hello and welcome to Spotlight. I’m Marina Santee.

Voice 2
And I’m Mike Procter. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for
people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.

Voice 1
Families and friends gather together. Happily they wish each other good will for the year ahead.
‘Gong Xi Fa Cai’ they say. It means ‘congratulations. You will be rich!’ Xin Nian Kuai Le -
Happy New Year! They are celebrating the biggest event of their year - Chinese New Year.

Voice 2
People have been celebrating Chinese New Year for centuries. Some people 1)………..
celebrations go back as far as the Han Dynasty rule - over two thousand years ago. The
celebrations are connected with the farming seasons. Spring is 2)……….. coming. The old
harvest is finished. The new crops will soon grow.
The Chinese system of dates uses a ‘lunar’ calendar. That means it is based on the movements of
the moon. But the international system of dates is based on the movements of the earth 3)
……….. the sun. So the exact date of Chinese New Year changes each year, but it always
happens in January or February.

Voice 1
Chinese people celebrate through all of the New Year season. But the most special time is the
three days around New Year’s night. People 4)……….. a long time preparing for these days.
Cleaning is an important part of the preparations. People clean their houses from top to bottom.
They do this because they 5)……….. friends to visit during the celebrations. But some people
also believe that cleaning will sweep away bad luck.

Voice 2
Celebrations are loud and bright at Chinese New Year. Red is a particularly important colour in
Chinese 6)………... An ancient story tells of a huge beast that would catch people at New Year
so that it could eat them. The people found that the beast was 7)……….. of the colour red, and
light, and noise. That is why all these things are now part of New Year celebrations today. As the
old year comes to an end, people hang encouraging messages on their doors and windows. They
write words like, ‘happiness’, ‘long life’ and ‘riches’

Voice 1
All the preparations lead up to the big event - New Year’s eve. On this night before New Year’s
Day, all the family members 8)……….. together to enjoy a big meal. Many of them have
travelled long distances to be together. All the food represents something to do with goodness at
New Year. For example, they cook much of the food in oil. This turns it a golden colour. This
represents money and wealth. Families 9)……….. more food than they could possibly eat. This
comes from a belief that having plenty of food at New Year will mean having plenty all the year
through. Later, when the clock strikes twelve, the night sky lights up in 10)……….. colors. Red
and gold fireworks explode in the air. People laugh and shout in happy celebrations, welcoming
the New Year.

Voice 2
The following morning is New Year's Day. This is probably the best time for the children! They
awake early in the morning. Parents rise early too, even after their late 11)……….. celebrations.
The children 12)……….. the parents, and the parents give them gifts in bright red paper.
Usually the gift is money. And all their unmarried children receive such gifts - even the older
ones.

Voice 1
Then, the family puts new clothes on. New clothes are a sign of a fresh start - but the traditional
belief also links new clothes to having 13)……….. in the year to come. The family will then
either welcome visitors in their home, or they will visit other family members and friends. ‘Xin
Nian Kuai Le’, they say, ‘Happy New Year!’ This is the time when they 14)……….. any
disputes of the past year. It is a time when they forget the past, and unite for the future.

Voice 2
The ancient traditions that surround New Year have been part of Chinese culture from thousands
of years. But they can 15)……….. difficult questions for some Chinese people today. Many
modern Chinese are followers of global religions - and the teachings of these religions often do
not agree with the ancient Chinese teachings.

Voice 1
Daniel Tong is ethnic Chinese. He is a Christian minister in Singapore. He has written a book to
help Chinese Christians to be true to 16)……….. their Chinese culture and their Christian
beliefs. Reverend Tong says that the reunion dinner is a good tradition to keep, especially as
most people have little time during the year to gather as one family. He tells Chinese Christians
to enjoy the food and the new 17)……….. at New Year, but not to believe that these things have
any effect on their wealth. Instead, he encourages them to 18)……….. God for their daily needs
all year. He also says that it is fine to clean the house before New Year, but not to believe that
cleaning will chase away bad luck. And Chinese Christian children will be happy to hear that
receiving the red gifts at New Year is one tradition that can stay!
Rev Tong wrote:

Voice 3
“There is nothing wrong with Chinese Christians celebrating Chun Jie, as it is part of our culture
and tradition. But we must choose between the parts of the festival that we 19)……….. and
those that we do not”.

Voice 1
As the New Year celebrations slow down, it is time to prepare for the final celebration - the
lantern festival. This happens just two weeks after New Year’s Day.
Voice 2
Bright lanterns light up the streets. The lights 20)……….. through little containers, hanging
from people’s houses. Some of them have word games for visitors to try their skill. The streets
are busy. People gather to watch the special 21)……….. ……….. . Traditionally, boys and
girls used to meet each other during the lantern festival. The lantern festival marks the end of the
New Year celebrations. But it is not a sad time. The atmosphere is happy and hopeful. No one is
sure how the 22)……….. ………. first started. But most people agree that it was something to
do with celebrating and encouraging positive relationships. And this is something that the 23)
……….. ………. today. They hope that they will know light and goodness in the year ahead.
And they do all they can to start the year as they mean to go on - in peace and unity.

Voice 1
The writers of this programme were Marina Santee and Mike Procter, and the producer was
Marina Santee. The voices 24)……….. ……….were from the United Kingdom and the United
States. Daniel Tong’s words 25)……….. ………. and voiced by Spotlight. This programme is
called “Chinese New Year Today.”

Voice 2
Do you know examples of conflict between religion and tradition? You can comment on this or
any other Spotlight programme on our website at http://www.radio.english.net. Just go to the
script page of this programme. Spotlight is also on Facebook - search for the group Spotlight
Radio. Thank you for listening today. Until next time, goodbye!
Kunci Jawaban
1. say
2. soon
3. around
4. spend
5. expect
6. tradition
7. afraid
8. gather
9. prepare
10. beautiful
11. night
12. greet
13. wealth
14. settle
15. raise
16. both
17. clothes
18. trust
19. accept
20. shine
21. dances and shows
22. lantern festival
23. people celebrate
24. you heard
25. were adapted