Today I want to say something about festivals, and especially Chinese festivals. In fact, every country has its own traditional festivals that are special to its people, and some of which have a very long history.

Everybody likes festivals, and so do us students. We enjoy festivals because festivals always mean a vacation lasting from several days to several weeks. When it comes to Chinese traditional festivals, I prefer the Spring Festival also called the lunar New Year.

Chinese Spring Festival takes place at the end of lunar December when it is very cold. And the Spring Festival can be seen as the beginning of a year. Before the festival, the Chinese people are always very busy preparing for this most important event for a year. Housewives will go to markets to buy fresh vegetables, meat, chickens, fishes, new clothes for themselves and for all the family members, and all the other things necessary for the New Year. These few days before the Spring Festival are the busiest and most important for those businessmen, some of whom depend on these few days to earn most of their money for a year. Men will stay home doing some heavy work, such as doing a thorough sweep-up up and down the whole house as well as the yard if there’s one. It’s believed that a complete sweep-up of the house can sweep away the bad luck of the past year.

On the New Year’s Eve, all the family members will get together and eat a family dinner around one big table. Usually people will prepare the best dishes for this evening family dinner which often consists of chickens, fishes, green vegetables and some other delicious food. And family members will drink to wish each other good luck in the New Year. Even women who don’t drink at all will drink a little on this special occasion. Really this is a time of a family feast and atmosphere of happiness and joy fills every family on this evening. People forget their worries, put aside their work, and talk happily with family members, enjoying this joyous and happy atmosphere of this special moment.

The next day is the first day of the New Year, which is very important for the Chinese people because it means bad luck has passed with the past year and good luck is coming. On this day people will dress up with new clothes and greet each other by saying；GUO NIAN HAO meaning happy new year. Children will get lucky money from their grandparents or parents in red paper that is believed to have the power to drive away bad luck and bring them blessings.

On the streets there are performances of dragon or lion dances. Often this is done by part-time actors or actresses to add to festive atmosphere and the performances are usually wonderful and attractive.

This is the Chinese traditional Spring Festival. What fun!