The 9th day of the 9th lunar month is the traditional Chongyang Festival, which falls on Oct. 4th this year. "Chong" means "double" in Chinese. 1 , as double ninth was pronounced the same as the word to express "forever", Chinese ancestors considered it a good day worth celebration. That's 2 ancient Chinese began to celebrate this festival long ago.
People follow several customs on Double Ninth Festival. For example, people often 3 the cornel (山茱萸) on their arms or heads because they believe this plant can prevent diseases and avoid disasters. Besides, people like to climb 4 on this day, so Double Ninth Festival is 5 Mountain Climbing Festival. The 9th lunar month often has autumn skies and fresh air. It is a good time 6 sightseeing. When people stand on a high mountain, they will have a good view of a blue sky and dark green mountains, which makes 7 carefree and joyful. Chongyang Cake is also known as "flower cake". It is said that the 8 was originally (最初) prepared after autumn harvest, because farmers wanted to have a 9 of what was just in season. Then gradually it became the cake for people to eat on Double Ninth Festival. Double Ninth Festival is a festival for the 10 . People get together to show their love and concern for their parents and their grandparents.
The Spring Festival is celebrated not only in China but also in other parts of the world. The traditional holiday is the most important to Chinese both at home and abroad.
The United Kingdom
Celebrations for the Spring Festival in the UK started in 1980, with the first evening party held in 2002. Every New Year, people get together and have a lot of activities. They sing songs, dance to music, share photos with friends or enjoy films in a cinema.
The United States
The Spring Festival has become a key time for Chinese living or working in the US. They join in a large evening party to welcome the traditional New Year. It is a good chance for people to build a circle of friends and feel that they are not alone because they share the same culture and values.
Australia
The Chinese New Year will be welcomed with three weeks of celebrations across Australia. Many people come to Sydney's Chinatown or Lite Bourke Street in Melbourne. They enjoy fireworks (烟花), lion dances and dragon boat races. The celebrations are also a bridge towards better understanding between Chinese and non-Chinese.
Singapore
The family dinner on New Year's Eve is an important tradition for Chinese whether they were born in Singapore or moved there from China. They place traditional food on a table as an act of remembering their past. Then the whole family enjoy the dinner together. They usually hold it at home because having it in a restaurant takes away the meaning of the tradition.
The Lantern Festival is an important festival in China. It (begin) during the Han Dynasty 2,000 years ago. It falls on the 15thday of the first lunar month it marks the end of the Spring Festival celebrations.
People celebrate the festival in many ways. The lantern show is (important) part of the festival. On the eve of the festival many lanterns (hang) in the streets and parks. These lanterns light up night during the festival. People often go out and watch the lantern show family or friends.
Lantern riddle games are also popular during the Lantern Festival. People write riddles on colorful lanterns. You will get a nice little gift you get the right answer.
Tangyuan is the (tradition) food of the Lantern Festival. It can have many kinds of fillings and (taste). The shape of tangyuan indicates family reunion.
People enjoy (they) during the Lantern Festival.
