Yangge is a kind of traditional Chinese folk (民间的) dance. The performers (表演者) dance to music with handkerchiefs (手帕)or fans in their hands. It's a very popular festival activity in north China.
Yangge may have different forms from place to place, but all of them express happiness.很多人非常喜欢秧歌。Most dancers are young men and young women. Some are even old ladies. Almost every village in northern Shaanxi Province has yangge teams. They begin to prepare yangge even a month before the Chinese New Year. During the Spring Festival, the yangge teams pay New Year's calls from house to house.
They wish people a happy New Year by dancing yangge in the streets. Some young men often play the drums, and the performers wave red silk bands ( 挥舞红绸带). People set off firecrackers (鞭炮) to welcome the dancers.他们邀请表演者品尝自制食物。The sounds of songs, drums and firecrackers form an air of festivity in the village.
Nowadays, yangge has spread into city parks, streets and squares, and it has developed into a kind of popular exercise for city people.
