The Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, was officially listed as a UN floating holiday in its calendar of conferences (会议) and meetings on December 22th, 2023. About one-fifth of humanity (人类) celebrates this festival in different ways.
The first day of the first lunar month is Spring Festival, the beginning of a new year for China. It is China's biggest day for family reunion. It is usually a fifteen-day celebration. The cleaning of the home is thought to sweep away bad luck from the previous (先前的) year and bring good luck for the coming year. The color red is everywhere during the Spring Festival. They decorate (装饰) their homes with pieces of red paper. People wear red, too.
On New Year's Eve, the family members get together and have a big meal. We often eat dumplings. At midnight, fireworks (烟花) are let off to welcome the New Year. The whole country bursts with the thundering (雷鸣般的) joyful noise of fire crackers (鞭炮) as every family joins. Gifts are exchanged and older people give younger ones hongbao, often called "lucky money". They think it brings good luck.
It's the Lantern Festival. A popular activity at the Lantern Festival is the guessing of riddles (谜语), which are written on paper and placed on the lantern. Families will also light lanterns, which symbolize the brightness of spring.
A. They think red will bring them a bright future.
B. Lanterns in different shapes and sizes are seen everywhere.
C. Many countries list the Spring Festival as a national holiday.
D. The end of the Spring Festival is marked on the fifteenth day.
E. Days before the Spring Festival, families will clean their houses.
F. Don't borrow or lend money on Spring Festival.
G. The first days of the Spring Festival are spent visiting family and friends.