1 . Little New Year usually falls a week before the lunar New Year. It is also known as the Festival of the Kitchen God, the deity (神) who oversees the moral character of each household. Here are six things you should know about the Little New Year, another sign of the start of spring.
1. Offer sacrifices to Kitchen God
One of the most distinctive traditions of the Little New Year is the burning of a paper image of the Kitchen God, who will report on the family’s conduct over the past year. The offerings to the Kitchen God include pig’s head, fish, sweet bean paste, melons, fruit, boiled dumplings, barley sugar, and Guandong candy. Most of the offerings are sweets of various varieties. It is thought that this will seal the Kitchen God’s mouth and encourage him to only say good things about the family when he ascends to Heaven to make his report.
2. House cleaning
According to Chinese folk beliefs, during the last month of the year ghosts and deities must choose either to return to Heaven or to stay on Earth. It is believed that in order to ensure the ghosts and deities’ timely departure people must thoroughly clean both their persons and their houses, down to every last drawer and cupboard.
3. Eat Guandong candy
Guandong candy, a sticky treat made out of glutinous millet and sprouted wheat, is a traditional snack that Chinese people eat on the Festival of the Kitchen God.
4. Paste paper-cuts to windows
In the Little New Year, old couplets and paper-cuts from the previous Spring Festival are taken down, and new window decorations, New Year’s posters, and auspicious (吉利的) decorations are pasted up.
5. Bath and hair-cut
As the old Chinese saying goes, whether they’re rich or poor, people often have a haircut before the Spring Festival. The activity of taking bath and haircut is often taken on the Little New Year.
6. Preparations for the Spring Festival
People start to stock up necessary provisions for the Spring Festival since the Little New Year. Everything needed to make offerings to the ancestors, entertain guests, and feed the family over the long holiday must be purchased in advance.
1. What is the most unusual tradition in the Little New Year?| A．Offering sacrifices to the Kitchen God. |
| B．Burning a paper image of the Kitchen God. |
| C．Preparing the necessities for the New Year. |
| D．Cleaning houses and people themselves. |
| A．Collecting the information of the man’s world. |
| B．Protecting the character of each home. |
| C．Gathering sacrifices for other Gods in Heaven. |
| D．Watching out for the moral people in the world. |
| A．Because the Kitchen God loves sweet foods. |
| B．Because it is the traditional custom. |
| C．Because people hope the God says good for them. |
| D．Because sweets are the best sacrifices. |
| A．Little New Year always falls in February. |
| B．House cleaning is to welcome the New Year. |
| C．In the Little New Year only paper-cuts are pasted up. |
| D．People will make full preparations for the coming New Year. |
Chinese Spring Festival Going Global
Nowadays, more and more countries around the world are holding celebrations for Chinese Spring Festival. What’s more, not only are these attended and enjoyed by Chinese citizens living abroad, but by many other nationalities, too.
With colourful decorations of lanterns and lamps, shopping centres have been organising events and activities to celebrate Chinese Spring Festival for years, while concerts and other performances are also proving a big success. Tickets for the 2017 Grand Chinese New Year Concert in St Petersburg sold out, with 90% of the audience local Russians. People are also discovering the fun of interacting with the celebrations, rather than simply watching as part of an audience. To celebrate the 2017 festival, over 1,000 Ghanaian junior high school students got up on stage to perform Chinese songs and dances. Students in New York City, meanwhile, have since 2016 been able to enjoy an official day’s holiday for Chinese Spring Festival.
It seems that Chinese Spring Festival is becoming a global celebration of joy and love. What do you think of this phenomenon? Write to us to share your opinion!
1. Which countries are mentioned and how do they celebrate Chinese Spring Festival?2. Which event would you most like to attend? Why?
3. Why do you think Chinese Spring Festival is “going global”?
Traditional crafts have long been disappearing from countries across the world. With many crafts having been, or about to be, lost forever, people are beginning to grasp the importance of preserving those that remain. In fact, after a long period of decline, traditional crafts have recently undergone a renaissance. There is greater public interest in old stories and traditions, as well as a desire for high-quality products. Such objects are produced through a combination of skill, respect for materials, devotion to tradition, and focus on the task. Craftsmanship speaks to the human need for skilled and socially useful work; the sort of work that can be admired and valued by society.
1. What is currently happening to traditional crafts?2. Why are people starting to engage more with traditional crafts?
PROMOTING CULTURE THROUGH DIGITAL IMAGES
Lanzhou, 9 August 2017. A group of researchers and scientists from China and other countries are working together to help increase knowledge and appreciation of China’s ancient cultural heritage. They are recording and collecting digital images of cultural relics from the Mogao Caves, which were a key stop along the Silk Road throughout China’s ancient history. Nearly 500,000 high-quality digital photographs have been produced since the international project started in 1994.
The Mogao Caves have long been a meeting point for different cultures and are part of the history of many countries. Today, the caves are just as international as they were at the time when people travelled the Silk Road. Tourists from all over the world visit Dunhuang to see the caves, and the Getty Museum in Los Angeles has even reproduced a copy of the caves and paintings for people to admire in America.
By sharing so many digital photos over the Internet, the group hopes to promote even wider interest around the world in China’s ancient history, culture, and traditions. They also hope to further educate people about the importance of safeguarding historic and cultural relics for future generations to understand and appreciate. As one researcher who is working on the project explains, “Appreciating one’s own cultural heritage is very Important for understanding oneself. Appreciating the cultural heritage of other countries is very important for international communication and understanding.”
1. What are the researchers and scientists trying to do? What modern technology are they using?2. Why are so many people interested in the Mogao Caves?
3. What do you think of the researcher’s opinion in the last paragraph?
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8 . Autumn Celebrations around the World
Countries around the world have their own special ways of celebrating autumn.
Harvest Festival is a British tradition which goes back to pagan times. Given the differences in climate and crops around the world, harvest festivals can be found at various times at different places. Harvest festivals typically feature feasting, both family and public, with foods that are made from crops that come to maturity (成熟) around the time of the festival. Ample food and freedom from the necessity to work in the fields are two central features of harvest festivals. Eating, contests, music and romance are common features of harvest festivals around the world.
The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, is one of the most widely celebrated harvest festivals in the world, with people from many Asian countries including China, Malaysia, and the Philippines, amongst others, marking the day with festive celebrations. It is held on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar, which typically falls in September. The festival is celebrated as a public holiday, with schools and offices closing their doors so that families can gather and give thanks for the harvest and full moon.
Oktoberfest is another major autumn celebration that, while held in Germany for the first time, has inspired local versions around the globe. The world’s largest folk festival begins in September and runs for about two weeks, featuring traditional Bavarian food, music, clothing, and most importantly, lots of beer!
There are also several cultural and religious events that occur throughout October and November. To experience multicultural autumn, try celebrating Dia de los Muertos on the 1st and 2nd November — a Mexican celebration that honors the lives of those who have passed away with food, drinks and activities that those loved ones enjoyed when they were alive.
1. What do we know about the harvest festival?| A．It is a public holiday. | B．It lasts for two weeks. |
| C．It is different worldwide. | D．It is celebrated for freedom. |
| A．In Malaysia. | B．In Mexico. |
| C．In China. | D．In Germany. |
| A．Oktoberfest. | B．Harvest Festival. |
| C．Dia de los Muertos. | D．The Mid-Autumn Festival. |
9 . If you are a fruit grower—or would like to become one—take advantage of Apple Day to see what’s around. It’s called Apple Day but in practice it’s more like Apple Month. The day itself is on October 21, but since it has caught on, events now spread out over most of October around Britain.
Visiting an apple event is a good chance to see, and often taste, a wide variety of apples. To people who are used to the limited choice of apples such as Golden Delicious and Royal Gala in supermarkets, it can be quite an eye opener to see the range of classical apples still in existence, such as Decio which was grown by the Romans. Although it doesn’t taste of anything special, it’s still worth a try, as is the knobbly(多疙瘩的) Cat’s Head which is more of a curiosity than anything else.
There are also varieties developed to suit specific local conditions. One of the very best varieties for eating quality is Orleans Reinette, but you’ll need a warm, sheltered place with perfect soil to grow it, so it’s a pipe dream for most apple lovers who fall for it.
At the events, you can meet expert growers and discuss which ones will best suit your conditions, and because these are family affairs, children are well catered for with apple-themed fun and games.
Apple Days are being held at all sorts of places with an interest in fruit, including stately gardens and commercial orchards(果园). If you want to have a real orchard experience, try visiting the National Fruit Collection at Brogdale, near Faversham in Kent.
1. What can people do at the apple events?| A．Attend experts’ lectures. | B．Visit fruit-loving families. |
| C．Plant fruit trees in an orchard. | D．Taste many kinds of apples. |
| A．It is a new variety. | B．It has a strange look. |
| C．It is rarely seen now. | D．It has a special taste. |
| A．A practical idea. | B．A vain hope. | C．A brilliant plan. | D．A selfish desire. |
10 . In China, charms of cities are hidden in their teahouses. Thanks to teahouses, people in cities have a place to express their emotions and thoughts, and getting to know a city is no longer a difficult thing.
Beijing, a small society in teahouses
A teahouse is the place where all walks of lie gather around. It is a small society, Lao She said in his famous play Teahouse. In Beijing, the most popular teahouses are story teahouses. They are places where Beijingers enjoy tea while listening to stories told by the pingshu arists. Other than stories, there are also stages for old Beijing folk art performances like Beijing Opera, xiangsheng and Drum Songs. Many guests come to the same teahouse every day at the same time.
Chengdu, a part of people’s daily lives
Every morning, teahouses in Chengdu open for their customers, and some people even wash up there and then drink tea and have breakfast. It is a special scene in Chengdu. People can spend a whole day in a teahouse, enjoying tea, a newspaper, and birds in cages, just like zaocha in Guangzhou to some extent. They can also have wonderful services such as massages (按摩) and ear cleaning. Mahjong and poker are indispensable elements there. Although it may seem kind of noisy, it reflects the culture of Chengdu. Teahouses there relax both people’s body and their mind.
Hangzhou, a place for seeking inner peace
Hangzhou’s climate and water quality are good for people and tea. Under such excellent natural conditions, high-quality tea is planted. In Hangzhou, tea-stalls (茶水摊) with seats in the open air along the West Lake are popular. Pick your favorite place with your best friends on a sunny day or peaceful night and you can enjoy the breeze from the lake or numerous stars in the sky. Of course, with a cup of tea on the table and close friends around, you can also get a peaceful state of mind.
1. You can enjoy tea while appreciating some Drum Songs in a teahouse of ________.| A．Beijing | B．Chengdu | C．Guangzhou | D．Hangzhou |
| A．They are open all day. | B．They lie in busy streets. |
| C．They have the same service items. | D．Indoor teahouses are most popular. |
| A．Tourism Overseas. | B．Sports Express. |
| C．Culture China. | D．Global Economy. |
