2 . Adults generally dislike getting older.     1     It’s no surprise, then, that many kids look forward to their birthdays, especially the 16th birthday. For girls in America, a “Sweet 16” birthday is an important rite (仪式) of passage that celebrates approaching adulthood.

In the United States, the 16th birthday is a mark that a girl has come of age. She is not a legal adult yet, but at 16, many girls can begin to learn to drive.     2     For many youths, the 16th birthday is a celebration of womanhood and marks the end of the girl’s childhood.

Society and media often put great importance on a girl’s 16th birthday.     3     Both of them have great personal importance. They think of their 16th birthdays like women think of their weddings.

    4     The event can be held in a garden, a park or somewhere else. Often, a girl has been planning her 16th birthday party for long and has a very specific idea about what she wants and who she wants to invite. As long as she doesn’t waste money, letting a girl plan her 16^th birthday is a great way to let her creativity and personality shine.

There are many theories about how the sweet 16th birthday came into being. Most connect the birthday celebration with the Mexican Quinceanera, which takes place on a girl’s 15th birthday, or European ancient coming-of-age celebrations.     5    

4 . Books That Celebrate Diverse Holidays and Traditions

It’s important to remember there are a diverse set of holidays available to explore. Below are a few books that help introduce children to different holiday cultures and traditions.

Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto, illustrated by Ed Martinez

While helping her mother with Christmas celebration, Maria is tempted to try on her mother’s diamond ring. After getting caught up in the joy of the holiday and playing with her cousins, Maria realizes the ring is missing! That’s when she and her cousins come up with a plan to eat all of the tamales, in hopes of finding the ring.

Together for Kwanzaa by Juwanda G. Ford, illustrated by Shelly Hehenberger

This is a story about a little girl named Kayla who wants to see her older brother Khari come home so they can celebrate Kwanzaa together as a family. Khari is stuck at college when a snowstorm hits and his car breaks down. Will he make it home in time for Kwanzaa?

A Child’s Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman

This book is a funny, nostalgic tale of Christmas Eve afternoon through Christmas night in Wales, and is full of unique imagery and poetic prose. It will arouse a sense of familiarity for some young readers while introducing them to different aspects of Christmas traditions.

We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga by Traci Sorell, illustrated by Frane Lessac

The word otsaliheliga is used by members of the Cherokee Nation to express gratitude. This is an amazing story that describes a journey through the seasons with a modern-day Cherokee family. Cherokee history and traditions are also woven into the story in a very kid-friendly way.

5 . What comes to your mind when you think of kung fu? Maybe the image of Shaolin monks (和尚) posing with a serious look in their eyes. But does it really present the meaning of kung fu?

Laurence J. Brahm, a filmmaker from the United States, explored (探索) this question in Searching for Kung Fu (《寻找功夫》). In the movie, Brahm traveled to cities in China and the US in search of the value of kung fu.

Brahm himself is a kung fu lover who has been practicing the art for more than 40 years. For him, it is more than a pastime. Ages ago, Brahm was unable to use one of his legs for two years and had to walk with a cane (拐杖). But by practicing martial arts (武术), he was able to recover step by step. Now, kung fu has become a daily activity for him and also the way he begins the day.

Still, there are other deep meanings in the practice. Nonviolence is one value, which is shown both in the name and practice of kung fu. The Chinese character Wu has two parts—ge, meaning “to fight”, and zhi, meaning “to stop”. So, the meaning of kung fu in Chinese is the art of stopping fighting, the art of nonviolence. Kung fu artists always greet people with baoquan. This lets each person know that there are no hidden weapons (隐藏的武器) and shows trust.

“The traditional values of kung fu, actually, are in the minds of all Chinese people,” Brahm told Xinhua.

6 . Dads have Father’s Day. Moms have Mother’s Day. Kids have Children’s Day. However, do our grandparents have a special holiday? Yes, they do!

The Double Ninth Festival is a special day for elderly people in China. The festival is on the ninth day of the ninth month of the lunar calendar. As the Chinese word for nine has the same sound as the word for long, people take the Double Ninth Festival to show their wishes of long life for elderly people. This year it falls on Oct. 23.

There are many traditions for this festival. On that day, families get together and climb mountains for luck and in the hope that elderly people will live much longer. They also drink chrysanthemum wine (菊花酒) and wear a plant called zhuyu to celebrate it. Both chrysanthemum and zhuyu are regarded as clean plants that can clean houses and cure diseases.

Respecting elderly people is shown not only on this special day but also in daily life. For example, when an older person enters a room, everyone stands up. When there are several guests at the table, the host usually introduces them from the oldest to the youngest. When a younger person is presenting something to an older person, two hands are used. On a crowded subway or bus, younger people always offer their seats to elderly people.

It is a traditional virtue (美德) in China to respect elderly people. That’s because the Chinese know that elderly people have knowledge and experience that young people can learn from. So, Chinese people are proud of being old. Besides, to respect the elderly people is to respect yourself tomorrow.

7 . The 19th Asian Games, also known as the Hangzhou Asian Games, was scheduled to be held from September 10 to 25, 2022 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. As with any major sporting event, the Hangzhou Asian Games has its own official mascot (吉祥物). The mascot, named “Smart Triplets,” was shown on September 9, 2019.

The design of the Smart Triplets was inspired by culture, history and nature of Hangzhou. Hangzhou is known for its beautiful scenery and rich cultural history. The inspiration for the Smart Triplets came from the three UNESCO World Heritage sites in Hangzhou: West Lake, the Grand Canal, and Mount Putuo. The mascot designers also drew inspiration from the Qianjiang New City area, which is the main venue or the Hangzhou Asian Games.

The Smart Triplets are a group of three young pandas, each with its own unique personality and skillset. The first panda, called “Ping Ping”, represents the passion and energy of sports. The second panda, “Cheng Cheng”, symbolize s the intelligence and innovation of Hangzhou as a technology hub. The third panda, “Fu Fu”, represents the harmony between humans and nature, which is an important value in Hangzhou’s culture.

Each panda has its own color scheme and special outfit. Ping Ping’s outfit consists of a sleeveless shirt and shorts in yellow, the color of sports events. Cheng Cheng wears a pink outfit with a bowtie and suspenders, which are commonly seen in the tech industry. Fu Fu wears a light green outfit with a straw hat, which represents the harmony between humans and nature.

In general, the public response to the Smart Triplets has been positive. Many people appreciate the design and concept as well as their message of friendship, innovation and harmony.

8 . In China under imperial rule, National Day was a celebration of the Emperor’s birthday or his rise to the throne. On October 1, 1949, Mao Zedong declared the formation of the People’s Republic of China.     1     The holiday is held annually in Hong Kong, Macau, and mainland China.

The first seven days of October are referred to as the Golden Week. This is a time of travel and leisure that is celebrated differently in various parts of China. People in cities often travel to rural areas to relax and enjoy the quiet surroundings. People from urban areas also travel to other cities throughout China to take part in celebrations.     2     Each year, a large National Day celebration is held in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square.

Beijing’s National Day festivals are filled with military performances, food vendors, live music, and various other activities. In Beijing and other cities, musical and dance concerts are held to celebrate National Day. Crafts, painting, and a range of other activities can be enjoyed by people of various ages.

    3     This fireworks show is approved by the Chinese government and some of the highest quality rockets and explosives are used to fill the sky with sparkling colors of gold and red.

In addition to patriotic celebrations, National Day in China is also a time for people to enjoy being with their families. Family members of all ages will often use this as an opportunity to travel to a central location to reconnect after months of working.     4    

Although National Day is entered around patriotism and China’s history, National Day is also a time of shopping.     5     So people should put a bit of money to the side and use this as an opportunity to purchase some of the things that have been on their wish lists for a while.

9 . As a Chinese native religion, Taoism has a close relationship with Chinese folk customs. With the development of Taoism, it has become deep-rooted in, and the practices of, the ordinary people. This can be seen both in Taoist religious festivals and sacrifice-offerings.

There are many Taoist festivals, and quite a few of them have evolved into folk festivals. For example, the Double Ninth Festival on September 9 of lunar calendar came from the Taoist festival. It is said that in the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220), there was a Taoist immortal named Fei Changfang, who was resourceful enough to drive all devils away. At that time, he had a pupil called Huan Jing. One day, Fei Changfang foresaw a disaster on September 9 in Huan Jing’s family, and told Huan Jing to fasten a bundle of dogwood onto his arm, and drink chrysanthemum wine in an elevated place so as to prevent the disaster. Having done what he had been told, Huan Jing’s family was indeed safe and sound. Along with the spreading of Taoism, this legend has evolved into the Double Ninth Festival. When the day comes, people will carry dogwood and drink chrysanthemum wine in elevated places.

Many immortals in Taoism came into being on the basis of earthy folk gods, and thus the Taoist god-worshiping system has much in common with the earthy folk god-worshiping. On the one hand, a number of earthy folk gods such as Caishen(mammon), Chenghuangshen(city god), Dongyuedadi(god of East Mountain) and Guanshengdi(god of Saint Guan) have become part of the pedigree of folk gods; on the other hand, Taoist immortals such as Laojun(Holy Lord), Yuhuangdadi(Jade Emperor) and Baxian(eight immortals) have become widespread and part of people’s life.

Moreover, some Taoist taboo tricks have an extensive influence on the folk society, especially in the countryside; or rather, they have constituted a necessary part of folk customs. The combination of Taoism and Chinese folk customs is in various aspects, but it is mainly embodied in celebrations of festivals and seasonal changes and spirit worshiping.