By: Alicia, Austin & Emily
China Prep Module
December 5 th , 2012

Mid-Autumn Festival/Moon Festival
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When: Happens on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month
History:
The emperors in ancient China offered sacrifices to the sun in spring and to the moon in autumn
Later on, aristocrats and other literary figures expand this ceremony to common people
People enjoyed a full, bright moon on this day; worshiping it and expressing their thoughts and feelings under it

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The folklore about this was that there were ten suns rising in the sky
The sun dried up all the crops and drove people into poverty
A man, along the name of HouYi, was worried about the people who were suffering from the poverty and ascended to the top of the Kunlun Mountain
He drew his extraordinary bow, aimed, and shot for the suns one after another
He left the last sun and ordered it to rise and set according to time
Because of this, many people respected and loved him
One day HouYi was on his way to Kunlun Mountain when he ran upon the Empress of Heaven Wangmu
Empress Wangmu handed him a parcel of elixir and told HouYi that one would ascend immediately to heaven and become a celestial being
HouYi did not want to be parted with his wife Chang E, so he gave the elixir to her to keep for the time being
Chang E hid it in a treasure box when a person called Peng Meng unexpectedly saw it

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One day when HouYi went off to go hunting, Peng Meng appeared to Chang E with a sword in his hand
He forced Chang E to hand over the elixir, but as she was bringing out the elixir and swallowed it
Immediately, her body floated off the ground and flew towards heaven
When HouYi returned home, the maidservants told him what had happened
Grieved, he looked up to the moon and called out his wife's name
To his surprise, he noticed that the moon was especially clear and bright and he saw on it, there was a swaying shadow that looked exactly like his wife
He tried to chase after the moon, but the more he ran, the more the moon retreated from him. He could not get to the moon at all
When people heard that Chang E had become a celestial being, they arranged an incense table under the moonlight and prayed for her for a good fortune and peace

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This custom of worshiping the moon spread among people
The moon looks especially big and round on the 15th day of each lunar month
People selected August 15 to celebrate this event because it is when the crops and fruits are all ripe and the weather is good.
• Today, people enjoy the full moon and eat moon cakes on that day, putting food on tables and looking up at the sky while talking about their lives

春節
 When: it starts on the first day of the first lunar month until the lantern festival, which is 15 days after
 In 2013, the Spring Festival will begin on February 10
 It is also widely known as Chinese New Year

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There is a beast (Nian) that goes around villages killing and eating people
The beast is tamed by an old man, who asks the beast if it can eat other beasts instead of people.
The old man reminds the beast that people are no match to him anyways.
The old man disappears with the beast, and now people can enjoy their lives.
Before the man left, he told the people to put up red decorations on their doors and windows at the end of each year. If the beast were to sneak back again, it would be scared because red is the colour he feared the most.

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Nian is approaching the Peace Blossom village. Everyone flees, but an old man arrives at the village. While everyone thinks he’s crazy, an old lady warns him about the beast and tells him that he should leave as well. He laughs it off, asking if he can stay in her house overnight.
By the time Nian arrives at the village, the atmosphere is much more different than usual. In one house, which happened to be the house that the old man was staying in for the time being, it was decorated with red decorations. Inside of the house, the man had lit up candles, and showed no fear.
The beast is angry and approaches the house, but it becomes scared once he hears loud crackling noises, caused by firecrackers. The beast runs away from the village.
When the people of the Peach Blossom village returned, they were surprised to see that everything was alright, compared to everything being horribly destroyed as usual.
They also find out that the old man is not there anymore.
They see what the old man has done, and realize that the colour red, flames, and explosions are what Nian feared the most.

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Common Chinese New Year activities include:
 Firework shows
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Dragon dancing
Lion dancing
During this festival, it would be a time for people to come home and celebrate the festival with their families
Gifts were given for children, elderly, friends, and relatives
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Gifts include decorations, new clothes, and shoes
Each child would also get money as a New Years gift (red pocket)

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 Bad, dead, kill, ill, ache (and any other similar words)
 People think that the whole year will be terrible if you say these words
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This should be done prior to the festival
If you swept the floor, you would be sweeping off and driving away the good luck for the new year

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Nian Gao (Glutinous Rice Cake)
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The Southern Chinese would eat this
Made of sticky rice, sugar, chestnuts, Chinese dates and lotus leaves
Jiao Zi (Chinese Dumplings)
 According to a legend – the more dumplings you eat during the celebration, the more money you make in the new year
Spring Rolls
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Traditionally eaten during Chinese New Year
Nutritious and delicious
Usually contain pork and vegetables
 Meals are also more luxurious during this time
 Chicken, fish, and bean curd are a must
 Ji, yu, dou fu represent auspciousness(promising success), abundance, and richness

元宵節
 When: The Lantern Festival starts on the 15 th following the Spring Festival.
 day of the first lunar month,
In 2013, the Lantern Festival will take place on February 24 th .
 This festival officially ends Chinese New Year celebrations.

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With the Lantern Festival, there are dozens upon dozens of ideas and myths on how this festival came to be. But the more commonly accepted idea is that during the Han dynasty (about when Buddhism was becoming big), an emperor had heard that monks would light lanterns on the 15 th day of the first lunar month to worship and pay respects to the Buddha. The emperor had liked this idea so much, that he ordered his palace be lit up with lanterns on that day.
Through this, the Lantern Festival has become very big, and has now spread all around throughout Asia.

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During the festival, lanterns are hung up not only just for occasion, but because they represent people’s doubts, and they are lit up by the lanterns and thus turning them to beliefs.
Guessing lanterns is another huge part in the festival. Owners would write riddles on their lanterns, and if an individual thought they knew the answer, they would take down the lantern, bring it to the owner and answer the riddle.
If they were correct, they would win a small prize! This is a way of testing one’s wit and wisdom.

 TangYuan (Glutinous Rice Balls)
 This dish is served in all Chinese speaking regions
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Symbolizes completeness, unity, and Harmony within the family.
Also eaten to remind us that we are a year older, and to look forward to another year, perhaps with resolution to do better or to have a good year all around.

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"Chinatown Online." N.p., n.d. Web. <www2.chinatown.com>.
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1959!. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2012. <http://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/festivals/spring-festival/>.
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<http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/features/dogyear/origin.htm>.
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"Traditional Chinese Festivals - China.org.cn." Traditional Chinese Festivals - China.org.cn. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2012.
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