Unit 4跨文化交际

Unit4:Traditional Chinese culture and its English expressions

4.1Traditional Chinese festivals

4.1.1Spring Festival

The Spring Festival falls on the1st day of the1st lunar month,often one month later than the Gregorian calendar.It originated in the Shang Dynasty from the people's sacrifice to gods and ancestors at the end of an old year and the beginning of a new one.

Strictly speaking,the Spring Festival starts every year in the early days of the12th lunar month and will last till the mid1st lunar month of the next year.Of them,the most important days are Spring Festival Eve and the first three days.The Chinese government now stipulates people have seven days off for the Chinese Lunar New Year.

Many customs accompany the Spring Festival.Some are still followed today,but others have weakened. Before the New Year comes,people do thorough cleaning and washing.Then people begin decorating their clean rooms featuring an atmosphere of rejoicing and festivity.All the door panels will be pasted with Spring Festival couplets,highlighting Chinese calligraphy with black characters on red paper.The content varies from house owners' wishes for a bright future to good luck for the New Year.Also,pictures of the god of doors and wealth will be pasted on front doors to ward off evil spirits and welcome peace and abundance.

The Chinese character"fu"(meaning blessing or happiness)is a must.The character put on paper can be pasted normally or upside down,for in Chinese the"reversed fu"is homophonic with"fu comes",both being pronounced as "fudaole."What's more,two big red lanterns can be raised on both sides of the front door.Red paper-cuttings can be seen on window glass and brightly colored New Year paintings with auspicious meanings may be put on the wall. Expressions about Spring Festivals

poetic couplet对联,Spring Festival couplets春联

lunar January;the first month by lunar calendar正月

New Year‘s Eve;eve of lunar New Year除夕

the beginning of the New Year正月初一

New Year paintings年画

special purchases for the Spring Festival;do Spring Festival shopping买年货

propose a toast敬酒

fireworks烟花,firecrackers(People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)爆竹

lion dance(The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)舞狮

dragon dance(to expect good weather and good harvests)舞龙

variety show;vaudeville杂耍staying-up守岁comic dialogue相声sketch小品

pay New Year’s call;give New Year‘s greetings;New Year’s visit拜年,taboo拜年禁忌

get rid of the ill-fortune去晦气offer sacrifices to one's ancestors祭祖宗

gift money压岁钱bid farewell to the old year辞旧岁family reunion dinner团圆饭

Treasures fill the home金玉满堂Business flourishes生意兴隆

Peace all year round岁岁平安Wishing you prosperity恭喜发财

Harmony brings wealth和气生财Everything goes well吉祥如意

The country flourishes and people live in peace国泰民安

Money and treasures will be plentiful招财进宝

Promoting to a higher position步步高升Safe trip wherever you go出入平安

4.1.2Lantern Festival

The Lantern Festival falls on the15th day of the1st lunar month,usually in February or March in the Gregorian