Stories of Chinese Festivals
FoundationStories of the Nian beast, the twelve zodiac animals, Qu Yuan and Chang'e live inside Chinese festivals; New Year, Dragon Boat, Mid-Autumn and Ching Ming each have their own customs and meanings.
- Fai chun and lucky money at New Year come from the Nian beast legend.
- The zodiac starts with the rat and cycles every twelve years.
- Dumplings and dragon boats at the Dragon Boat Festival honour Qu Yuan.
文體小知識：這種說明文把節日的故事和習俗講得明明白白，讀完就知道每個中國節日的由來。
§Text Passage
1Long ago, so the story goes, there was a beast called Nian that came out of the forest every New Year's Eve to frighten people. People found that Nian feared the colour red, firelight and loud noises, so every household put up red paper and set off firecrackers, and the beast fled — that is how Chinese New Year began. Today at Lunar New Year we put up fai chun, wear new clothes, give lucky money and say auspicious words, and every family reunites in celebration.
2The twelve zodiac animals also have a fun story. The Jade Emperor, it is said, invited the animals to race across a river, and the first twelve to arrive would become the zodiac. The clever mouse rode on the ox's back and jumped off near the finish to come first. So the zodiac starts with the rat, followed by the ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig — a cycle of twelve years, and everyone has a zodiac animal.
3The Dragon Boat Festival falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, in memory of the patriotic poet Qu Yuan. He loved his country dearly and offered the king good advice, but was not listened to, and at last he drowned himself in the river. People rowed out in dragon boats to look for him and threw rice dumplings into the water to feed the fish so they would not harm him. Every Dragon Boat Festival we eat rice dumplings and watch dragon boat races to remember this poet.
4The Mid-Autumn Festival is on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month, when the moon is round and bright. Legend says Hou Yi shot down nine suns to save the people and was given an elixir; his wife Chang'e swallowed it and floated up to the moon palace. On Mid-Autumn night families admire the moon, eat mooncakes and play with lanterns, a symbol of reunion. Ching Ming Festival comes in spring, when we visit our ancestors' graves with the family, sweeping and laying flowers in loving remembrance.
5Many of the words on fai chun are written with a brush. Calligraphy is an art unique to our country — writing lively characters with brush, ink and paper — and it is one of the special features of Chinese culture. At New Year we write words like May all wishes come true and Peace wherever you go on red paper and paste them on the door: beautiful calligraphy and good wishes together. The stories and customs of our festivals pass down the generations, and we should learn and treasure them.
1Summary 重點摘要
Stories of the Nian beast, the twelve zodiac animals, Qu Yuan and Chang'e live inside Chinese festivals; New Year, Dragon Boat, Mid-Autumn and Ching Ming each have their own customs and meanings.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
The most important Chinese festival, on the first day of the lunar calendar.
The legendary beast fearing red, firelight and noise; New Year comes from this tale.
Twelve animals from rat to pig, cycling every twelve years.
Red paper with lucky words pasted at New Year, often written in calligraphy.
On the fifth day of the fifth lunar month; it honours Qu Yuan with dumplings and dragon boat races.
A patriotic poet of over two thousand years ago, remembered at the Dragon Boat Festival.
Sticky rice wrapped in bamboo leaves, eaten at the Dragon Boat Festival.
On the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month; families admire the moon and eat mooncakes, a symbol of reunion.
The round cake eaten at Mid-Autumn, standing for family reunion.
The art of writing with a brush; a special feature of Chinese culture.
3Step by step Steps
- Step 1: The Nian beast and how New Year beganLong ago, the story says, a fierce beast called Nian with sharp horns came down every New Year's Eve to frighten people, and the villagers hid away. People later found that Nian feared red, firelight and loud noises most, so they pasted red paper on doors, lit torches and set off firecrackers — and the beast fled in fright. From then on people stayed up to celebrate, which slowly became today's Lunar New Year. Putting up fai chun, wearing red, giving lucky money and dancing lions and dragons all trace back to this tale — driving away bad luck and welcoming a new start.
- Step 2: The story of the twelve zodiac animalsThe zodiac is made of twelve animals: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. The Jade Emperor, it is said, held a river-crossing race, and the first twelve to finish would join the zodiac. The honest ox led all the way, but the clever mouse rode on his back and leapt off near the finish to take first place, so the rat leads the zodiac. The cycle repeats every twelve years, and the year you were born gives you your animal. Ask your family about their zodiac — it is great fun.
- Step 3: The Dragon Boat Festival and Qu YuanThe Dragon Boat Festival, on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, honours the patriotic poet Qu Yuan of over two thousand years ago. He loved his country deeply and offered the king many good plans, but was not accepted and was even sent away; seeing his country decline, he sadly drowned himself in the river. The people rowed dragon boats everywhere to search for him and threw rice dumplings into the water so the fish would eat them and not harm him. So we eat dumplings, race dragon boats and wear sachets — lively customs that carry his patriotic spirit to this day.
- Step 4: The story of the Mid-Autumn FestivalThe Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month, when the moon is roundest and brightest — a symbol of family reunion. Legend tells of ten suns scorching the earth; the hero Hou Yi shot down nine to save the people and was rewarded with an elixir. To guard it, his wife Chang'e swallowed the elixir, grew light as air and floated up to the moon palace. Missing her, people worshipped the moon on this night. Today families admire the moon, share mooncakes and play with lanterns — the round mooncake stands for the family reunited.
- Step 5: Ching Ming — remembering our ancestorsChing Ming Festival falls around the fourth or fifth of April, when spring renews the earth, and we visit our ancestors with the family. At the grave we first clean the headstone and clear the weeds, lay flowers and the food our ancestors loved, bow in silence and remember them. This is the Chinese tradition of honouring the departed: remembering our ancestors' kindness and hard work, for they made us who we are. Be solemn and polite when paying respects, take the rubbish away, and be careful with fire — express our feelings safely and respectfully.
- Step 6: Calligraphy and fai chunCalligraphy is the art of writing with a brush and one of the special features of Chinese culture. A brush dipped in ink makes strokes thick and thin, fast and slow, alive like dancing. Children in olden days practised from a young age, training focus and patience. Before New Year, many people write fai chun with a brush, putting lucky words like Peace wherever you go and May all wishes come true on red paper to paste on doors and walls. Try writing a piece of fai chun yourself — learn calligraphy and send your family new-year wishes at once.
5Worked example Example
Example: Mum asks May, Do you know why we eat rice dumplings at the Dragon Boat Festival? Help May tell the story.
- Name the festival first: the Dragon Boat Festival is on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month and honours the patriotic poet Qu Yuan.
- Tell the story: Qu Yuan loved his country and gave good advice, but was not accepted; seeing his country decline, he drowned himself in the river.
- Explain the customs: people rowed dragon boats to search for him and threw rice dumplings into the water to feed the fish and protect him.
- Sum up: so eating dumplings and racing dragon boats remember his patriotic spirit, a custom of more than two thousand years.
- Answer: We eat rice dumplings at the Dragon Boat Festival to remember the patriotic poet Qu Yuan. After he drowned himself, people rowed dragon boats to find him and threw dumplings to feed the fish; later these became the festival's customs, reminding us of his love for the country.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1What did the Nian beast fear?
Q2Which animal comes first in the zodiac?
Q3Whom does the Dragon Boat Festival remember?
Q4What do we do at the Mid-Autumn Festival?
Q5What is the art of writing with a brush called?
8Recap Recap
- Fai chun and lucky money at New Year come from the Nian beast legend.
- The zodiac starts with the rat and cycles every twelve years.
- Dumplings and dragon boats at the Dragon Boat Festival honour Qu Yuan.
- Moon-watching and mooncakes stand for reunion; Ching Ming honours ancestors.
- Calligraphy is a special feature of Chinese culture; fai chun sends new-year wishes.