Chinese New Year

◎英国大使馆文化教育处

The event

For London’s Chinese community, Chinese New Year is a huge event.Before Chinese New Year, people make sure their houses are clean and tidy,buy new clothes and have their hair cut, to bring good luck for the new year.London has the biggest celebrations outside of Asia. Hundreds of thousands of people go to watch the parade, which includes Chinese acrobats and traditional lion and dragon dances. The exact date of Chinese New Year is calculated according to the lunar calendar, so it changes every year.

The celebrations

In central London, there are fireworks and stage performances with all kinds of acts and special guests. Previous celebrations have included fashion shows and Chinese hip hop acts, as well as more traditional performances with Chinese acrobats. The streets in Chinatown are decorated with lucky red lanterns and full of craft and food stalls. Listen out for people saying “Kung Hei Fat Choi” to wish each other prosperity, or saying “San Nin Faai Lok”—Happy New Year!

Chinese people in Britain

Young UK-based Chinese people missing home might cook traditional Chinese dumplings for friends in Britain or organise an evening of karaoke.The festivities are not as noisy as back home, where it is said loud firecrackers were traditionally used to frighten away a terrible monster called Nian, and the special red envelopes of money from relatives may have further to travel to the UK. But there is still plenty of excitement, happiness and good feelings, as people come together to enjoy the celebrations.

Activity 1 True or false?

1. Chinese New Year is a big celebration in London.True False

2. Improving your appearance and tidying your house are part of the preparations.True False

3. Chinese New Year is always on 31 January.True False

4. All of the Chinese New Year entertainment on offer in London is traditional.True False

5. You can buy Chinese food in the streets of Chinatown.True False

6. Young Chinese people in the UK won’t receive red envelopes of money from their relatives.True False

Activity 2 Fill it in!

exact monster lunar fashion huge red food and craft

1. Chinese New Year is a __________ event in London—the biggest celebrations outside of Asia.

2. The date changes every year, and is calculated according to the__________ calendar.

3. When is the __________ date this year?

4. The streets are decorated with __________ lanterns.

5. In past years in London there have been hip hop acts and even__________ shows.

6. In Chinatown the streets are full of __________ stalls.

7. Loud firecrackers are used to frighten away a terrible __________ called Nian.