Today is the last day of the Year of Rabbit, or Chinese New Year’s Eve, known as Chú Xī or “Eve of the Passing Year.” In Chinese/Asian tradition, Chú Xī is the day where Chinese families gather for their annual reunion dinner, chatting, playing and waiting for the first day of the Chinese new year to come.
As one of the most important traditional Chinese holidays, Chinese New Year is aslo known as “Spring Festival,” the literal translation of the Chinese name Chūn Jié, since the spring season in Chinese calendar starts with lichun, the first solar term in a Chinese calendar year.
The festival begins on the first day of the first month, known as Zhēng Yuè in the traditional Chinese calendar and ends with Lantern Festival which is on the 15th day. The origin of Chinese New Year is itself centuries old and gains significance because of several myths and traditions (see The legend of Chinese Lunar New Year).
Within China, regional customs and traditions concerning the celebration of the Chinese new year vary widely. People will pour out their money to buy presents, decoration, material, food, and clothing. It is also the tradition that every family thoroughly cleans the house to sweep away any ill-fortune in hopes to make way for good incoming luck. Windows and doors will be decorated with red colour paper-cuts and couplets with popular themes of “good fortune” or “happiness”, “wealth”, and “longevity”.
On the Eve of Chinese New Year, supper is a feast with families. Food will include such items as pigs, ducks, chicken and sweet delicacies. The family will end the night with firecrackers. Early the next morning, children will greet their parents by wishing them a healthy and happy new year, and receive money in red paper envelopes. The Chinese New Year tradition is to reconcile, forget all grudges and sincerely wish peace and happiness for everyone.
Here is Chinese version of Jingle Bells. Watch the video to listen to the Chinese children’s song. You can replay the song by clicking the “play” button. Click here to download the song with English translation and Pinyin in PDF file.
Due to the size of the program, content in the frame below may display blank. Simply refresh the current webpage or press F5 on your keyboard for the refresh function. (Please enable your computer audio and increase the speaker volume. You can hear the song and follow the sound track):
Related posts:
Chinese children’s song: If you’re Happy Clap Your Hands
Chinese children’s story: Kitty Goes Fishing
Chinese children’s song: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Chinese children’s song: Jingle Bells
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