While
We Wait
While
we are waiting, we're learning more about the culture and here are some interesting things we found.
China, situated in East Asia, is the world's third largest country by area
and the largest by population. It is one of the most ancient civilizations
in the world with a history of 5000 years. Much of the country is covered
by plateaus, hills, mountains and desert. The plains, China's granaries, only
cover 12% of its land, feeding more than 1/5 of the world's population. China's
incredible population and the Chinese Government's efforts to ensure adequate
food and housing for its booming populace is the main reason behind the One
Child Policy.
CHINESE NEW YEAR – JANUARY 29, 2006 The Chinese New Year is the biggest holiday
celebrated among Chinese people. It is often referred to as the spring festival
because it signals the beginning of spring. It is a time when families and
friends get together to say goodbye to the old and welcome the new. The Chinese
believe that as they enter a new year, they should put behind them all things
of the past. They clean their houses, pay off debts, purchase new clothes,
paint their doors and window panes, and even get new haircuts. These activities
symbolize new life and new beginnings. Homes are decorated with flowers and
paper lanterns stating wishes of prosperity, good luck, happiness, good fortune,
wealth, and longevity for the coming year. The dragon is another popular symbol
for Chinese New Year. It is a symbol of strength, goodness, and good luck,
and supernatural forces. A Chinese New Year celebration would not be complete
without fireworks, which are supposed to scare away all evil spirits and misfortunes,
preventing them from coming into the New Year. Because Chinese New Year follows
the lunar calendar, rather than the solar calendar used in the US, the holiday
never falls on the same day. On a lunar calendar, the New Year begins the
first night of the new moon after the sun enters Aquarius. This date is anywhere
between January 20 and February 19.
THE LANTERN FESTIVAL – FEBRUARY 12, 2006 The Lantern Festival or Yuanxiao Jie is a traditional Chinese festival, which falls on the 15th of the first month of the Chinese New Year. It is the last day of two week long Chinese New Year cerebration. Everyone gathers to enjoy the beautiful lanterns. Children will carry their own lanterns to participate in the showcase. Usually there is competition for the most beautiful lantern. Some of the lanterns may be works of art, painted with birds, animals, flowers, zodiac signs, and scenes from legend and history. People hang glowing lanterns in temples, and carry lanterns to an evening parade under the light of the full moon.
DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL MAY 31, 2006 The Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated in China on the fifth day of the fifth moon or month of the lunar calendar and for this reason is sometimes called Double Five Day. The celebration is held in honor of a former scholar and official, Ch'u Yuan, who lived in the third century B.C. According to legend Ch'u Yuan tried to advise his king wisely but the king did not want to hear what he was saying so he banished Ch'u Yuan to an isolated village, where he lived for seven years writing scholarly books. When, on the fifth day of the fifth month of the seventh year, he heard that his predictions had all come true he drowned himself in the river in an act of despair. Some fishermen who had seen him leap into the river took out their boats and tried to save him while their wives wrapped cooked rice in banana leaves and threw the rice balls into the river hoping that the fish would eat them instead of Ch'u Yuan's body. On this day, the Chinese still eat special rice balls called tsungs, throw some of the rice balls into the river as an offering to the spirit of Ch'u Yuan, and hold dragon boat races to the beat of drums as they re-create the search for the body of Ch'u Yuan.
HUNGRY GHOST FESTIVAL AUGUST 8, 2006 Just as Halloween is for Americans, the ‘Hungry Ghost festival’ is for the Chinese. For those who have never heard of this festival, here are the essential ‘spooky’ facts on this festival. Hungry Ghost festival is a popular occasion that is taken very seriously by the Chinese. It is believed by the Chinese that during this month, the gates of hell are opened to free the hungry ghosts who then wander to seek food on Earth. Some even think that the ghosts would seek revenge on those who had wronged them in their lives. The reason why the Chinese celebrate this festival is to remember their dead family members and pay tribute to them. They also feel that offering food to the deceased appeases them and wards off bad luck. Throughout this month, to keep the angry spirits amused, people stage street operas and other forms of public entertainment. In the past, people did not view the street operas as they were performed only for ghosts. Other rituals are performed to help souls enter into heaven. People burn bundles of joss sticks, paper hell money, food, and other offerings by the roadside. Communities along rivers or near the sea float lanterns in the shape of the lotus or carved from fruit or gourds in the water to guide them away from their homes. They follow the lanterns from the river bank or sea shore till they can no longer be seen. This is done to redeem the soul of those who died by drowning. The most important days of this month are the 14th and 15th, the days of the great feasts. On the 14th, a great feast would be held to honor family ancestors. Prayers and offerings would be made at family altars. On the following night, the 15th, they would feast for the hungry ghosts. Held outside under the full moon, these feasts feed the evil spirits so that they will leave the living alone and bribe(??) the ancestors for luck with money and the harvest.
THE LANTERN FESTIVAL – FEBRUARY 12, 2006 The Lantern Festival or Yuanxiao Jie is a traditional Chinese festival, which falls on the 15th of the first month of the Chinese New Year. It is the last day of two week long Chinese New Year cerebration. Everyone gathers to enjoy the beautiful lanterns. Children will carry their own lanterns to participate in the showcase. Usually there is competition for the most beautiful lantern. Some of the lanterns may be works of art, painted with birds, animals, flowers, zodiac signs, and scenes from legend and history. People hang glowing lanterns in temples, and carry lanterns to an evening parade under the light of the full moon.
DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL MAY 31, 2006 The Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated in China on the fifth day of the fifth moon or month of the lunar calendar and for this reason is sometimes called Double Five Day. The celebration is held in honor of a former scholar and official, Ch'u Yuan, who lived in the third century B.C. According to legend Ch'u Yuan tried to advise his king wisely but the king did not want to hear what he was saying so he banished Ch'u Yuan to an isolated village, where he lived for seven years writing scholarly books. When, on the fifth day of the fifth month of the seventh year, he heard that his predictions had all come true he drowned himself in the river in an act of despair. Some fishermen who had seen him leap into the river took out their boats and tried to save him while their wives wrapped cooked rice in banana leaves and threw the rice balls into the river hoping that the fish would eat them instead of Ch'u Yuan's body. On this day, the Chinese still eat special rice balls called tsungs, throw some of the rice balls into the river as an offering to the spirit of Ch'u Yuan, and hold dragon boat races to the beat of drums as they re-create the search for the body of Ch'u Yuan.
HUNGRY GHOST FESTIVAL AUGUST 8, 2006 Just as Halloween is for Americans, the ‘Hungry Ghost festival’ is for the Chinese. For those who have never heard of this festival, here are the essential ‘spooky’ facts on this festival. Hungry Ghost festival is a popular occasion that is taken very seriously by the Chinese. It is believed by the Chinese that during this month, the gates of hell are opened to free the hungry ghosts who then wander to seek food on Earth. Some even think that the ghosts would seek revenge on those who had wronged them in their lives. The reason why the Chinese celebrate this festival is to remember their dead family members and pay tribute to them. They also feel that offering food to the deceased appeases them and wards off bad luck. Throughout this month, to keep the angry spirits amused, people stage street operas and other forms of public entertainment. In the past, people did not view the street operas as they were performed only for ghosts. Other rituals are performed to help souls enter into heaven. People burn bundles of joss sticks, paper hell money, food, and other offerings by the roadside. Communities along rivers or near the sea float lanterns in the shape of the lotus or carved from fruit or gourds in the water to guide them away from their homes. They follow the lanterns from the river bank or sea shore till they can no longer be seen. This is done to redeem the soul of those who died by drowning. The most important days of this month are the 14th and 15th, the days of the great feasts. On the 14th, a great feast would be held to honor family ancestors. Prayers and offerings would be made at family altars. On the following night, the 15th, they would feast for the hungry ghosts. Held outside under the full moon, these feasts feed the evil spirits so that they will leave the living alone and bribe(??) the ancestors for luck with money and the harvest.