CNY
What animal dance is often performed to bring good fortune?
The Lion Dance
The Chinese zodiac is composed of how many animals?
12
In Chinese mythology, what mythical creature is believed to be scared away by loud noises and the colour red?
Nian (年兽)
Why should you avoid sweeping the floor on the first day of Chinese New Year ?
The act of sweeping on this day is associated with sweeping wealth away. Taking out garbage symbolizes dumping out the good luck or good fortune from the house.
What is the significance of giving mandarin oranges during Lunar New Year?
In Cantonese, the term for giving oranges is "song gam", which translates to "giving gold," symbolizing wealth.
What is the name of the festival that marks the end of the 15-day New Year celebration?
Lantern Festival (元宵节, Yuan Xiao Jie)
It’s celebrated on the 15th day of the first lunar month with lantern displays, tangyuan (glutinous rice balls), and various festivities.
Which animal is often considered to have been left out of the zodiac due to a trick by the Rat?
The Cat.
In Chinese mythology, which day of the new year do people prefer not to visit others and just stay home to avoid getting into fights?
Third Day 大年初三. (赤口 chikou) There is a saying that it is easy for people to get into arguments on the third day of the new year.
Why should you avoid eating porridge on the first day of Chinese New Year ?
It is considered that only poor people have porridge for breakfast, and people don't want to start the year "poor" as this is a bad omen.
In the Yu Sheng platter, each ingredient symbolizes a blessing. I represent 招财进宝 (Zhāo Cái Jìn Bao) — Attract wealth and treasures into your home. Who am I?
Pepper and Spice
What is Lantern Festival (元宵节, Yuan Xiao Jie) also known as?
Shangyuan Festival, 上元节.
Marks the final day of the Lunar New Year and the beginning of spring.
Which country includes the Cat in its zodiac?
Vietnam is the country that includes the cat in its zodiac, replacing the rabbit in the 12-year cycle.
In Chinese mythology, which day of the new year is the day to send away the Ghost of Poverty (穷鬼)?
Sixth Day (大年初六) People will usually throw away their ragged clothes and other dirty things to send him away.
Why should you avoid breaking objects like bowls or plates during CNY?
Breaking symbolizes incompleteness and bad luck. Breaking a bowl, plate, glass, vase, or mirror during the Spring Festival is considered a bringer of bad fortune, monetary loss, or family breakup
Name 3 CNY greetings with 马 (Horse)
一马当先 (taking the initiative and leading the charge) 马到功成 (immediate and seamless success
龙马精神 (vigorous, unyielding energy and an indomitable spirit)
Name 3 foods that is eaten during Lunar New Year to symbolize wealth and prosperity?
Dumplings (饺子): Shaped like ingots
Spring Rolls (春卷): Golden, crispy appearance resembles gold bars
Citrus Fruits (Oranges/Tangerines): Their bright, golden color and round shape are associated with fullness and wealth
Fish: 鱼 (yú)” sounds like “余,” meaning surplus. Eating fish symbolizes having more than enough and carrying wealth into the next year.
In some traditions, the zodiac order influence comes from which astronomical concept?
A. The Big Dipper’s seasonal positions (an asterism consisting of seven bright stars of the constellation Ursa Major)
B. Rotation of Jupiter around the Sun
C. Alignment with the 28 lunar mansions (Chinese constellations system to calculate the time it takes for the Moon to complete one full revolution around the Earth)
D. The movement of the Milky Way
B. Rotation of Jupiter around the Sun
Ancient Chinese astronomers observed that Jupiter takes approximately 11.86 years to complete its orbit around the sun, leading them to divide the sky into 12 sections and create a 12-year cycle.
In Chinese mythology, on New Year’s Eve, an Evil spirit named Sui would pat the heads of sleeping children, causing them to fall ill with fever. What do parents do to ward off the spirit?
Parents would keep children awake (the "Shousui" tradition) and use red envelopes (ya sui qian) to protect them
Why should you avoid using scissors or knives on the first day of Chinese New Year ?
The blades of the scissors are thought to be like sharp lips when people quarrel. Using scissors on the first day of Chinese New Year is perceived as an invocation for quarrels with others in the coming year.
YOU HAVE 12 SECONDS!
How many strokes (笔画) does the word 麒麟 (Qilin) have?
42
Which dynasty is believed to have first recorded celebration of the Lunar New Year?
Han dynasty. The first mentioning of the celebration of the start of a new year was recorded in Han dynasty (202 BC – 220 AD).
Name the chinese zodiac animals in sequence
Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig.
Which Chinese legendary figure is said to patrol the mortal world during CNY to banish evil spirits, protect homes, and bring good fortune?
Zhong Kui (钟馗), the demon‑queller
Why should you avoid washing clothes on the first two days of Chinese New Year?
Because these two days are celebrated as the birthday of the water god and to wash clothes is regarded as disrespect. The ancients believed that water symbolizes wealth. It is believed that pouring away water after washing clothes invokes pouring away of wealth.
I am the descendant (75th Genertation) of the famous chinese philosopher Confucius (孔丘/(孔子). Who am I?
Nichole Khong