Zodiac
This year is the year of the ______ （用中文说！）
今年是龙年
龙 、龙年
dragon
What are the most common colors seen during New Year? (用中文说！）
红色 Red
金色 Gold (or 黄色 yellow)
What are two common forms of "dance" that are commonly performed as part of New Year celebrations and performances?
狮子舞 Lion Dance
舞龙 Dragon Dance
Why is fish a "must-have" item on many New Year tables on the New Year?
The word 鱼yú is homophonous with the word 余yú "abundance."
What very important part of the New Year was particularly impacted by the pandemic in the past few years?
travel to be with family
Name at least 10 of the zodiac animals. Do not have to be in order. 用中文说！
shǔ ,niú ,hǔ,tù ,lóng ,shé ,mǎ, yáng, hóu , jī, gǒu ,zhū
Should one clean the house in the few days before the New Year, or in the first few days after the New Year? (用中文说！）
以前、过年以前, 春节以前
Before the New Year.
Why is setting off firecrackers a common custom, besides it being fun? (what are the origins of this custom?)
According to the Nian story, loud noises would scare away the human-eating monster.
Why are noodles eaten at New Year (as well as at birthdays)?
Length symbolizing long life. The longer the noodle the better! 长寿面
Who might give you a red envelope? (Give at least three examples.) 用中文说！
parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, family friend who are adults, any older person visiting the family during New Year period
Last year was the year of the ______ 。
Next year is the year of the ___.
（用中文说！）
去年是虎年
虎，老虎
tiger
明年是龙年
龙
dragon
Why do you often see 福 or 春 upside-down on doorways during 春节？
To indicate that luck, fortune is arriving。
Word play on 到dao4 (to arrive) and 倒 dao4(3) (to invert, to place upside down)
Name at least 5 countries that celebrate Lunar New Year.
China, Japan, S Korea, N Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Phillipines, Malaysia, Taiwan
Give at least two examples (not already mentioned!) in which food eaten at New Year may have symbolic meaning.
shape, color, the sound of the word and its homophones
reminders of abundance, prosperity, unity, spring
f.ex. oranges, fish, jiaozi, spring rolls, niangao, tangyuan,
What are two common ways to greet people or convey good wishes (besides 新年快乐）？
恭喜发财
年年有余
万事如意
and plenty of others.
How did the rat end up representing the first year in the zodiac cycle?
The ox helped the rat to cross the lake/river and then the rat jumped from the ox's head right at the the end to cross the line first.
Name at least two common forms of decoration (not already mentioned) used during 春节
paper cuts
lanterns (red and gold esp.)
"door god" pictures
hangings around a door frame （couplets, 对联）
characters such as 福 on a door
and all kinds of other decorations in red, gold, other bright colors, showing the zodiac animal of the year, fish, etc.
Sing (or hum) a few lines of the 恭喜Gōngxǐ song!
[to be judged by teacher!]
What is the main requirement for food during New Year?
Abundant! A lot! (and tasty, of course)
What is different about the zodiac animal line-up in Vietnam compared to China?
There is a cat instead of rabbit.
The date of the Chinese New Year is determined by the lunar calendar. The holiday falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice on December 21. Each year the New Year in China falls on a different date than on the Gregorian calendar. The dates usually range sometime between January 21 and February 20.
What is 春运chūnyùn ?
The annual travel rush that starts 1-2 weeks before New Year, going through about 2 weeks after the New Year.
What is the connection between Lunar New Year and how age was traditionally reckoned in China?
Everyone was considered one year older on the New Year regardless of when in the year they were actually born.
When does the Lantern Festival occur, and what is its relationship to 春节 ？ (and what does one eat at Lantern Festival?!)
15 days after the Lunar New Year, and signals the end of the traditional New Year period . The common traditional food is 汤圆tāngyuán , filled sticky rice balls that are boiled in water
Where is the biggest Chinese New Year parade outside of Asia held?
San Francisco