TheLunarNewYear
TheLunarNewYearisagreatoccasiontotheChinesepeople.Itlastsaboutthefirstfourdaysoftheyear,duringwhichpeopledonotworkexceptfortheworkersonduty.Studentsdonotgotoschool,andshopsareclosed.
Severaldaysbeforethenewyear,peoplebegintoprepare.Farmerskillpigs,sheep,cocksandhens.Citydwellersbuymeatfishandvegetables.Housesarecleaned;coupletsarepostedonthedoors.Colourfullanternsarehungatthegate.
Ontheeveofthenewyear,eachfamilyhasitsmembersgatherdtogetherandeatsafamilyreuniondinner.AfterthemealtheywatchTVuntiltheclockstrickestwelve.Theneveryfamilysetsofflongstringsofsmallfirecrackersandotherfireworkstowelcomethenewyear.Onthefirstdayofthenewyear,almosteveryoneisdressedinhisorherbest.Whenpeoplemeetontheway,theysaytoeachother"HappyNewYear".Friendsandrelativespaynewyearcallsandgivespresentstoeachother.Childrenindulgethemselvesingames.
