INSTITUT PERGURUAN TEMENGGONG IBRAHIM

ENGLISH LANGUAGE

ESSAY: CHINESE NEW YEAR

NAME

MAH MEI KUAN

I/C NO.

900907-03-5310

OPTION

PEMULIHAN (BC)/ MT/ BI

SESSION

2/2009

LECTURER

PN.NOREIDA BT HJ. MOHD YUNAN

SUBMISSION DATE :

10TH FEBRUARY 2009

Title: Chinese New Year

Gong xi gong xi gong xi Chinese New Years song played again and
again. This means that Chinese New Year is approaching. Chinese New Year is one
of the cultural festivals for Chinese. It is an importance day for Chinese because this
day is the first day in Chinese lunar calendar. It is mean renewal and refresher. The
duration of Chinese New Year celebration is 15 days.
During the Chinese New Year, Chinese have a habit which they will exchange
oranges among visitors. This means they greet and pray for each other. Besides
that, children will get angpau from their relatives and parents. The married adult will
also give angpau to children or unmarried adult. Some of the Chinese will invite lion
dance performance to their house. They believe lion dance will give happiness,
cheerfulness and richness to them. This lion dance is a traditional performance
which is well liked by everyone especially the children. The children will jump and
shout with joy whenever see the lion dance performance. There is a legend about
the lion dance. A long time ago, there was a monster in the Chinese village. It would
appeared when Chinese New Year. All the villagers were not daring to come out from
their house. They would only hide in the house to escape from the monsters attack.
One of the villagers suggested having lion dance and firecrackers to shoo away the
monster. Finally, they succeeded. Everyone exploded with joy and felt a wave of
relief. Therefore, the Chinese believe that lion dance can bring happiness,
cheerfulness and prosperity to them throughout the year.
Preparation will carry out before New Year to delight the atmosphere. They
will have a spring cleaning to sweep away the dirty. Chinese believe that spring
cleaning will bring good luck to them. They will also do some decoration. They
usually use red and yellow colour to decorate their house. This is because red and
yellow mean prosperity to Chinese. Pineapples, lanterns, spring festival couplets,
plum blossom are the decoration usually used by the Chinese. These make their
house more attractive and decorative.
Reunion dinner is another importance celebration for Chinese. Every family
member will gather in one house when New Year eve and have their dinner together.
Several meals is prepared include the traditional meals. It is a meaningful day which

also is a big gathering for a family. After the dinner, the entire family members will
gather and talk to each other.
Other than that, there are several taboos during Chinese New Year. Chinese
will not sweeping of floor on the first day of the Chinese New Year. Sweeping the
floor during Chinese New Year may sweep away the fortune of the family. Some of
them hide the brooms to avoid the sweeping of the floor. Besides that, Chinese are
not encouraged to wear black during Chinese New Year. The superstitious believe
that black colour will carry bad luck. Therefore, Chinese will wear read or colourful
clothes instead of black.
My heart will smile whenever think about the Chinese New Year. The
celebration of Chinese New Year is lack of the atmosphere since the authorities
banded the burn of firecracker. Although like this, Chinese New Year still is the day I
like the most. I do not forget to make a wish for the New Year. I hope that this year
will better than last year, my family stay healthy and the world peace no war.

(575 words)