WRITING AN INFORMAL LETER

The picture below shows what you and your family members celebrating Chinese New Year. Based
on the picture given, write about the celebration to your pen pal.

Chinese New Year

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Dear _____________,

Hi, how are you and your family? _________________________________________.

In this letter I would like to write about __________________________________________
as you wanted to know more about it.
Chinese all over the world celebrate __________________________in
___________________ when the Lunar Year usually begins. This year the celebration falls
on _______________. In Malaysia, the Chinese celebrate the event with a festive spirit as it
is the most important festival to them and every Chinese home is made ready for the great
event.

The preparations begin ________________ as there are many things to be done

before the great day arrives. My mum gets busy ______________________ our house. Bright
lanterns and colourful decoration lights brighten our house. We also put up new curtains.
Besides, we place mandarin oranges plan in the garden. On the New Year day, we must wear
new clothes, therefore we prepare our traditional attire call Cheongsam and samfu. The
New Year is incomplete without traditional delicacies such as Nien Kau a glutinous rice
cake and kuih kapit.

On the New Year eve, our family members and close relatives will gather for a
________________. It is a chance for family members to meet and greet while strenghtening
the family bonding. Here we enjoy a variety of dishes specially cooked with love. After the
hearty meal, the children will light up the New Year mood by playing firecrackes. The loud
cracking of firecrackers and colourful fireworks sparks the beginning of the New Year.

To me, the New Year is the most awaited day. I always enjoy and celebrate the day in
a positive note. After wearing my new clothes, we do prayers together and get blessings from
elderly people. We say Kung Hai Fat Choi to our relatives or wish them have a good year.
In return, we receive Hongbao is a red packet containing money. Then we go and visit
friends and relatives. We organise open house to celebrate the auspicious day the others. Only
on this day, we get to see the lion dance performance at my house as this is believed to bring
in good fortune to the family.

There are some taboo that you should avoid doing on the New Year day such as we
are not allowed to sweep or clean the house, to wash our hair and prohibited from using foul
language as this will drain away the good luck of the year. This is only the start of the
Chinese New Year celebrations which stretch on for a period of fifteen days. On the fifteenth
day which is known as Chap Goh Mei, another grand dinner is held to mark the end of the
festival. I always enjoy myself greatly during the Chinese New Year.

Thats the whole explanation of how my family n I celebrate the Chinese New Year.
Hopefully, next year you can join us to celebrate this auspicious day. Please send my regards
to your family. Take care and will write to you more after the celebration. Bye.

Your friend,
Chong Fatt