Chinese Customs and Traditions

A collection of flashcards covering key concepts related to Chinese customs and traditions from the lecture notes.

What do people wear to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year?

People clothe in red.

What is a traditional activity involving a dragon during the Lunar New Year?

The Dragon dance, where young men carry and dance with a dragon made of silk, bamboo, and paper.

What is the significance of hongbao during Chinese New Year?

Hongbao are red envelopes used to give money as a gift, symbolizing good luck.

What do Chinese people often eat during the Winter Solstice?

Dumplings.

What does 'ganbei' mean in Chinese culture?

It means 'cheers' and is said before downing a drink.

What is the purpose of Spring Festival Couplets (Chunlian) during the Chinese New Year?

They express people's delight in the festival and wishes for a better life in the coming year.

How do traditional Spring Festival Couplets differ in writing direction from Western writing?

They are traditionally written in vertical lines from right to left.

For spring couplets, if the characters on the horizontal scroll are written left to right, you…

Upper scroll on left, bottom scroll on right

Frongg spring couplets, if the characters on the horizontal scroll are reversed, you..

two side scrolls are read right to left

When is the Lantern Festival celebrated?

On the 15th day after the Spring Festival.

What does the Lantern Festival symbolize?

It symbolizes reunion, happiness, and the arrival of spring. It marks the end of the Lunar New Year celebrations and is a time for family gatherings.

What is Tangyuan and why is it significant during the Lantern Festival?

Tangyuan is a dumpling ball made of sticky rice flour, symbolizing reunion and harmony.

Who is Tangyuan eaten with?

It is traditionally eaten with family members, signifying unity and togetherness during the Lantern Festival.

What is Qingming Festival also known as?

Tomb Sweeping Day.

What do people generally do during the Qingming Festival?

They offer sacrifices to ancestors and sweep tombs.

What dish is traditionally eaten during Qingming Festival?

Spring roll (春卷).

What significant historical event does Duanwu Festival (Dragon Boat Festival) commemorate?

It commemorates the tragic death of the patriotic poet Qu Yuan (屈原).

During the Lunar May 5th Festival, what is typically eaten?

Zongzi (sticky rice dumplings)

What do people do on the Mid-Autumn Festival?

Families get together to worship the moon and enjoy mooncakes.

What does the Mid-Autumn Festival symbolize?

Harvest and family reunion.

How to give and recieve business cards?

with both hands.

Can you share pears in Chinese customs?

No, sharing pears is considered bad luck in Chinese culture due to the word for pear sounding like the word for parting.

Do you gift clocks?

No, gifting clocks is associated with funerals and represents a reminder of death.

what does the mid-autumn festival symbolize?

Harvest and family reunion

What do mooncakes represent?

Luck and harmony