1.springfestival

　　TheSpringFestivalisthemostimportantfestivalfortheChinesepeopleandiswhenallfamilymembersgettogether,justlikeChristmasintheWest.Allpeoplelivingawayfromhomegoback,becomingthebusiesttimefortransportationsystemsofabouthalfamonthfromtheSpringFestival.Airports,railwaystationsandlong-distancebusstationsarecrowdedwithhomereturnees.

　　TheSpringFestivalfallsonthe1stdayofthe1stlunarmonth,oftenonemonthlaterthantheGregoriancalendar.ItoriginatedintheShangDynasty(c.1600BC-c.1100BC)fromthepeople'ssacrificetogodsandancestorsattheendofanoldyearandthebeginningofanewone.

　　Strictlyspeaking,theSpringFestivalstartseveryyearintheearlydaysofthe12thlunarmonthandwilllasttillthemid1stlunarmonthofthenextyear.Ofthem,themostimportantdaysareSpringFestivalEveandthefirstthreedays.TheChinesegovernmentnowstipulatespeoplehavesevendaysofffortheChineseLunarNewYear.

　　TheChinesecharacter"fu"(meaningblessingorhappiness)isamust.Thecharacterputonpapercanbepastednormallyorupsidedown,forinChinesethe"reversedfu"ishomophonicwith"fucomes",bothbeingpronouncedas"fudaole."What'smore,twobigredlanternscanberaisedonbothsidesofthefrontdoor.Redpaper-cuttingscanbeseenonwindowglassandbrightlycoloredNewYearpaintingswithauspiciousmeaningsmaybeputonthewall.

　　PeopleattachgreatimportancetoSpringFestivalEve.Atthattime,allfamilymemberseatdinnertogether.Themealismoreluxuriousthanusual.Dishessuchaschicken,fishandbeancurdcannotbeexcluded,forinChinese,theirpronunciations,respectively"ji","yu"and"doufu,"meanauspiciousness,abundanceandrichness.Afterthedinner,thewholefamilywillsittogether,chattingandwatchingTV.Inrecentyears,theSpringFestivalpartybroadcastonChinaCentralTelevisionStation(CCTV)isessentialentertainmentfortheChinesebothathomeandabroad.Accordingtocustom,eachfamilywillstayuptoseetheNewYearin.

　　WakinguponNewYear,everybodydressesup.Firsttheyextendgreetingstotheirparents.TheneachchildwillgetmoneyasaNewYeargift,wrappedupinredpaper.PeopleinnorthernChinawilleatjiaozi,ordumplings,forbreakfast,astheythink"jiaozi"insoundmeans"biddingfarewelltotheoldandusheringinthenew".Also,theshapeofthedumplingislikegoldingotfromancientChina.Sopeopleeatthemandwishformoneyandtreasure.

　　SouthernChineseeatniangao(NewYearcakemadeofglutinousriceflour)onthisoccasion,becauseasahomophone,niangaomeans"higherandhigher,oneyearafteranother."ThefirstfivedaysaftertheSpringFestivalareagoodtimeforrelatives,friends,andclassmatesaswellascolleaguestoexchangegreetings,giftsandchatleisurely.

　　2.myfriend

　　Ihavemanygoodfriends,Lilyisoneofthebest.Weplaytogethersincewetwowereveryyoung.Sheissuchaprettygirlthatwhenpeoplemeether,theyalwayspatherlittleheadandsay,"Oh,howlovely!"Lilyisalsoverybrave.Irememberoneeveningtwoweeksago,momsentmetobuysomesaltandsugardownstair.WhenIwasbackonthedarksomestairway,Isuddenlysawablackshadowbehindme,wasthataghost?IwassofrightenedthatIcried"God!"Atthatverymoment,Lilycome,sherushattheshadowandshoutedtoitloudlytillitdisappeared,thenweranhom