What is Chinese NewYear?

In many parts ofAsia,nations follow the lunar calendar rather than the Gregorian calendar usedby the rest of the world.______(46)Many nations including Vietnam and

Korea celebrate the lunar New Year with festivalsand special foods.The Chinese,however,have turned the celebration into an artform:a 15 day festival called the Spring

Festival in China,althoughit is known to the rest of the world as Chinese New Year.

______(47)which isconsidered to be a particularly auspicious day.Children are given hongbao,lucky red envelopes full of money,and households exchange visits and gifts.

Most celebrants atChinese New Year wear red,which is a lucky color,and also refrain fromreflecting on the past year and uttering unlucky words,as it is believed thatthe

first day of the newyear will determine your fortune in the months to come.

Chinese New Yearcontinues with 15 days of celebration and auspicious days,including a day towelcome the god of wealth,a day to celebrate farming and produce,and days

to celebrate friendsand family. Friendships and family relationships are a very important part ofChinese New Year,______(48)Numerous lucky foods are served throughout

the Chinese New Yearfestival,and after all that rich dining,the 13th day of the festival is setaside for eating rice and bitter greens to cleanse the palate. on the 15thday,the

Chinese New Yearcelebration culminates with the Lantern Festival, which is traditionally heldat night. During the Lantern Festival,hundreds of citizens flood the streetwith

lanternsrepresenting wealth,animals,historical figures,plants,and a variety of otherthings.______(49)The Lantern Festival ends with a burst of fireworks tocelebrate the

upcoming year whilecelebrants eat special round dumplings to celebrate unity.

In Vietnam,the newyear festival is known as Tet Nguyen Dan,and is celebrated for seven days. Muchlike Chinese New Year,Tet is believed to be an especially auspicious

period in Vietnamwhich will establish the fortunes of celebrants for the comingyear.______(50)In Korea, the one day festival is known as Sol-nal,and is a timeto reflect on

ancestors andfamily.______(48)

A.and a great dealof food and dinner invitations are exchanged as part of this tradition.

B. The lanterns areparaded through towns and cities throughout China,Taiwan,andparts of the world with large Chinese communities.

C. As a result,theyear starts on a different day,usually in January or February by the Gregoriancalendar.

D. Chinese New Yearis the most important festival in Chinese culture.

E. Chinese New Yearbegins on the first day of the first moon of the year.