Name: edHelper Chinese Fable: Chinese Zodiac
Long ago in China, the Jade Emperor, the almighty Chinese God, decided to have a race. The Jade Emperor was the ruler of the heavens. He announced that he would set up a system that runs in a 12-year cycle. He called it the Zodiac. He offered to hold a contest on his birthday. The first twelve animals of his kingdom to arrive at the finish line would receive the honor of having a year named after them. All the animals were very excited!
Rat was ambitious. It wanted to win the first prize. Yet, it had two problems. The first was about the timing. Because the race would start at the crack of dawn, Rat was afraid that it could not wake up on time. The second was about the route. As the finish line would be directly beyond a swift river, Rat needed to find a way to cross the current. Just when Rat was contemplating a solution, it bumped into its best friend, Cat. After a lengthy discussion, the two animals came up with a brilliant idea. They decided to solicit help from Ox. Rat and Cat figured that Ox - always being an early riser and a good swimmer - could wake them up before sunrise and carry them across the river. With their minds made up, Rat and Cat went to see Ox. Out of kindness, Ox agreed to help. Hence, the three animals formed an alliance. They promised to help each other, so they could share the first prize.
On the day of the race, Ox woke up Rat and Cat and put them on its back. Just when Ox was half way across the river, Rat had a second thought about the plan. It wondered, "Why should I share the glory with Cat? Look at it! It just lies on Ox's back sleeping! What a lazy animal Cat is! Come to think of it, what if Cat decides not to honor the agreement? It runs fast. Surely, it can get to the finish line before I do, once Ox reaches the bank." Eager to win, Rat decided to get rid of Cat. It quietly crept next to Cat and gave it a push. SPLASH! Cat fell into the river. Not knowing how to swim, Cat called out for help. To its horror, Rat pretended not to hear its pleas and urged Ox to keep on moving.
Finally, Ox reached the other side of the river and climbed ashore. As soon as they were on the dry land, Rat jumped from Ox's back and ran ahead toward the finish line. Ox could not believe its eyes! It called out, "Wait for me! I thought we had a pact! And where is Cat?" Rat didn't stop. It kept on charging ahead. Just as it had dreamed, Rat won the contest! The Jade Emperor congratulated Rat and named the first year "Rat." Before long, Ox also reached the finish line and took the second spot. Ox was furious at Rat. It accused Rat of breaking the deal. Rat laughed smugly and said, "How naive you are! Why should I - the smartest of all creatures - share the title with Cat and you? It's your own mistake to trust me!" Ox wanted to argue more, but it was not very good at expressing its opinions. Though upset by Rat's deceitful act, Ox decided to drop the matter.
Then, Tiger arrived and settled for the third prize. The Jade Emperor waited patiently for more animals to come. From a distance, he heard a thumping sound and saw Rabbit leaping toward him. He registered Rabbit as the fourth Zodiac animal. Just as he was recording Rabbit in his book, Dragon descended from the sky and took the fifth place. The Jade Emperor wondered how Rabbit crossed the river and why Dragon came so late. Rabbit answered first. It told the Jade Emperor that, thanks to its powerful hind legs, it was able to jump from one stone to another that were scattered across the riverbed. Dragon apologized to the Jade Emperor for being late. It said that, on the way here, it saw people crying and stopped to ask why. People told Dragon that they wanted to grow rice, but there wasn't enough rain. Feeling compassion, Dragon gathered clouds and made rain for them. The Jade Emperor was happy. He praised Rabbit for its quick wit and Dragon for its unselfishness.
Next to reach the finish line was Snake. It beat Horse by a narrow margin.
The Jade Emperor looked out to the river and saw Monkey, Goat, and Rooster standing on a log and working as a team to maneuver their makeshift raft across the swift current. Once ashore, they helped each other to reach the destination. Goat took eighth place, Monkey ninth, and Rooster took tenth.
After a while, no other animals showed up. Then, suddenly, Dog emerged. It told the Jade Emperor that it could have been here earlier, had it not stopped to play in the water. Name: edHelper Now, just one more spot was left in the Chinese Zodiac. Which animal would come next? Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Chicken, Dog, and the Jade Emperor all fixed their eyes on a black dot that gradually drew closer. Aha! It was Pig. Pig told the Jade Emperor that it overslept. It was happy that it secured the last prize!
The Jade Emperor gathered all twelve winners together and congratulated them. Then, all of a sudden, he heard noises coming from the direction of the river. He turned to look what the commotion was about. It was Cat! Soaking wet and gasping, Cat rushed to the Jade Emperor and called out, "I am here! I am here! Did I win?" The Jade Emperor explained to Cat that it was too late. He only needed twelve animals for the Zodiac, and unfortunately, Cat was the 13th animal to cross the finish line. Enraged, Cat charged toward Rat and wanted to kill the betrayer. Yet, Rat was faster. It sought refuge by hiding under the Jade Emperor's chair. Seeing this and not wanting to anger the Jade Emperor, Cat refrained from its pursuit. It vowed that Rat would now be its archenemy. From that point on even until today, Rat always tries to stay clear of Cat!
Chinese Fable: Chinese Zodiac Questions
1. How many animals does the Chinese Zodiac have? A. twenty B. twelve C. seven D. thirteen 2. Which three animals teamed up to cross the river with a log? A. Rooster, Monkey, and Goat B. Dragon, Tiger, and Rabbit C. Rat, Cat, and Ox D. Pig, Dog, and Horse 3. Why did Dragon come late? A. It stopped on the way to burn a forest. B. It stopped on the way to kidnap a princess. C. It stopped on the way to make rain. D. It stopped on the way to put out a fire. 4. Jade Emperor was disgusted by Rat's cheating act, so he disqualified Rat and gave the first prize to Cat. A. true B. false 5. Rabbit crossed the river by hopping from one stone to another that were scattered across the riverbed. A. false B. true 6. Which of the following animals represents the seventh year of the Chinese Zodiac? A. Rabbit B. Horse C. Pig D. Monkey edHelper Name: 7KHEORFNDERYHLVWKHVXPRIWKHWZREORFNVEHORZ)LOOLQWKHPLVVLQJEORFNV
,VSULPHRUFRPSRVLWH" :KDWLVWKHKRPRSKRQHRIWKLVZRUG" UDS Name: edHelper Chinese New Year
As the clock strikes midnight on the eve of the Chinese New Year, firecracker sounds pound heavily against our eardrums, and fireworks paint the night sky in red, yellow, orange, blue, and green. People crowd the streets and exchange greetings with one another. For the next fifteen days, Chinese people all over the world reunite with their families, carry out rituals to show respect for their ancestors and mythical gods, or simply have a good time!
Each year the Chinese New Year falls sometime in January or February. The reason that the Chinese New Year is never celebrated on the same day every year is because of the calendar that Chinese people use to count days. The Gregorian calendar we commonly use today tracks the movement of the sun. This calendar is different from the Chinese calendar. The Chinese calendar, which is a lunar calendar, tracks the movement of the moon. The Chinese New Year starts with the new moon on the first day of a new year and ends on the full moon fifteen days later.
According to the most popular Chinese myth, the origin of Chinese New Year celebrations was to scare away a man-eating monster called Nian. Nian lived in a high mountain. It came down from its hideout once a year and attacked villagers promptly at midnight on the eve of a new year. Villagers were terrified and didn't know what to do. Finally, a villager discovered that Nian was afraid of the color red, fire, and loud noises. He advised his fellow villagers to wear red, set fires, and make lots of noise to frighten away Nian. As doubtful as his fellow villagers were, they decided to follow his advice. Well, they had nothing to lose, really!
When the time moved slowly past midnight, a new year arrived and, as expected, Nian roared and charged toward the village at full force. Suddenly, the dark landscape lit up - villagers came out of their homes wearing red outfits, carrying torches, and setting off firecrackers or banging on any object with which they could make noise. Nian was startled, and it fled as fast as its feet could carry it. From that point on, Chinese people always celebrate their New Year by wearing red, decorating their houses in red, and lighting firecrackers so Nian doesn't come back again. In fact, the Chinese term "Guo Nian" means not only to welcome the passing of an old year, but also to celebrate the escape from Nian's annual attack.
Chinese New Year Questions
1. When is the Chinese New Year celebrated every year? A. January 1st B. sometime in December or January C. sometime in February or March D. sometime in January or February 2. The Chinese calendar tracks the movement of the sun whereas the Gregorian calendar tracks the movement of the moon. A. true B. false 3. The Chinese calendar is what type of calendar? A. lunar calendar B. Gregorian calendar C. Julian calendar D. solar calendar Name: edHelper 4. According to legend, what was the original purpose of Chinese New Year celebrations? A. to have a fixed family reunion time B. to show their respect for their ancestors and mythical gods C. to scare away a monster called Nian D. to celebrate a good harvest 5. Which color did Nian dislike? A. pink B. yellow C. red D. orange 6. Which of the following was Nian NOT afraid of? A. noises B. red colors C. cats D. fire 7. Nian came down from a high mountain once a year and attacked the village on the fifteenth day of a new year. A. true B. false 8. For how many days do Chinese people celebrate their New Year? A. 5 B. 1 C. 10 D. 15 9. What is the meaning of the Chinese term "Guo Nian"? A. Celebrate a new year free of Nian's annual attack. B. Good luck! C. Good-bye. D. How are you?
[ +RZPDQ\WHQVDUHLQWKH :KDWLVWKHVXPRIDQG QXPEHU " "
:ULWHWKHQXPEHUWKDWLV 5RVDKDVQLFNHOV+RZ +RZPDQ\WHQVDUHLQWKH RQHKXQGUHGOHVVWKDQ PXFKPRQH\LVWKDW" QXPEHU " edHelper Name:
[ [ [ [
[ [ [ [
[ [ [ [
7KHYRZHOVDUHPLVVLQJLQWKHZRUGVHDUFK 'RSDUDOOHOOLQHVLQWHUVHFW" )LOOLQWKHPLVVLQJYRZHOVDQGFLUFOHWKHZRUGV 5 1 - < 7 : * $P\PDGHVRPHIXGJH 5 * 3 / & / IRUKHUFODVV6KHJDYH 6 * 1 : 5 6 HYHU\RQHLQKHUFODVVWZR SLHFHVRIIXGJH7KHUH 7 5 & & * : ' & ZHUHILYHSLHFHVRIIXGJH OHIWRYHU7KHUHDUH 0 5 3 ( 5 6 QLQHWHHQVWXGHQWVLQKHU FODVV+RZPDQ\SLHFHVRI % 0 6 ( ' . / IXGJHGLG$P\PDNH" / * 1 / 7 . : * 0 9 5 ' ( 5 1 & & 6 5 1 % & 7 0 ' 0 0 *(6785( :((.(1' 72:$5' 3(1 7((0 (1-2< $*$,1 &28/' :25' 5(029( 75$*,& &$/0 5(6(0%/(
:ULWHWKHQXPEHULQZRUGV
WZRWKRXVDQGQLQHKXQGUHGIRUW\RQH
Name: edHelper The Eve of Good Fortune By Jody Williams
Chinese New Year celebrates change. It celebrates getting rid of the old and welcoming the new. It is usually celebrated in January or February. Everything during Chinese New Year celebrations centers on good fortune for the new year. Celebrating usually begins the day before. Homes are prepared. The house is cleaned to get rid of things from the old year. Brooms and brushes are put away. Debts are paid. Differences with family and friends are worked out. Close family members gather in a home to have a reunion dinner. The dinner is planned carefully. Each food selection represents long life, good fortune, and success for the new year. For example, long noodles are served. These noodles represent long life ahead. The celebration continues throughout the night. At midnight all doors and windows in the home are opened. This lets the "old" leave as the "new" enters. Happy New Year!
The Eve of Good Fortune Questions
1. This text is mainly about ______. A. the food served for Chinese New Year B. how to clean the house for company C. the celebration of Chinese New Year's Eve D. none of the above 2. What does it mean to get rid of the old and welcome the new?
3. Chinese New Year is usually celebrated in ______or ______.
4. What is done to prepare the home for the "reunion dinner" on the eve of the Chinese New Year? A. The house is cleaned. B. Brooms and brushes are put away. C. Dinner is prepared. D. all of the above Name: edHelper 5. Long noodles are served for the "reunion dinner" because they represent long life. What food would you serve and why?
6. What happens at midnight on the eve of Chinese New Year? A. Everyone goes to sleep. B. All doors and windows are opened in the house. C. Everyone sings. D. The ball drops in Times Square in New York City.
5RXQGWKHQXPEHUWRWKH &DQ\RXWKLQNRIDILYHOHWWHUZRUG SODFHYDOXHRIWKH%,*QXPEHU WKDWKDVWKHYRZHO,LQLW"
:KDWLVWKHYDOXH 11 12 1 11 12 1 RIWKH%,*GLJLW" 10 2 10 2 9 3 9 3 8 4 8 4 7 6 5 7 6 5
current time 20 minutes later ,I\RXDGG WRPHWKHVXPLV :ULWHWKHOHQJWKLQLQFKHV :KDWQXPEHUDP,"
LQ
/LVWWKHILUVWIRXUPXOWLSOHVRI ,I4 WKHQZKDWGRHV4 HTXDO"
,QVHUWDFRPPDLQWKHDSSURSULDWH SODFHLQWKLVVHQWHQFH /HDKZDVVLFN\HVWHUGD\EXWVKH V ILQHWRGD\ edHelper Name: (ULF VIDWKHURQFHZRQ 7KHVWXGHQWVLQWKLUG 5RVDKLNHGPLOHVRQ DQHOHFWLRQKHGLGQ W JUDGHGUDQNSLQWV 0RQGD\(DFKGD\ HYHQHQWHU:KHQWKH RIPLON7KHVWXGHQWVLQ DIWHUWKDWVKHKLNHG VWXGHQWVYRWHGIRU VHFRQGJUDGHGUDQN PLOHVPRUHWKDQWKH FODVVSUHVLGHQWRI SLQWVRIPLON+RZPDQ\ GD\EHIRUH+RZPDQ\ WKHPGHFLGHGWRYRWH SLQWVRIPLONGLGWKH\ PLOHVZLOOVKHKLNHRQ IRU(ULF VIDWKHU+RZ GULQNLQDOO" )ULGD\" PDQ\SHRSOHGLGQ W YRWHIRU(ULF VIDWKHU"
$P\ERXJKWDSDFNRIVL[ 5RXQGWRWKHQHDUHVW ZDWHUV,WFRVW +RZ WHQ PXFKGLGHDFKZDWHUFRVW"
-DFNPDGHTXDUWVRI 0HJDQVWDFNHGIRXURI (ULQPDGHSRXQGV IUHVKVWUDZEHUU\LFH KHUEURWKHU VEORFNVRQ RISUHW]HOV6KHSXW FUHDP+HHYHQ WRSRIHDFKRWKHU+RZ WKHPLQEDJV(DFKEDJ FKXUQHGLWE\KDQG PDQ\VLGHVRIWKH ZHLJKHGRXQFHV +RZPDQ\FXSVRILFH EORFNVFRXOGVKHVHH +RZPDQ\EDJVRI FUHDPGLGKHPDNH" ZLWKRXWPRYLQJDQ\RI SUHW]HOVFRXOGVKH WKHP" PDNH"
Answer the following questions BEFORE you read this book. Write what you know. If you want to guess, you can. You will NOT be marked wrong! :KHQLV&KLQHVH1HZ +RZORQJLVWKHFHOHEUDWLRQRI&KLQHVH The Chinese New Year is a special holiday to the 1HZ 1 2 A Festival for Family: Chinese New Year Red means good luck. It is said to keep away evil spirits. Windows and doors are decorated with red Chinese New Year is a festival for family. Before paper. Poems written on red paper are placed on New Year's Eve, many preparations are made. walls. People wear red clothes. Gifts of money are Houses must be well cleaned. Per tradition, families given in red paper envelopes. These are usually must "sweep out" all the bad luck from the old year given by married couples to single people, both to make way for good luck to come in the new year. young and old. Younger children get less money All Chinese children, no matter how old they are, than older children and adults. The amount of will do their best to go back home for the holiday. money given is usually an even number. They may travel far to get there. On Chinese New (Odd-numbered money gifts are given at funerals.) Year's Eve, families gather for a reunion dinner. Money should not be given in amounts of 4, 40, or There is a big family feast. Photo credit: Alpha 400. These are bad luck. That is because the word "four" sounds the same as the word "death." 3 4 A Festival for Family: Chinese New Year Name A Festival for Family: Chinese New Year Answer the following questions AFTER you have completed this book. &KLQHVH1HZ For the Lantern Festival on the last day, beautiful lanterns are hung everywhere! Many of them are traditional red 7KH&KLQHVH1HZ 5 6 A Festival for Family: Chinese New Year *LYLQJJLIWVRIPRQH\LQUHGHQYHORSHVLV RQHWUDGLWLRQWKDWLVIROORZHGGXULQJ &KLQHVH1HZ A Festival for Family: Chinese New Year 7 Name Celebrate Chinese New Year! Answer the following questions BEFORE you read this book. Write what you know. If you want to guess, you can. You will NOT be marked wrong! :KHQLV&KLQHVH1HZ +RZORQJLVWKHFHOHEUDWLRQRI&KLQHVH 1HZ +RZDUH&KLQHVH1HZ 1 2 Celebrate Chinese New Year! Chinese New Year is filled with rituals. Before New Year's Eve, many preparations are done. Houses must be well cleaned. According to tradition, families have to "sweep out" all the bad luck from the old year to make way for good luck to come in the new year. Chinese New Year is more than just a one-day holiday. It is also called the Spring Festival. It begins the night before New Year's Day (New Year's Eve) with the new moon and lasts until the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first Chinese lunar month. The Lantern Festival is held on the first full moon night in the Chinese calendar. It marks the return of spring. Chinese New Year celebrates change. It celebrates getting rid of the old and welcoming the new. Knives and scissors are put away. It is bad luck to use anything sharp on the first day of the Chinese New Year. Using sharp objects symbolizes cutting off wealth or luck. 3 4 Celebrate Chinese New Year! Chinese New Year is a time for family. All Chinese Debts should be paid so that the new year can be more prosperous. children, no matter how old they are, will do their best to go back home for the holiday. They may travel far to get there. On Chinese New Year's Eve, families gather for a reunion dinner. There is a big family feast. A whole fish is served. Families make sure that some fish is leftover to be eaten the following day. "Fish" and "extra" sound the same in Chinese, so having fish left over from the previous year symbolizes "having extra" in the new year. Grudges and disagreements should be settled or forgotten. 5 6 Celebrate Chinese New Year! For the fifteen days of the Chinese New Year festivities, Windows and doors are decorated with paper decorations. people are very careful not to do anything disrespectful. They say things like "good fortune," "happiness," "wealth," They believe that their ancestors and mythical gods will and "longevity." Red is the main color. Red symbolizes reward their good behavior. They wish for fortune and good good luck and is supposed to ward off evil spirits. People luck in the coming year. Bowing is one way to show respect. wear red clothes and decorate their homes with red objects. 7 8 Celebrate Chinese New Year! Another custom is giving money in red paper envelopes. Red envelopes are usually given by married couples to single people, young and old. The amount inside each On the first day of the Chinese New Year, people do not do envelope is different depending on each family's income. any house cleaning. They do not throw away any garbage. Younger children receive less money than older children and Cleaning might cause fortune and good luck to be swept adults. The amount of money in the envelopes is usually an away. People are also extra careful not to break anything. even number. (Odd-numbered money gifts are given at Breaking things into pieces is considered bad luck. funerals.) Money should not be given in amounts with the digit four. Amounts of 4, 40, or 400 are bad luck because the word "four" sounds the same as the word "death." 9 10 Celebrate Chinese New Year! China is a very large country. Different customs are found in different parts of China. Each day of the Chinese New Year Some symbolic foods eaten during the holiday are noodles, festival has its own customs. For the Lantern Festival on the whole chickens, and oranges. Noodles bring longevity, or last day, beautiful lanterns are hung in shopping malls, on long life. Whole chickens bring prosperity and family city streets, in city parks, and at homes. There are traditional togetherness. Oranges bring good fortune. red globe lanterns, but lanterns may also look like fish, goats, or dragons. 11 12 Celebrate Chinese New Year! People get together to enjoy the beautiful lanterns and to The festivities include favorite foods and last into the night celebrate with different activities. There are parades. Puzzles when the first full moon of the New Year shines down on are written on lanterns, and people have fun solving them. the revelers. The glow of hundreds or even thousands of Lions dance in the streets. People in a huge lion costume lanterns light up the night. Children may carry lanterns dance to the music of gongs and beating drums. It is through the streets. Lanterns may float in water. Sometimes believed that the lion brings good luck. lanterns are floated up into the sky. 13 14 Celebrate Chinese New Year! Name Celebrate Chinese New Year! Answer the following questions AFTER you have completed this book. &KLQHVH1HZ 7KH&KLQHVH1HZ &KLQHVH1HZ The evening ends with fireworks! Happy Chinese New Year! 7KHFRORU LVRIWHQXVHGGXULQJWKH&KLQHVH1HZ LQWKH&KLQHVHFXOWXUH 15 16 Celebrate Chinese New Year! *LYHHYLGHQFHIURPWKHWH[WWRH[SODLQ ZK\QLQHWHHQGROODUVZRXOGSUREDEO\QRW EHJLYHQLQDUHGHQYHORSH *LYLQJUHGHQYHORSHVLVRQHWUDGLWLRQWKDW LVIROORZHGGXULQJ&KLQHVH1HZ Celebrate Chinese New Year! 17 18 Celebrate Chinese New Year! Celebrate Chinese New Year! 19