Shanghai American School Fireworks Publishing & Co.
Holidays All Around The World By: Natasha Lim
Holidays All Around The World By: Natasha Lim
Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, North America, England
I dedicate this book to all my family, friends and teachers all over the world.
Table of Contents Chinese New Year Chinese New Year Past-pg.1 Chinese New Year Present-pg.2
Thanksgiving Thanksgiving Past-pg.5 Thanksgiving Present-pg.6
Chinese New Year Legends Xi Legend-pg.3 Zodiac Legend-pg.4
Hanukkah Hanukkah Past-pg.7 Hanukkah Present-pg.8
Chinese New Year Chinese New Year has a long history that is a bit odd, but the holiday is also very fun. Chinese New year begins in the middle of December, and ends in the middle of January. Chinese New Year was traditionally divided into two parts, the first day, and the rest of the 15 day holiday. Chinese new year was the most important celebration to the Chinese. During Chinese new year, many businesses came to a stop, because home and family was the main focus during this Chinese holiday. Nowadays, businesses are very busy during Chinese New Year. Many people prepared for Chinese New Year by cleaning their homes, so that there would be no inauspicious breaths from the New Year. They also did this to appease the “gods” inspections. There were scrolls with good lucky messages on gates, and food sacrifices with paper icons for the “gods”. Firecrackers were used to shoo evil spirits. Adults gave money to children in a red packet, and rituals were for good luck, especially to the parents. But the most important thing was feasting. During Chinese New Year’s eve, the whole family was around the dining table. The meal included fish, which was usually the last meal, because fish symbolizes abundance. For five days the Chinese would eat long noodles to symbolize long life. And on the 15th day of the long holiday, the Chinese would eat dumplings shaped like the moon. That symbolizes perfection throughout the family. In many ways was Chinese New Year a bit odd, but also in many ways was it very enjoyable.
Chinese New Year was first celebrated in China.
Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year is a major holiday in China, and it is also very fun. The beginning day is not always the same, but it is very long; fifteen days long to be exact. Chinese New year is a very noisy holiday, too. There are firecrackers on Chinese New Year eve, and there are fireworks to end the old year, and start the new year. Chinese New Year is a time to feast and to visit family members. A tradition is to honor your dead relatives. The last event of Chinese New Year is usually the Lantern Festival. During the Lantern Festival, you can carry lanterns in a night parade, or you can hang them in temples. A very fun event is the dragon dance. It usually is performed in the streets, by the dragon dancers. Because of so many fun things on this major holiday, it makes this holiday very interesting.
Firecrackers are used to scare evil spirits.
Chinese New Year Legends
There are many legends that are about Chinese New Year. Once upon a time, there was a monster named Nian. He came once a year to a little village to scare the villagers. One day, the people of the village found Nian’s fears. They found out that he was afraid of red, and that he was also afraid of loud noises. After they found his fears, they prepared for the monster’s arrival. When Nian arrived, the village people ran to get their noise makers and red banners. They waved the red banners, and shook the noise makers. Nian was so afraid that he ran away, and never came back. That is why on Chinese New Year there is a lot of red, and why there is also a lot of noise on Chinese New Year.
Red banners and noise makers were used to scare Nian away.
Chinese New Year Legends
Once upon a time, the jade emperor wanted a way to measure time. One day he told the animals that he would hold a swimming race. The first twelve animals to cross the fast river would be the winners, and they would have a zodiac year named after them. So on that day, all the animals lined amongst the river bank, waiting for the big race to start. While they were waiting, the rat and cat were good friends, and they were worried because they were not good swimmers. Since the two were very clever, they asked the strong ox to carry them across the river. The ox approved of this proposal, and the friends scrambled onto the ox’s back. The race started, and the rat and cat were very happy because the ox was in the lead. But once they were close to the other side, the rat pushed the cat into the river, leaving the cat to struggle in the river. Then the rat jumped, and landed on the other side of the bank. The rat had won, and was first place, with the ox in second place. The tiger came in third place, the rabbit came in fourth place, the dragon came in fifth place, the snake came sixth, the horse in seventh, goat in eighth place, monkey in ninth, rooster in tenth, dog in eleventh place, and finally the boar in twelfth place. When the cat came out, it was too late to have a year in the zodiac named after him, so cats have been enemies with rats ever since. And till this day, the zodiac still follows this 12 animal cycle.Â
The Zodiac consists of 12 animals, the rat is first, and the pig is last.
Thanksgiving Two  main  foods  that  the  Pilgrims  ate  during  their  Thanksgiving  were  Squash  and  Indian  corn.
Thanksgiving  was  originally  an  old  harvest  festival  that  is  very  old  and  widespread.  Thanksgiving  was  first  hosted  by  the  Pilgrims  of  Plymouth  who  came  on  the  Mayflower  in  1600.  The  winter  was  very  harsh,  only  half  of  the  people  survived.  But  thankfully,  the  harvest  was  very  good.  The  people  planted  Indian  corn,  barley,  and  hunted  for  meat.  on  the  day  of  the  first  thanksgiving,  four  men  hunted  for  waterfowl  and  wild  turkeys.  Cod  and  Bass  was  brought  to  the  feast,  as  well  as  five  deers  the  Indians  brought.  Ninety  Indians  came  to  feast  with  the  Pilgrims,  and  the  feasting  lasted  for  three  days.  The  originally  old  harvest  festival  is  now  very  popular  around  the  world.
Thanksgiving  is  now  a  day  set  aside  to  give  thanks  and  give  blessings  for  the  people  in  their  family,  and  the  things  that  they  have.  Many  people  celebrate  Thanksgiving  in  many  different  ways,  such  as  gathering  in  a  place,  feasting,  and  praying.  Thanksgiving  calls  for  good  memories  of  family  and  friends.  Other  people  volunteer  to  help  people,  and  hold  food  drives.  Some  people  have  free  dinners  for  the  less  fortunate.  Now  during  thanksgiving,  people  give  thanks  to  the  people  close  to  them.
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is now a day set aside to give thanks and give blessings for the people in their family, and the things that they have. Many people celebrate Thanksgiving in many different ways, such as gathering in a place, feasting, and praying. Thanksgiving calls for good memories of family and friends. Other people volunteer to help people, and hold food drives. Some people have free dinners for the less fortunate. Now during thanksgiving, people give thanks to the people close to them.
Every  thanksgiving,  the  president  pardons  a   turkey,  meaning  that  he  lets  the  turkey  free  of  being  eaten  forever.
Hanukkah Hanukkah is a interesting Jewish holiday that lasts for eight nights, which is usually
celebrated in December. Hanukkah is also called “The Festival Of Light�. Hanukah
celebrates a military victory over foreign rulers. The neighboring kingdom, Seleucid controlled the Jews over in 190 BC. The Seleucid ruler,
Antiocus told the Jews to stop their religious practices, and ruined their temple. The Jews
were very angry, and they revolted against the Seleucids. They defeated the Seleucids, and they cleaned, rebuilt, and rededicated the temple in 164 BC.*
The Jewish holiday, although very long, is very interesting too.
--------------------------------------------* The BC went backwards, so 190 BC would come before 164 BC.
The Jewish temple would have looked like this
during the Seleucid reign
Hanukkah
Game Time!
You Will Need: -Some type of chip* -A pot, or something to mark the center -A dreidel Each dreidel has four sides. Each side has a hebrew letter which has a certain meaning in the game. The four letters are Nun, Gimel, Hey, and Shin. Each
To celebrate Hanukkah, people light candles on a menorah, a candleholder with eight candles. People continue lighting the other eight candles on the next seven days. There is also a gift exchange, where people trade gifts. Children also play Hanukkah games such as the dreidel. People hold plays, and sing holiday songs. People also go to parties, because all schools are closed. On famous buildings are menorahs. But the highlight of Hanukkah is the relay race, from Modi’in to Jerusalem. The runners carry lighted torches. They continue the race to the Western Wall, the last remain of the temple. The torchbearer gives the torch to the rabbi, to light the first candle on the menorah.
letter means a different thing. Every plaver starts with ten chips. The chips can be hard candy, nuts, pennies, or chocolate coins*. In the beginning of each round, each player puts one chip in the pot. Nun means take nothing from inside the pot/center. Gimel means take everything from the pot/center. Hey means take half the number of chips in the pot/ center. If there is an uneven number of chips in the pot/center, take half the number of chips in the pot and one extra. Shim means put one chop in the middle. You win the game by getting all the chips.
Glossary •Inauspicious- Unlucky •Abundance- Large amount •Tradition- Custom or belief •Proposal- Idea •Barley- A rough type of grain •Waterfowl- Aquatic birds •Jews- People who believe in Judaism •Revolted- Protest
Citation Page http://sarahssilks.com/blog/sarah/02-14-2013/chinese-newyear-animal-zodiac-story http://www.history.com/topics/chinese-new-yeartraditions-and-symbols http://school.ebonline.com http://www.worldbookonline.com http://www.dreidel.com/rules.php
Did you know that there was a monster at Chinese New Year? And did you know about a cup of oil lighting a candle for eight nights? Find out so much more about Chinese New Year, Thanksgiving and Hanukkah through this fun and creative book.
About The Author
Natasha was born in Singapore, but comes from Australia and Malaysia too. She was in Singapore for three years, then moved to Mongolia for five years. Then she moved to Guangzhou, China, and stayed there for two years. She is currently is living in Shanghai, China, and studies at Shanghai American School. She has a little brother and a little sister who are also studying at Shanghai American School.
A Shanghai American School Publishing