Chinese New Year
Time：
On the first day of the first month of the lunar calendar（Between January and February each year, the timing of Chinese New Year is not the same because of the lunar calendar).
Region of origin of the festival：
China
Festivals Prevalent Areas：
China, East Asia, Southeast Asia and other Chinese diaspora gathering place.
Legendary Story about Chinese New Year：
A long time ago there was a monster called Nian who attacked the villagers every year during the Spring Festival. The monster was afraid of the colour red, loud noises and bright lights. The villagers used firecrackers, fireworks, spring scrolls and wore red clothes to drive the monster away(Britannica , 2017).
The ambience of Chinese New Year
My experiences of Chinese New Year:
Nowadays Chinese who celebrate Chinese New Year will wear new red clothes on that day of New Year’s Eve and write couplets on red paper and stick them at the door in the hope that their families can have a smooth, peaceful, healthy, happy and gain wealth in the new year. In the evening, the whole family gathers together for New Year’s Eve dinner, after which they go to set off fireworks together. All the activities of Chinese New Year are to wish for a smoother and happier new year.
Representative Colours of Chinese New Year：
Red
Events of Chinese New Year:
- Wear red new cloths
- Pasting Spring Couplets
- Hanging lanterns
- Eating New Year’s Eve dinner
- Set off fireworks
How the story/events link to game decoration part：
- Players need to decorate the overall atmosphere of the community in red and it needs to look festive.
- Players need to collect red paper, make couplets, and decorate them on the doorsteps of every player in the community.
- Players must decorate the community with red lanterns, the location of which is customised by the player.
- Players need to place the fireworks in designated locations to ensure that they can be successfully set off during the celebratory holiday session.
The atmosphere needed after decorating in the game:
Chinese New Year traditional foods（China Highlights.， 2014）:
Fish: The Chinese word for fish is the same as the word ‘Yu’, which means surplus. In Chinese tradition, it is hoped that there will be a surplus in the new year and that life will be better.
Dumplings：It is a traditional food eaten at Chinese New Year in northern China.This is because the shape of a dumpling is similar to the shape of a Yuanbao. Yuanbao is the ancient Chinese word for money. Traditionally, the more dumplings you eat, the more money you can earn in the new year.The most common type of dumpling consists of a pork filling, vegetables and pastry, and is usually served with vinegar.
TangYuan：TangYuan are the most traditional Chinese New Year food in southern China. The Chinese word for TangYuan is similar to the word ‘round’, and the shape of the TangYuan is also round. It signifies that the whole family will be reunited in the new year.
Fruits：For Chinese New Year, the Chinese usually choose fruits that are golden and round in colour, signifying wealth and reunion. For example: tangerines, oranges, pomegranates, etc.
Dishes preparation process：
Steamed fish: Get a Crucian carp ——> Cut spring onion and ginger ——> Put spring onion and ginger on the crucian carp ——> Steam in a pan for 15 minutes ——> Put soy sause on the crucian carp
Dumplings: Mince the red meat ——> Cut the cabbage and spring onions into small pieces ——> Mixe meat and vegetable ——> Put soy sause and oil in mince ——> Mix water and flour to form a dough ——> Divide the dough into small portions ——> Roll out the dough into a circle ——> Place the meat mixture in the middle of a round pie crust, fold the crust in half and wrap the meat mixture around it
TangYuan: Mix glutinous rice flour and water to form a dough ——> Chopped peanuts and black sesame seeds ——> Mix peanuts and black sesame seeds with sugar ——> Divide the dough into small portions ——> Roll out the dough ——> Put the peanut and sesame filling in the middle of the dough, wrap the filling and knead it into a ball
Reference：
Britannica (2017). Chinese New Year | Summary & Facts. In: Encyclopædia Britannica. [online] Available at: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Chinese-New-Year.
China Highlights. (2014). Chinese New Year Food: Top 7 Lucky Foods and Symbolism. [online] Available at: https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/chinese-food/chinese-new-year-food.htm.
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