CULTURE SHOCK - Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

“Expect the Unexpected, and then enjoy it”. Those “unexpected” experiences,actually, are part of the purpose to travel to China! As a result of his 30 trips toChina, he came to love the country and its people (Zhang, 1991:1)Chinese FestivalsWith a cultural tradition stretching back almost five thousand years the ChineseLunar calendar is filled in its entirety with various traditional festivals andcelebrations, each being totally different from the other. Apart from the majorfestivals marked on the Lunar Calendar, each little town in China boasts its ownfestivals which have accumulated since ancient times---almost every day sees acelebration of one kind or another.Spring festival commemorating the beginning of the Chinese Lunar New Year is thelargest, mot colourful and most prestigious of all the Chinese festivals. This festival,stretching over a period of a few weeks, incorporates various ancient customs suchas: Paying of outstanding debts, dressing up in new clothing, spring-cleaning ofhouses and the presentation of “LUCKY” little red envelopes containing money. Thepreparations start in the old year on the eighth day of the last Lunar moon and end onthe fifteenth day of the first moon of the New Year. During this period huge amountsof food are purchased and consumed. New Year’s Day marks the high point offestivities. Firecrackers and whistling rockets thunder throughout the night and daysymbolically frightening away the fiercest of evil spirits. The strenuous andspectacular Lion-and-Dragon dances are performed from the sixth day of the NewYear.Chinese Eating Customs11