General Studies Study Notes: Festivals and Celebrations!

Hello Super Students!
Welcome to the wonderful world of festivals and celebrations! Have you ever wondered why we have special holidays, eat yummy food, and get to see colourful decorations? It’s all because of festivals!

In these notes, we'll learn about some amazing celebrations in Hong Kong. Learning about festivals is important because they teach us about different cultures, bring our families and friends together, and are a lot of fun! Let's get started!


1. Chinese Festivals and Their Amazing Stories

Many traditional Chinese festivals have a cool story behind them. These ancient stories tell us why we celebrate in a certain way. It's like finding a secret message from the past!

Chinese New Year (or Lunar New Year)

This is one of the biggest and most exciting festivals! The celebration comes from an old story about a scary monster.

The Story: A long, long time ago, there was a monster called Nian (年). Every year, it would come to the villages to scare people. But people discovered that Nian was afraid of three things: the colour red, loud noises, and bright lights! So, they put up red decorations, lit firecrackers, and wore red clothes to scare Nian away. And it worked!

This is why during Chinese New Year, we see red everywhere (like on lai see packets and lanterns) and celebrate with lots of noise and excitement!

Mid-Autumn Festival

This festival is all about the moon! We celebrate it when the moon is at its biggest and brightest.

The Story: There's a famous story about a lady named Chang'e. She drank a special magic potion, became a goddess, and flew all the way to the moon! She lives there now with her friend, the Jade Rabbit.

To remember her, families get together to look at the beautiful full moon, light up pretty lanterns, and eat delicious mooncakes, which are round just like the moon!

Did you know?
If you look closely at the full moon, some people say you can see the shape of a rabbit! That's the Jade Rabbit, Chang'e's friend, who is busy making medicine.

Key Takeaway

Remember: Many Chinese festival customs, like wearing red or eating mooncakes, come from ancient stories. These stories help us understand the meaning behind the celebrations.


2. Western Festivals in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a special place where we celebrate festivals from all over the world! Let's look at two popular Western festivals that we enjoy here.

Christmas

Christmas is celebrated on December 25th. It's a happy time filled with lights, music, and gifts!

Festival Activities in Hong Kong:

  • Seeing the amazing Christmas lights and decorations in places like Tsim Sha Tsui.

  • Exchanging gifts with friends and family to show we care.

  • Having special Christmas parties and dinners with yummy food.

Easter

Easter is a festival in springtime that celebrates new life. It's usually a long holiday weekend!

Festival Activities in Hong Kong:

  • Going on an Easter egg hunt! Children search for colourful eggs hidden in parks or at home.

  • Eating yummy chocolate eggs and other treats.

  • Enjoying the spring weather with family on the public holidays.

Quick Review Box

Christmas Fun: Bright Lights, Giving Gifts, Parties!
Easter Fun: Egg Hunts, Chocolate, Spring Holidays!

Key Takeaway

Remember: We celebrate many festivals in Hong Kong. Western festivals like Christmas and Easter bring their own fun activities and traditions for everyone to enjoy.


3. New Year Fun for Everyone!

In Hong Kong, many children have multi-cultural backgrounds. This just means their families might come from different parts of the world. It’s like having a big box of crayons with many different colours – everyone is unique and special!

This means that during New Year, different families might have their own special customs. It’s so interesting to see how everyone celebrates!

Different New Year Customs

While many of us celebrate Chinese New Year, some of your friends might also:

  • Eat special lucky foods from their family's home country.

  • Wear beautiful traditional clothes that might not be red.

  • Sing special songs or play games that are traditions in their family.

The most important thing is to be kind and show respect for everyone's traditions. You can even ask your friends politely about their celebrations. It's a great way to learn something new!

Key Takeaway

Remember: Hong Kong is home to people from many cultures. Being respectful and curious about different New Year customs makes our city a more friendly and exciting place to live.


4. Smart Pockets: Using Your Red Packet Money

Woohoo! During Chinese New Year, many children receive red packets (lai see) with money inside. This money is a gift of good luck for the new year. Getting it is exciting, but using it wisely is a super skill!

Don't worry, being smart with money is easy. Just remember these three simple ideas: Save, Spend, and Share.

How to Use Your Red Packet Money

1. Save Some:

It's a great idea to put some of your money in a piggy bank or a bank account. You can save up for something bigger that you really want, like a new bicycle or a special toy. Saving is like collecting puzzle pieces – soon you'll have enough to see the whole picture!

2. Spend Some:

Of course, you can use some of your money to buy a little something for yourself! Maybe a new book, a yummy ice cream, or a small toy. Just think carefully before you buy it: "Do I really need this?"

3. Share Some:

Sharing is a wonderful thing to do. You could use a small part of your money to buy a little gift for your parents to say thank you, or you could donate it to help people or animals in need.

Common Mistake to Avoid!

A common mistake is spending all your red packet money in one day on snacks and stickers. It feels good for a moment, but then it's all gone! Try to make a simple plan first.

Key Takeaway

Remember: Making good use of your red packet money means finding a balance. A good rule is to Save, Spend, and Share. This helps you become responsible and makes your good luck last longer!