(The Spring Festival is drawing near. Some foreign students at Shanghai International Study University are talking with their teacher Mr. He in the classroom.)
Tom: Mr. He, would you please tell us something about the Chinese New Year.
He:With pleasure. You know that it is a traditional festival celebrated throughout China. But do you know when it is?
Maria:The first day of the first Lunar month.
He: Right. But the preparation for the festival usually begins long before it arrives. Weeks before the arrival of the day people start to prepare for it.
Jack: What do they prepare?
He: They do shopping, thorough cleaning, and cooking.
Jack: What do they do when the day comes?
He: The most exciting time is the Eve of the lunar New Year. Before the dinner firecrackers are set off. After the dinner people sit down to watch the New Year celebration programs on TV. By the midnight there is a highlight of fireworks and firecrackers.
Jack: Kids must get very excited.
He: You are right. They are excited not only by the entertainment but also by the money gifts they receive.
Maria: Do they have to kowtow to their parents and grandparents?
He:Traditionally they do. But nowadays it depends.
Jack: On what?
He:Itdepend on family education. Some parents are more liberal, others are more conservative.
Maria: That is to say, those who are more liberal regard Kowtow as feudal.
He:Yes, so they don’t think it right to teach their children to do things like that.
Jack: Every culture has its pluses and minuses.
He:You are right.