October 31st is Halloween. Where does Halloween come from? The Celts (居尔特人) think October 31st is the last day of their year and they think ghosts (鬼魂) come back to Earth on this day. So people treat the ghosts and then lead them away by wearing strange costurnes. Today a lot of people around the world celebrate this old festival. They usually dress up, have parties and tell stories about ghosts. Children play games at Halloween parties.

The following games are for children:

1. Ask your friends to bring a pumpkin lantern to the party. Give a present to the best one.

2. Hide some small pumpkins in the garden and play “find the pumpkin”.

3. Get apples out. Put lots of apples in the water and then try to get them out!   Remember: Don’t use your hands.

4. Tell ghost stories. Sit around on the floor and share exciting ghost stories with your friends.

The Dragon Boat Festival, also called Double Fifth Festival, is one of the most important festivals in China. It is celebrated on May 5th on lunar calendar and has a history of over 2,000 years. In 278 BC, the great poet Qu Yuan jumped into the river and died for his beloved homeland. Later people started to celebrate the festival to memorialize him. Nowadays, there are some celebrating activities around China on that day.

Chinese people like to eat Zongzi on Dragon Boat Festival. Zongzi is made of glutinous rice with meat, nuts or bean paste. People usually wrap it in bamboo leaves. Now eating Zongzi is a custom in many Asian nations, such as North and South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Singapore and so on.

Dragon boat racing is another important part of the festival all over the country. As the gun is fired, people will see racers in dragon-shaped boats pulling the oars (浆) hurriedly, with rapid drums, speeding towards the end.

On Dragon Boat Festival, parents usually dress their children up with Hsiang Pao (香包). It will be hung around their necks or tied to the front of the clothes. Children are not the only ones who wear Hsiang Pao. Elder people often give each other Hsiang Pao as a symbol of respect.

In China, the 12th month of the lunar calendar is called Layue. The month is full of interesting festivals and customs.

Laba Festival, which is on the 8th day of Layue, is the first festival in this month. From this day on, people begin to get ready for the Chinese New Year.

On Laba Festival, people eat hot Laba porridge. There are usually eight things in the porridge: rice, red beans, peas, dried lotus seeds, dates, and three different kinds of fruits and nuts. The porridge is not just good for your health, but a blessing for the coming of the Chinese New Year.

Laba porridge is not the only tasty food in Layue. Laba garlic (腊八蒜) is popular in the north. People begin to soak garlic in vinegar from that day on, and eat it with dumplings during the Chinese New Year. While in the south, people like making sausages.

Another major celebration before the Spring Festival is Xiaonian. It is usually on the 23rd or 24th day of the last lunar month. Traditionally it is an important day when people offer sacrifices to the Kitchen God who looks after the family.

Don’t forget to clean your home. This is also an important thing to do to prepare for the Chinese New Year. It means sweeping away the dust of the old year and welcoming a fresh start. Now, the last thing for you to do is to wait for the coming Spring Festival.