The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms (节气). It starts from the Beginning of Spring and ends with the Greater Cold moving in cycles. It is still useful today to guide people’s lives through special foods, cultural ceremonies and even healthy living tips.

“I just gave birth to 5 babies last weekend.” Isn't that exciting? Oh, you don't believe me? “Okay then，I stole some money from a bank on Saturday night.” Now do you believe me? Actually, I hope you don't. April 1st, or April Fool's Day is the day when we play jokes on people. Do you have it in your country?   

April Fool's Day started in the sixteenth century in Europe. Before that time, New Year's Day was celebrated on April 1st.If they were teased, they were called fools.       

Nowadays we play jokes on people on April 1st.For example, someone might put salt in the sugar bottle so another person could put it in his coffee “by accident”．Or someone might change the time on another person's alarm clock so that person would unknowingly wake up earlier or later than planned. Or maybe a person would tell a lie to make someone else shocked.     

After we play the trick, we say “April Fool”. Then the poor person realized he was fooled. It is generally done in the spirit of fun and doesn't cause any real harm (伤害) to anyone. Do you have any great jokes to play on anyone today? Try it out. Just don't forget to say “April Fool” when the other person begins looking a little confused.

On New Year’s Eve, people in Italy throw out all the old things. So there are chairs, beds, clothes and plates in the street. In Spain, New Year comes more quietly. Everyone holds a bag of grapes. When twelve o’clock comes, people start eating the grapes.

In Japan, people eat noodles on New Year’s Eve. This food is said to bring long life. Early the next morning, some families climb Mount Fuji. There they watch the first sunrise of New Year.