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Tuesday, March 29, 2005

From Easter weekend to Tomb Sweeping Festival

Long and nice Easter weekend is now over. If given the chance, I would vote for the more holidays the better!

As a Chinese person, I didn't grow up with celebrating Easter, not mentioning get four days off as public holidays. It was later in my life that I learned why there is a good Friday and then easter Sunday. And I realized the Chinese translation of this holiday is so close to the original event.

In Chinese, Easter is translated into "fu4 huo2 jie2" (the numbers here are symbols for tones). "fu4 huo2" means "bring back to life" or "resurrection", and "jie2" is "festival". In English, "Easter" doesn't convey all these meanings to people like me. I also learned that Easter is also a symbol that spring starts, and that's why it is associated with bunnies and eggs.

This get-clearer-in-translation also happened in translating Chinese customs. There's one coming next week. It is "qing1 ming2", literal meaning "pure brightness". Chinese people consider at the time of "qing1 ming2", chilly weather will be gone for good, in stead, wonderful warm spring weather comes together with blooming flowers, and a little rain sometimes. And also it is time to sweep the tombs of your ancesters. Some people translate it into "Tomb Sweeping", and since it's a public holiday, add a "Festival" at the end. It is therefore very clear on what Chinese people do on 5th of April.

It's good for most people that after a long weekend break, there is one more coming so quickly.

Wednesday, March 09, 2005

Did you know Chinese people don't say "please" and "thank you" to their mothers>

Topic: Did you know Chinese people don't say "please" and "thank you" to their mothers?

MSL presents a "Do you know..." series of seminars featuring Chinese culture, history and more!

Equipped with knowledge of both East and West, our teacher, Grace will take you on a fascinating ride through a diferent, unique, and sometimes shocking Chinese cultural landscape.
With her sense of humor, you will not only understand why "please" is not essential vocab in most Chinese people's language, but also appreciate why.

Location: MSL Learning Center
Date and Time: April 12, 2005, 2:30 - 3:30pm
Admissoin: $50 per MSL student, $100 per non-MSL student

Call 2854 3039 or e-mail mslinfo@netvigator.com to reserve your seat before Mar 31.
Limited number of seats available.