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A.C. Pfitzner

Gong Xi Gong Xi

Chinese New Year Song

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Gong Xi Gong Xi (Congratulations, Congratulations!)

Composed by Chen Gexin (under the pen name Qing Yu), this popular Mandarin song was written in Shanghai in 1945 to celebrate the defeat of Japan and liberation of China at the end of World War II. The final lines of this song replicate the typical beat of the Chinese drum.

Because its Mandarin title is also a common Lunar New Year greeting and the song celebrates the arrival of spring, it quickly became associated almost exclusively with New Year celebrations and remains a popular song to sing at this time of year.

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Songs like this need to have context - teach about the customs and traditions associated with Lunar New Year.

These books are great places to start.

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The Story of Nian - How Lunar New Year Came to Be

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Gong Xi Gong Xi Video

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Everyone lives in town

Celebrate the new year

Greeting with the joyful words

Gong xi gong xi gong xi

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Gong xi gong xi gong xi ni ya

Gong xi gong xi gong xi ni

每条大街小巷，

每个人的嘴里，

见面第一句话，

就是恭喜恭喜！

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恭喜恭喜恭喜你呀，

恭喜恭喜恭喜你！

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Gong Xi Gong Xi

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These are things important to Lunar New Year celebrations - what things do you notice?

What could we make building blocks out of?

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Firecrackers (sound to scare Nian, the monster, away)

Fish (Prosperity)

Coins

Fireworks

Oranges (believed to bring good luck and happiness. The Chinese words for orange and tangerine closely resemble the words for luck and wealth. The gold color also symbolizes prosperity)

Fans

Lanterns