电视的利与弊英语作文80高一（经典20篇）

The way people hold the belief that a fun-filled， pain-free lifestyle

equals happiness actually reduces their chances of ever obtaining real

happiness. If fun and pleasure are equal to happiness，then pain must be equal to

unhappiness. But in fact，the opposite is true： more often than not things that

lead to happiness contain some pain.

As a result，many people avoid the very attempts that are the source of true

happiness.They fear the pain inevitably (不可避免地) brought by such things as

marriage，raising children，professional achievement， religious commitment，

self-improvement.

Ask a bachelor why he resists marriage even though he finds dating to be

less and less satisfying. If he is honest，he will tell you that he is afraid of

making a commitment，for commitment is in fact quite painful. The single life is

filled with fun， adventure and excitement.Marriage has such moments，but they are

not its most distinguishing features.

Couples，with infant children， are lucky to get a whole nights sleep of a

three-day vacation. We dont know any parent who would choose the word fun to

describe raising children. But couples that decide not to have children ever

know the joys of watching a child grow up or playing with a grandchild.

Understanding and accepting that true happiness has nothing to do with fun

is one of the most liberating realizations. It liberates time： now we can devote

more hours to activities that can really increase our happiness. It liberates

money：buying that new car or those fancy clothes to increase our happiness now

seems pointless. And it liberates us from envy：we now understand that all those

who always have so much fun actually may not be happy at all.

Computers started to become popular with big companies in the 1960s.

Computer

You’ve probably known about computers your whole life. But computers have not really been around for very long. Computers started to become popular with big companies in the 1960s. Computers didn’t become widespread in homes and schools until the 1980s.

HOW DO PEOPLE USE COMPUTERS?

People use computers in many ways. Stores use computers to keep track of products and check you out at the cash register. Banks use computers to send money all over the world.

Computers help teachers keep track of lessons and grades. They help students do research and learn. Computers let you hook up to networks (many computers hooked together). They let you hook up to a worldwide network called the Internet.

Scientists use computers to solve research problems. Engineers use computers to make cars, trucks, and airplanes. Architects use computers to design houses and other buildings. The police use computers to track down criminals. The military uses computers to make and read coded messages.

On the weekend I like to spend time in library. I like reading books. There

are many people in the library, but it is very quiet. Nobody talks in the room,

only the sound of page turning. I’m very interested in the space, so I read a

lot of books about space. Recently, I read the book Martian. It is about an

astronaut Mark left on the Mars alone, he did many things to keep himself alive.

After 549 solar days his crew mates came back to take him home. Mark is very

tough to survive in Mars, he is a big hero. In the library I can read so many

story and see the bigger world. I like library.

i was thirty-seven then, strapped in my seat as the huge 747 plunged through dense cloud cover on approach to the hamburg airport. cold november rains drenched the earth and lent everything the gloomy air of a flemish landscape: the ground crew ran gear, a flag atop a squat airport building, a bmw billboard. so germany again.

37岁的我端坐在波音747客机上，庞大的机体穿过厚重的夹雨云层，俯身向汉堡机场降落。11月砭人肌肤的冷雨将大地涂得一片阴沉，使得身披雨衣的地勤工、呆然垂向地面的候机楼上的旗，以及bmw广告板等的一切的一切，看上去竟同佛兰德派抑郁画幅的背景一般。罢了罢了，又是德国，我想。

once the plane was on the ground soft music began to flow from the ceiling speakers: a sweet orchestral cover version of the beatles " norwegian wood". the melody never failed to send a shudder through me, but this time it hit me harder than ever.

飞机刚一着陆，天花板扩音器中低声传出轻柔的背景音乐，那是一个管弦乐队演奏的甲壳虫乐队的《挪威的森林》。那旋律一如往日地使我难以自已。这一次，比往日还要强烈地摇撼着我的身心。

i bent forward in my seat, face in hands to keep my skull from splitting open. before long one of the german stewardesses approached and asked in english if i was sick. "no," i said, just dizzy"

为了不使头脑胀裂，我弯下腰，双手捂脸。很快，一位德国空中小姐走来，用英语问我是不是不大舒服。我答说："不要紧，只是有点晕。

"are you sure?"

"yes, im sure. thanks."

"真的不要紧?"

"不要紧的，谢谢。"我说。

she smiled and left, and the music changed to a billy joel tune. i straightened up and looked out the plane window at the dark clouds hanging over the north sea, thinking of what i had lost in the course of my life: times gone forever, friends who had died or disappeared, feelings i would never know again.

她于是莞尔一笑，转身走开。音乐变成彼利·乔的曲子。我直起了腰，望着北海上空阴沉沉的云层，浮想联翩。我想起自己在过去人生旅途中失去的许多东西——蹉跎的岁月，死去或离去的人们无可追回的懊悔。

the plane reached the gate. people began unlatching their seatbelts and pulling baggage from the storage bins, and all the while i was in the meadow. i could smell the grass, feel the wind on my face, hear the cries of the birds. autumn 1969,and soon i wou1d be twenty.

机身停稳后，旅客解开安全带，从行李架中取出皮包和上衣等物。而我，仿佛依然置身于那片草地之中，呼吸着草的芬芳，感受着风的轻柔，谛听着鸟的鸣啭。那还是1969年的秋天，我快满20岁的时候。

…

true, given time enough, i can bring back her face. i start joining image-her tiny, cold hand; her straight, black hair so smooth and cool to the touch; a soft, rounded earlobe and the microscopic mole just beneath it; the camels hair coat she wore in the winter; her habit of looking straight into your eyes when asking a question; the slight trembling that would come to her voice now and then (as if she were speaking on a windy hilltop)-and suddenly her face is there, always in profile at first, because naoko and i were always out waking together, side by side. then she turns to me, and smiles, and tilts her head just a bit, and begins to speak, and she looks into my eyes as if trying to catch the image of a minnow that has darted across the pool of a m1impid spring.

当然，只要有时间，我会忆起她的面容。我追忆着：那冷冰冰的小手，那流线型泻下的手感爽适的秀发，那圆圆的软软的耳垂及其紧靠底端的小小黑痔，那冬日里时常穿的格调高雅的驼绒大衣，那总是定定注视对方眼睛发问的惯常动作，那不时奇妙发出的微微颤抖的语声(就像在强风中的山岗上说话一样)—随着这些印象的叠涌，她的面庞突然自然地浮现出来。最先出现是她的侧脸，大概因为我总是同她并肩走路的缘故，最先想起来的每每是她的侧影。随之，她朝我转过脸，甜甜地一笑，微微地低头，轻轻地启齿，定定地看着我的双眼，仿佛在一混清澈的泉水里寻觅稍纵即逝的小鱼的行踪。

i do need that time, though for naokos face to appear. and as the years have passed, the time has grown longer. the sad truth is that what i could recall in five seconds all too soon needed ten, then thirty, then a full minute——like shadows lengthening at dusk. someday, i suppose, the shadows will be swallowed up in darkness. there is no way around it: my memory is growing ever more distant from the spot where naoko used to stand-ever more distant from the spot where my old self used to stand. and nothing but scenery, that view of the meadow in october, returns again and again to me 1ike a symbolic scene in a movie. each time it appears, it delivers a kick to some part of my mind. "wale up," it says. "i’m still here! wake up and think about it. think about why im still here." the kicking never hurt me. theres no pain at all. just a hollow sound that echoes with each kick. and even that is bound to fade one day. at the hamburg airport, though, the kicks were longer and harder than usual which is why i am writing this book: to think. to understand! it just happens to be the way im made. i have to write things down to feel i fully comprehend them.

但是，让直子的面影在我脑海中浮现出来，我总是需要一点时间。而且，随着岁月的流逝，所需的时间愈来愈长。这固然令人悲哀，但事实就是如此。起初5秒即可想起，渐次变成10秒、30秒、1分钟。它延长得那样迅速，竟同夕阳下的阴影一般，并将很快消融在冥冥夜色之中。哦，原来我的记忆正在同直子原来站立的位置步步远离，甚至逐渐远离自己一度站过的位置。而惟独风景，惟独那片10月草地的风景，宛如电影中的象征性镜头，在我的脑际反复推出。并且那风景执着地连连踢我的脑袋，说着："起来，我可还在这里哟!起来，起来想想，思考一下我为什么还在这里。"不过这种踢法一点也不痛，一脚踢来，只是发出空洞的声响。甚至这声响或迟或早也将杳然远逝。但是在这汉堡机场，它们踢得比往常更长久、更有力：起来，理解我!惟其如此，我才动笔写这篇文字。我必须形诸文字，才能弄得水落石出。

Cell phone seems to be one of the most important inventions of 20 century.

Using cell phones to surf the Internet has become quite common in our daily

lives. Cell phone has exceeded its original function such as making phones calls

or sending message. Its multi-functions have make people’s tedious lives more

colorful. Many people, especially the young generation, have found that they can

not live without their cell phones. Many people feel uncomfortable in absence of

their cell phones. This may become a symptom called cell phone dependency.

First, many people have addicted to cell phones, they spend considerable

time and money on the phone, for it provide with numerous games and

applications. Some of them even use cell phones as computers that they keep the

phone open for all day long. As to some students, some of them even use the

phones to play games in the class, when they should focus on their study

instead. In this case, parents and teachers should limit the time that children

spending on the cell phones, for its have more disadvantages than

advantages.

Second, the dependency on cell phones has shown people’s anxiety towards to

their social interrelationship. A day without cell phone just feels like getting

lost in this big world. Every day, people tend to check their cell phones to see

if they have got any messages or surf the Internet, but the cell phone truly

affects their normal life.

There is no denying that cell phones have brought us considerable

convenient. However, we should be aware of the negative effects that cell phones

have brought to us. Just put down your cell phone for a while, and you will find

that without your phone life can still be wonderful, too.

Our class to Guangzhou Beach Park to travel, I and my good friend Lin Wei Hao can be happy,the first day ready to take away things,know the day to travel,we frantically singing songs.

We were crazy to spend a pleasant time in the car, but I do not know we have to hit our destination,we ordered the car. But with a cheerful mood,to our dream of the beach park.

We have a good team directly with the captain of the fast to the entertainment, where there are “haunted house”, “flying sky”, “pirate ship”, and I like the “bumper car” and so on.Entertainment, although I, every one play But I am not happy,because Lin Wei Hao and his old classmates to play,did not come to play with me,I also put him as my best friend,he did not come with me Play these games.

Because today is a special day,I am not too unhappy, or resolutely continue to play about the terrorist point, relax about the mood.

Until the time to go,Lin Wei Hao see I am not happy look, as if I am not happy to know the reason seems to have come,said: “Today did not play with you I am sorry,I just forgot your agreement the day before yesterday, said To play with the time to play, but I did not mean that.”I said to him:“nothing I play a very happy.”

Since that day I and my good friend Lin Wei Hao not so good before, although still in a class, our communication is less and less.The first tour turned out to be such a result,leading us to become ordinary students.

Time always passes quickly. In the blink of an eye it has to end. Now the burden is more and more big, the pressure will continue to increase. With one family expectations. I don’t want to let the family expectations become disappointed. So I’m trying. Now in order to their future happiness is struggling. I want to own a substantial future, give yourself a perfect life. Just don’t want to let myself down, leave regret memories. Some people always said to me: life is their own, happiness can only rely on their own efforts, do not always think what things are so simple. I think that makes sense, it has become my motto.

We are always trying to find the way to success, which stands for power,

pride and glory. There have been strings of stories of success I was told since

I was a child. From then on, I have been fascinated with being successful.

Whatsuccess? Different people have different opinions towards this

question. To start with, some people, such as accountants, workers and so on,

are longing for being rich, which allows them buy what they want, and enjoy

luxury. They treat it as success. Furthermore, some contestants, such as boxers,

are always trying their best to defeat their rivals for success. And once they

win, they confirm that they are stronger than others. The last but not the

least, there are some other people who enjoy helping others. As a good saying

goes, the roses in her hand, the flavor in mine. With helping others, we can

also feel satisfactory.

As far as I am concerned, life is short, and we must achieve something

during our life. So I regard striving and working hard important. When comes to

we reap what we sow, it’s the time of success.

people with various resources.

To begin with, trees produce oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide, which offer

us fresh air. As greenhouse effect is getting more and more serious, planting

more trees is an effective way to respond to it.

Apart from this, it is tree that stabilizes soils and prevents them from

being eroded by floods. Besides, trees can be applied to against desert.

Moreover, trees perform the function of the regulation of air temperature and

humidity. This benefit to people’s fitting to the environment.

Last but not least, trees are a kind of material of paper making, which

makes our life and communication between people more convenient.

From what has been mentioned above, we can get the conclusion that trees

improve both our environment and life, it is necessary for us to plant more

trees.

The National Day is coming. Fred and Jeff are friends. They want to take a trip together.

国庆节快要来临了，弗雷德和杰夫是朋友，他们想一起去旅行。

J: Hi, Fred. The National Day is coming and well have a seven-day holiday. What will you do?

J：嗨，弗雷德，国庆节快到了，我们有七天假期，你想做什么?

F: I want to go outside Shanghai this time. How about taking a trip?

F：我想去上海以外走走，去旅行怎么样?

J: That sounds great! Where do you want to go?

J：听起来很不错!你想去哪儿呢?

F: I have no ideas. Just somewhere with fresher air and fewer people.

F：我也不知道，就想找个空气清新点儿，人少的地方。

J: What about Guangzhou? If you agree, Ill go with you.

J：广州怎么样?如果你愿意，咱俩儿一块儿去。

F: Really? Are you kidding?

F：你说真的?没开玩笑吧?

J: No, I am serious. I want to go there, too.

J：没有，我是认真的，我真的很想去那儿。

F: OK! Lets call the travel agency and find more information.

F：好吧，那我们打电话给旅行社问问，多收集点儿信息。

"Grateful heart, thank you, my life, let me have the courage to do my own......" Whenever I hear this song, was deeply touched. Along the way, I need to thank people is too much: thank my father mother for all her support, thank you grandma and grandpa takes good care of me, but I thank the teachers to me most hard training.

Ginger teacher, thank you. Is that you let me from an ignorant children grow up to be an excellent young pioneers. I the honorary certificate, all saturated with your work. Are you again and again with rest time for us to make up a missed lesson, corrects students papers. Remember that there is a second grade, because Im too proud, examination results some bad, you reminded me in time, learn to be modest, not proud, I corrected the mistake. Thank you so much! Ginger teacher. Is you bring me into the ocean of knowledge, experience of reading pleasure, your wonderful lecture fascinating, have led us into a colorful new world, teach us to be the truth.

Jiang teacher, you give my love now I repay you, but I will return you in high honors!

“感恩的心，感谢有你，伴我一生，让我有勇气做我自己……”每当我听到这首歌，便感慨万千。我一路走来，需要感谢的人实在是太多太多了：感谢爸爸妈妈对我的养育之恩，感谢爷爷奶奶对我的无微不至地的关怀，但我最感谢老师们对我辛勤的培养。

感谢您，姜老师。是您让我从一个无知的孩童成长为一名优秀的少先队员。我那一张张荣誉证书，无不浸透着您的心血。是您一次次用休息时间为我们补课、批改作业。记得二年级时，有一次由于我过于骄傲，考试成绩有些不好，是您及时地提醒了我，学习要谦虚，不能骄傲，使我改正了错误。感谢您!姜老师。是您把我带进了知识的海洋，体会到阅读的快乐，您的精彩讲课引人入胜，把我们领进了一个五彩缤纷的新世界，教给我们做人的道理。

姜老师，您给予我的关爱现在我还无以回报，但我会用优异的成绩来回报您!

we ushered in the long-awaited xx yearof the spring festival.

year on thiday, i got up early, put on new clothes, and mom and dad go to the supermarket to buthings. i saw on the street people wear festive costumes, all covered with a beaming smile on hiface.

decorating everywhere in the shop, still hang red lanterns, the gate ion the red coupletand pictureof taurus, the crowd of shopping in the supermarket wajammed. we joined the people shopping, bought a varietof delicious, want want package, chocolate, beverages, fruit, nuts, walnuts, beef jerky, banana slices... can im overwhelmed!

in the evening, our familisurrounded sit together, eating a big familreunion dinner, are: steamed bass, crispfried chicken, mixed vegetable dishes, the chicken braise a mushroom, pulpbeverage, etc., and i love to eat a sausage, itdelicious! after dinner, we sat down on the soft sofa, watch the cctv spring festival gala, the small shenyang, zhao benshan opusculum the trip, we laughed in imperceptible in, the ringing of xx yearof deafening firecrackerechoed throughout, the colorful fireworkin the sklike a flower blooming, the boundlesnight wareflected aa work of the day.

on the first dain the morning, i wafirecracker"wake up", the original iin the "towardgod of wealth"! the spring festival ireallbusand happy! also to receive mangiftand blessing, in the new year, i will be more effortto study, overcome varioudifficulties, achieve better results!

[高一英语作文关于新年

导语：随着生活水平的提高，人们在吃得饱穿得暖的基础上会加强生命的锻炼，也就是延缓衰老，保持年轻，下面是yuwenmi小编为大家整理的相关优秀英语作文，欢迎阅读与借鉴，谢谢!

Today, as the development of the medical, people can slow down their aging. As for the celebrities, they use the developed technology to keep young, seeing their unchangeable faces in the screen for so many years, the audience also want to imitate the celebrity, they believe that by using the developed technology, they can keep young all the time. While in my opinion, the way to keep young is to hold a young heart, some people look young outside, but in their hearts, they are old enough and refuse to keep pace with the time. While for another group, even they have wrinkles, they are curious about all the things and are willing to change. My grandpa is old, but he knows all the fashionable things, sometimes I have to ask him for the new things. The young heart is the way to keep young forever.

【参考译文】

今天，随着医疗的发展，人们能够延缓衰老。对于名人来讲，他们使用高科技来保持年轻，看到他们常年在屏幕上保持不变的容颜，观众也想要模仿名人，他们相信通过使用高科技就能一直保持年轻。然而在我看来，保持年轻的方法就是拥有一颗年轻的心，一些人表面看起来年轻，但是在他们的心里，他们足够的老，并且拒绝去与时俱进。对于另外一些人来讲，虽然他们有皱纹，但是他们对一切都保持好奇，并且愿意去改变。我的爷爷年纪大，但是他对一切时尚的东西都了如指掌，有时候我不得不问他关于新的事物。年轻的心是永葆青春的方法。

Christmas is one of the most important celebrations of the year for the western countries. It falls on the twenty- fifth of December and has the same importance as Chinese New Year to people with English backgrounds. The celebration is for the birth of Jesus Christ, who is the son of God in Christianity. Now days Christmas is no longer only celebrated by the Christians, but by most people from all over the world.

On the twenty- fourth of December everyone gets excited for it’s the day before Christmas which is called Christmas Eve. The children are usually sent to bed early and are warned that “Santa Claus will only come and give you a present if you be good.” The younger kids actually believe that Santa will come down the chimney on the sleigh that’s pulled by his reindeers. Food like short bread and beer are prepared for Santa when he comes, however most times parents just eat them. Some children put socks and sacks up for the holding of the presents (that their parents put in).

Rise and shine on Christmas morning! The children are always the first ones to wake up, some even do at four. Present wrappers everywhere! They look into their presents with a big smile on their face and oh dear….I hope no one’s disappointed. I feel sorry for anyone that got pink underwear. Children play while dinner is prepared by the adults. The Christmas dinner are usually eaten together by relatives. The tradition of Christmas pudding and roosters are usually eaten with deserts afterwards. The rest of the day is usually games and fun before the good days all come to an end.

I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

With the development of our society， energy in the world bees more and more

limited， so it is quite important for us to save energy and to protect our

environment。 As a student， there are a lot of methods we can do to save energy

at home。 For example， first， we can turn off the light as well as other

appliances when we are not using them。 Second， recycle the waste water， paper

and other waste so that we can reuse them。 Whats more， it is suggested to use

public transportation more instead of private cars.

Above all， everyone can make a great contribution to our environment。 I

hope I can learn more to develop new and clear energy， like energy from the wind

and solar.

Each year, people burn or cut down 143,000 square kilometers (55,000 square

miles) of the forest. People who burn or cut down trees do it for different

reasons: farmers cut down trees in order to get more fertilize lands to grow

rice or vegetables, and use the woods as fuel. Timber companies cut down trees

and turn them into furniture or paper productions. As to goal miners, they

remove the forests to find out whether there are goal underground.

However, many of us fail to realize that forests are the lungs of the

earth. When we cut down trees, we also push ourselves in to a dangerous

situation. That is the global warming. When you come to think about it, there

are only few ways to solve these negative effects: stop cutting down trees

blindly; try to find some clear energy that can replace oil and coal. But these

solutions can be impractical to some degreed.

Why trees can be so important to the whole nature? First of all, trees are

the habitat of many animals. When we cut down trees, we not only destroy

animals’ habitats but also ourselves. We just gradually destroy natural links.

The result is that many spices of animals and plants are dying out. Secondly,

cutting down trees cause global warming, to some degree. Naturalists compare

forest to human’s lungs. The forests absorb the carbon dioxide and other gas

that cause global warming, and then give off the oxygen that good for the human

beings and other living creatures. It’s refreshed the air as well as reduced the

noise. If the air quality is bad, people may die from cancers, or the new

diseases for which they have no immunity. Forests also play an important role in

the prevention of natural disasters. Warmer temperatures cause water to expand

and also create more water by melting polar ice caps. That’s to say, the nations

which near the ocean may have been flooded by the water. But the forests can

prevent water loss and soil erosion, and cool off the global temperatures. It’s

the key to keep the balance of the nature.

Sometimes people only care about money making; they don’t care about the

price we pay for the pollution. When the disaster is around the corner, we may

be afraid and frustrated. The earth, on which our economies have always been

based, is suddenly threatening our existence. All we hope that is this

overpopulated, over industrialized planet can carry on for a longer time. And

maybe, it’s time for us to realize that we should protect the earth, stop

cutting down trees blindly and madly.

Environmental problems are being more and more serious all over the world。

For example， cars have made the air unhealthy for people to breathe and

poisonous gas is given off by factories。 Trees on the hills have been cut down

and waste water is being poured continuously into rivers。Furthermore， wherever

we go today， we can find rubbish carelessly disposed。 Pollution is， in fact，

threatening our existence。

The earth is our home and we have the duty to take care of it for ourselves

and for our later generations。 Fortunately， more and more people have realized

these problems。 Measures have been taken to cope with these problems by the

government。 Laws have been passed to stop pollution。 I hope the problem will be

solved in the near future and our home will bee better and better。

machine. They are already widely used in industries and in universities. They are used in many ways.

Computers can do many kinds of work. For example, computers can helps us do maths problems quickly. Some problems are too hard for us to work them out, but computers can. A scientist can ask computers some questions, and the computers can answer on the screen.

In a car-factory computer tells the robots how to do with the cars.

Computers are very useful. So many parents buy computers for their children. They hope computers can help them improve their studies in school, but some children don’t do as what parents want them to do. Because they used the computers for surfing on the Internet and spend too much time playing computer games instead of learning. It does not good for their eyesight. So their parents complain about computers not help children to study but also make them fall behind.

In many companies computers instead of workers to work. So many people lose their jobs. So many workers think computers bring them a lot of trouble.

If computers are good for us or bad for us it’s hard to say so I hope computers will be used in the right way.

Last week, I saw a very impressive documentary about panda. A professor

studied panda in the early 1980s went to the wild life and kept trace of wild

giant panda for many years. As a result, he found that it was human being that

made these lovely animals die out. At that time, many people believed that giant

panda became less because of the low rate of newborn babies. But it was not

true. People cut trees for making profit at that time. Panda lose homeland and

they lacked of food. Thanks to these valuable data, the government took the

policy to protect the animals. So today, the number of giant panda is

increasing. People realize the importance of protecting the environment and it

is the best way to protect wild animals, they are the indispensable part of the

nature.

i always think there is not enough time. for example， i have just taken a three-day holiday. but when i look back， i just feel that it‘s only one day. there goes a proverb， “time is money”。 now i want to say， time is more precious than money， because when money is spent， we can earn some more again. however， when time is gone or lost， never will it return.

time goes without being noticed. the time for our study and work is usually limited. so i think we must make full use of our time. but it‘s a pity that i am always not aware of the importance of time until it’s too late.

so i think， i should get into the good habit of saving time because wasting time is equal to wasting one‘s life. do not put off what can be done today till tomorrow!

[the value of time高一英语作文

The Chinese New Year has a great history. In our past, people lived in an agricultural society and worked all year long. They only took a break after the harvest and before the planting of seeds. This happens to coincide with the beginning of the lunar New Year.

The Chinese New Year is very similar to the Western one, rich in traditions, folklores and rituals. It has been said that it is a combination of the Western Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year. This is hardly an exaggeration!

The origin of the Chinese New Year itself is centuries old - in fact, too old to actually be traced. It is popularly recognized as the Spring Festival and celebrations last 15 days.

Preparations tend to begin a month before the date of the Chinese New Year (similar to a Western Christmas). During this time people start buying presents, decoration materials, food and clothing. A huge clean-up gets underway days before the New Year, when Chinese houses are cleaned from top to bottom. This ritual is supposed to sweep away all traces of bad luck. Doors and windowpanes are often given a new coat of paint, usually red, then decorated with paper cuts and couplets with themes such as happiness, wealth and longevity printed on them.

The end of the New Year is marked by the Festival of Lanterns, which is a celebration with singing, dancing and lantern shows.

At the Festival, all traditions are honored. The predominant colors are red and gold. "Good Wish" banners are hung from the ceilings and walls. The "God of Fortune" is there to give Hong Baos. Lion dancers perform on stage continuously. Visitors take home plants and flowers symbolizing good luck. An array of New Years specialty food is available in the Food Market. Visitors purchase new clothing, shoes and pottery at the Market Fair. Bargaining for the best deal is commonplace!