When people say Chinese culture, we often think of paper - cutting. Paper - cutting is an art form with a long history in China. Traditional
paper - cuts were first put on windows for decoration. 36
Most paper - cuts are made of red paper because red means good luck in Chinese culture. Today people use paper - cuts to decorate not
only windows but also doors and other furniture (家具). 37
Paper - cuts are popular because of their expressions of good wishes and hopes. During the Spring Festival, for example, many people put
up paper - cuts of the Chinese character “福” upside down on the door. 38 At wedding ceremonies (婚礼), you can always see paper - cuts of the
character “喜”. It means that the new couple can enjoy happiness together.
39 Paper - cuts from the north of China usually have interesting shapes. In southern China, people prefer paper - cuts with the themes of
flowers, fruit, birds and fish.
It's quite easy to learn paper - cutting. With a piece of paper and a knife or a pair of scissors, you can try to make your own paper - cuts. 40
But you need a lot of practice and imagination to become really good at it.