Spring Festival
Introduction
Spring Festival, also known as Chinese New Year, is the most important traditional festival in China. It is a time to celebrate the arrival of spring and to wish for good luck and prosperity in the upcoming year. The festival usually starts from the first day of the lunar calendar and lasts for 15 days. Let's explore the various customs and traditions associated with the Spring Festival.
Preparing for the Spring Festival
With the approach of Spring Festival, families begin to make thorough preparations to welcome the New Year. The first step is to thoroughly clean the house to rid it of any bad luck from the previous year. This is followed by decorating the house with red couplets, paper cuttings, and other auspicious decorations. Red, symbolizing good luck and happiness, is the dominant color during this festival. People also buy new clothes, especially in the color red, to wear during the festival.
Celebrating the Spring Festival
The Spring Festival is a time for family reunion. On the eve of the festival, families come together to have a big dinner known as the \"Reunion Dinner.\" The dinner usually consists of various delicious dishes, such as dumplings, fish, and glutinous rice cakes. After dinner, families gather around to watch the Spring Festival Gala on TV, which is a variety show featuring various performances and acts. At midnight, fireworks and firecrackers light up the sky, symbolizing the warding off of evil spirits.During the festival, people also visit relatives and friends to exchange greetings and good wishes. Children receive red envelopes filled with money from their elders, which represents blessings and good fortune. It is also common to see lion and dragon dances on the streets, accompanied by loud drums and cymbals. These performances are believed to bring good luck and scare away evil spirits.
Traditions and Superstitions
The Spring Festival is rich in traditions and superstitions. One common tradition is the use of firecrackers and fireworks to drive away evil spirits and bring good luck. Another tradition is the hanging of red lanterns and spring couplets on doors and windows to bring blessings and fortune. People also decorate their homes with tangerine and orange trees, which symbolize good luck and wealth.Superstitions also play a big role during the Spring Festival. For example, it is believed that sweeping the floor on New Year's Day will sweep away good fortune, so it is avoided. Similarly, breaking dishes or crying during the festival is considered bad luck. People also avoid using negative words or talking about death and illness during the festival. Instead, they focus on positive and auspicious topics.
In conclusion, the Spring Festival is not just a time for celebration, but also a time to reflect on Chinese culture and traditions. It is a time for family, reunion, and good wishes for the upcoming year. The rich customs and superstitions associated with the festival make it a unique and special event in Chinese culture.
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