Chinese Traditional Culture: Spring Festival

Preface: Spring Festival is one of the most important traditional festivals in China, with many legends, customs, and taboos about it.

Chūnjiéshìzhōngguóréntuányuánqìngzhùdeshí 。
The Spring Festival is a time for Chinese people to reunite and celebrate.
tōngchángzàinóngzhēngyuèchū , jiùshìnóngxīndeniándetiānqìngzhù
It is usually celebrated on the first day of the lunar calendar’s new year, which is known as Lunar New Year’s Day.
“ Chūnjié ” zhèmíng , láiyuánnóngdechūntiānkāishǐzhī , zhewàn , shēngàngrán 。
The name ”Spring Festival” comes from the beginning of spring in the lunar calendar, symbolizing the revival of all things and vibrant life.
Zàichūnjiéqián , rénmenhuìjìnxínglièdezhǔnbèigōngzuò , bèichēngwéi “ guònián ”。
Before the Spring Festival, people will carry out a series of preparations, which are known as ”celebrating the new year.”
menhuìsǎofáng , qīngchújiùniándechénāi , zhejiùyíngxīn 。
They will clean their houses, sweeping away the dust of the old year, symbolizing bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new.
Háihuìtiēchūnliánchuānghuā , yònghóngdezhǐjiǎnchūzhǒngxiángàn , zhehǎoyùnxìng 。
They will also paste Spring Festival couplets and window paper cuts, cutting out various auspicious patterns with red paper, symbolizing good luck and happiness.
Chúzhī , jiārénhuìzài , chīdùnfēngshèngdeniánfàn 。
On New Year’s Eve, family members will gather together to enjoy a hearty reunion dinner.
Niánfànshàng , shìshǎode , yīnwèi “  ”  “  ” xiéyīn , zheniánniányǒu , shēnghuó 。
Fish is a must-have dish at the reunion dinner, because ”fish” is a homophone for ”surplus,” symbolizing abundance and prosperity every year.
Fànhòu , rénmenhuìguānkànchūnjiéliánhuānwǎnhuì , děngdàixīndeniándedàolái 。
After the meal, people will watch the Spring Festival Gala and wait together for the arrival of the new year.
shífēn , yānhuābiānpàoshēnghuìxiǎngchèyúnxiāo , zhexiéhài , yíngjiēxiángdexīnnián 。
At midnight, fireworks and firecrackers will ring out, symbolizing driving away evil and welcoming a lucky new year.
Zàichūnjiéjiān , rénmenháihuìzǒuqīn访fǎngyǒu , xiāngbàinián , sòngshàngxīnniándezhù 。
During the Spring Festival, people will also visit relatives and friends, exchanging New Year greetings and sending blessings.
Háizimenhuìshōudàozhǎngbèigěidesuìqián , zhepíngānxiáng , suìsuìpíngān 。
Children will receive lucky money from their elders, symbolizing peace and good luck all year round.
Chūnjié , shìchōngmǎnhuānwàngdejié , shìzhōngguórénqínggǎnjiāoliúwénhuàchuánchéngdezhòngyàoshí 。
The Spring Festival is a festival full of joy and hope, and it’s an important moment for Chinese people to exchange emotions and inherit culture.
Chūnjiéyōngyǒufēngdechuántǒng , zhèxiēdàidàixiāngchuán , chéngzàizherénmenduìxīnniándeměihǎozhùyuànduìchuántǒngwénhuàdezūnzhòng 。
The Spring Festival has rich traditional customs that are passed down from generation to generation, carrying people’s good wishes for the new year and respect for traditional culture.
xiàshìxiēchūnjiédechuántǒng :
Here are some traditional customs of the Spring Festival:
1. Sǎo
chén

Sweeping Dust

Zàichūnjiéqián , jiājiādōuhuìjìnxíngsǎochú , qīngzhǒng , chāibèichuānglián , sǎotíngyuàn , dǎnchéngòuzhūwǎng , shūjùnmíngàngōu 。 Zhèzhejiùyíngxīn , sǎochúhuì , yíngjiēxīnniándedàolái 。
Before the Spring Festival, every household will conduct a thorough cleaning, washing various utensils, removing beddings and curtains, sweeping yards, dusting cobwebs, and dredging channels. This custom symbolizes bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new, sweeping away bad luck, and embracing the arrival of the new year.
2. Tiēchūnliánnián
huà

Posting Spring Festival Couplets and New Year Paintings

Chūnliánshìxiězàihóngzhǐshàngdeduìlián , tōngchángtiēzàiméndeliǎng , zhexiáng 。 Niánhuàbāokuòménshén 、 cáishénděng , tuōzherénmenduìxìngshēnghuódexiàngwǎngduìxīnniándewàng 。
Spring Festival couplets are pairs of verses written on red paper, usually posted on both sides of the door, symbolizing good fortune and wishes. New Year paintings include door gods, wealth gods, etc., expressing people’s longing for a happy life and expectations for the new year.
3. Chīnián
fàn

Having the Reunion Dinner

Niánfànshìchūnjiézuìzhòngyàodejiātíngcān , tōngchángzàichúwǎnshàngjìnxíng 。 Jiāréntuántáng , gòngxiǎngměishí , zhetuányuánxìng 。
The reunion dinner is the most important family meal during the Spring Festival, usually held on New Year’s Eve. Family members gather together to enjoy delicious food, symbolizing reunion and happiness.
4.  Shǒu
suì

Staying Up Late on New Year’s Eve

Shǒusuìshìzhǐzàichúwǎnshàng , quánjiārénwéizuòzài , děngdàixīnniándedàolái 。 Rénmenhuìdiǎnránsuìhuǒ , jiāhuān , ràngdēnghuǒmiè , zhejiùsuì 、 yíngxīnchūn 。
Staying up late on New Year’s Eve means that the whole family sits together, waiting for the arrival of the new year. People will light fires and gather together, keeping the lights on, symbolizing bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming the new spring.
5. Gěisuì
qián
Giving New Year’s Money
suìqiánshìzhǎngbèigěiwǎnbèideqián , tōngchángzhuāngzàihóngbāo 。 Zhèzhexiéguǐ , bǎoyòuwǎnbèipíngānjiànkāng , shùnchéngzhǎng 。
New Year’s money is given by elders to younger generations, usually enclosed in red envelopes. This custom symbolizes driving away evil spirits, blessing the younger generation with peace, health, and smooth growth.
6. Ránfàngbào
zhú

Setting Off Firecrackers

Zàixīndeniándàoláizhī , jiājiāhuìránfàngbàozhú , lidebàozhúshēngjiùyíngxīn , zhexiáng , xiéhài 。
When the new year arrives, every household will set off firecrackers, using the loud bangs to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new one, symbolizing good fortune and driving away evil.
7. Bài
nián

Paying New Year Visits

Bàiniánshìchūnjiéjiāndezhòngyàohuódòng , rénmenhuì穿chuānshàngxīn , zǒuqīn访fǎngyǒu , xiāngzhù , gōngzhùxīnnián 。
Paying New Year visits is an important activity during the Spring Festival. People will wear new clothes, visit relatives and friends, exchange greetings, and wish each other good luck in the new year.
Zàizhèshūdeshí , rénmenhuìzūnxúnxiēchuántǒngdejìn , qiúxīnniándepíngān 、 xiángxìng 。
At this special moment, people will follow some traditional taboos to pray for peace, auspiciousness, and happiness in the new year.
xiàshìxiēchūnjiéjiāndejìn :
Here are some taboos during the Spring Festival:
1. néngshuōzānghuà 、 chǎojiàhuò
rén

Not Speaking Bad Words, Fighting, or Insulting Others

Chūnjiéjiānyàobǎochíxiáng 、 qìngdefēnwéi , shuōzānghuà 、 chǎojiàhuòrénděngxíngwéihuìhuàijiéfēn , háinéngzhāozhìzāihuò 。 Rénmenxiāngxìn , chūnjiéjiānshuōhuàhuìdàiláihǎoyùn , érèyánèhuìdàiláixìng 。
During the Spring Festival, it is important to maintain a harmonious and festive atmosphere. Speaking bad words, fighting, or insulting others can destroy the festive mood and may even bring disasters. People believe that speaking auspicious words during the Spring Festival can bring good luck, while evil words can bring misfortune.
2. néngshuōde
huà

Avoiding Unlucky Words

Guòniánjiānyàomiǎnshuō 、 huìdehuà ,  “  ”、“ qióng ”、“ shā ”、“ guǐ ”、“ shū ” děngyǎn ,  “ wánle ”、“ guàle ”、“ xíngle ” děnghuì 。 Rénmenrènwéi , zhèxiēhuìhuìhuàixīnniándehǎoyùnxiáng 。
During the Spring Festival, it is advisable to avoid speaking unlucky or ominous words, such as ”broken,” ”poor,” ”kill,” ”ghost,” ”lose,” and phrases like ”it’s over,” ”it’s done,” ”it’s not working.” People believe that these words can ruin the good luck and auspiciousness of the new year.
3. néngsuìdōng西

Not Breaking Things

Guòniánjiānsuìdōng西huìbèirènwéishìde , huìhuàixīndeniándeyùn 。 guǒxiǎoxīnsuìledōng西 , yàogǎnjǐnshuō “ suìsuìpíngān ” huò “ luòkāihuā , guìrónghuá ” děnghuà , bìngjìngqiāoqiāodesǎodiào , zàifàngbiānpàoqiúpíngānxiáng 。
Breaking things during the Spring Festival is considered unlucky and can ruin the new year’s luck. If something is accidentally broken, people will quickly say auspicious words like ”peace in pieces” or ”flowers blooming and prosperity,” then quietly sweep it up and set off firecrackers to pray for peace and good luck.
4. néngtǎozhàihuòjiè
qián

Not Collecting Debts or Borrowing Money

Chūnjiéjiānjìnxiàngbiéréntǎozhài , néngxiàngbiérénjièqiánhuòjièqiángěibiérén 。 Xiāngchuánzàizhēngyuèchūzhīhòu , cáishénhuìgěijiājiā “ sòngqiáncái ”, guǒzhàizhǔzàiniánchūháixiàngjièqiánréntǎozhài , huìbèicáishénrènwéishìyǒuqiánrén , cóngérshǎofēnpèixiēcáigěi 。 Tóngshí , niánchūjièqiányǒuqióngbèizideshuō 。
It is taboo to collect debts or borrow money during the Spring Festival. According to tradition, after the first day of the lunar new year, the God of Wealth will distribute money to every household. If a creditor collects debts on New Year’s Day, the God of Wealth may consider them wealthy and give them less wealth. Borrowing money on New Year’s Day is also considered unlucky and may lead to poverty for the entire year.
5. néngtóu 、 sǎo 、 dào

Not Washing Hair, Sweeping Floors, or Taking Out Trash

niánchūnéngtóu 、 sǎo 、 dào , yīnwèizhènénghuìhǎoyùncáidàizǒu 。 guǒfēiyàosǎo , shìcóngwàitouwǎngmiànsǎo , miǎncái 。
On the first day of the lunar new year, it is not advisable to wash hair, sweep floors, or take out trash, as it may take away good luck and wealth. If sweeping is necessary, it should be done from outside to inside to avoid losing money.
6. nénggěichuángbìngrénbài
nián

Not Visiting Sick People in Bed

Chūnjiéjiānjìngěichuángbìngrénbàinián , fǒuhuìbèirènwéishìzàizhòubìngréntǎngzhěngnián 。
It is taboo to visit sick people in bed during the Spring Festival, as it is considered to be cursing them to stay in bed for the entire year.
7. Chūjiàdeérchūnénghuíniáng
jiā

Married Daughters Not Visiting Their Parents’ Home on the First Day of the New Year

Mínjiānyǒuzhēngyuèchūhuíniángjiāhuìjiāngniángjiāchīqióngdeshuō , yīnchūjiàdeérnéngzàiniánchūhuíniángjiā , yīngzàizhēngyuèchūèrhuòchūsānhuíniángjiā 。
According to folklore, a married daughter visiting her parents’ home on the first day of the new year will bring poverty to her parents. Therefore, married daughters should not visit their parents’ home on the first day of the new year and should instead visit on the second or third day.

通过阅读中国神话、民间故事、历史典故、人物传记学汉语,简单易学,中英对照,适合初学者!
Learning Chinese through reading Chinese mythology, folk stories, historical allusions, and biographies is easy to learn and bilingual, suitable for beginners!

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