Preface: Spring Festival is one of the most important traditional festivals in China, with many legends, customs, and taboos about it.
The Spring Festival is a time for Chinese people to reunite and celebrate.
It is usually celebrated on the first day of the lunar calendar’s new year, which is known as Lunar New Year’s Day.
The name ”Spring Festival” comes from the beginning of spring in the lunar calendar, symbolizing the revival of all things and vibrant life.
Before the Spring Festival, people will carry out a series of preparations, which are known as ”celebrating the new year.”
They will clean their houses, sweeping away the dust of the old year, symbolizing bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new.
They will also paste Spring Festival couplets and window paper cuts, cutting out various auspicious patterns with red paper, symbolizing good luck and happiness.
On New Year’s Eve, family members will gather together to enjoy a hearty reunion dinner.
Fish is a must-have dish at the reunion dinner, because ”fish” is a homophone for ”surplus,” symbolizing abundance and prosperity every year.
After the meal, people will watch the Spring Festival Gala and wait together for the arrival of the new year.
At midnight, fireworks and firecrackers will ring out, symbolizing driving away evil and welcoming a lucky new year.
During the Spring Festival, people will also visit relatives and friends, exchanging New Year greetings and sending blessings.
Children will receive lucky money from their elders, symbolizing peace and good luck all year round.
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.
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.
Here are some traditional customs of the Spring Festival:
Sweeping Dust
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.
Posting Spring Festival Couplets and New Year Paintings
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.
Having the Reunion Dinner
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.
Staying Up Late on New Year’s Eve
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.
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.
Setting Off Firecrackers
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.
Paying New Year Visits
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.
At this special moment, people will follow some traditional taboos to pray for peace, auspiciousness, and happiness in the new year.
Here are some taboos during the Spring Festival:
Not Speaking Bad Words, Fighting, or Insulting Others
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.
Avoiding Unlucky Words
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.
Not Breaking Things
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.
Not Collecting Debts or Borrowing Money
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.
Not Washing Hair, Sweeping Floors, or Taking Out Trash
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.
Not Visiting Sick People in Bed
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.
Married Daughters Not Visiting Their Parents’ Home on the First Day of the New Year
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.
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