The Spring Festival, also known as the Lunar New Year, is the most important traditional festival in China, which falls on in late January or early February.
The historical reason for beginning the new year in such a time is that it is the time between autumn harvest and spring plowing and planning. In another words, it is the time for rest, relaxation and celebration after a year’s toil. Except this practical reason for celebrating the Spring Festival, a popular Chinese legend offers another explanation, which is affectedly known in China. In ancient time, a mythological demon called” Nian” that lived under the sea would plague people once a year on the even of the new year. It jumped out from the sea, attacked villages, devouring people, animals and plants. Could no longer bear Nian’s brutal persecution, the villagers gathered to discuss how to deal with” Nian” and some people suggested that the demon was afraid of loud noises, red color and flame. So people lighted firecrackers, put on red couplets on their gates, lit firework and beat gongs and drums to drive Nian away. The idea worked and Nian ran away. Since ever, the custom and tradition of celebrating the Spring Festival born and the practice of putting red couplets on gates, setting off firecrackers, etc have been passed down.
How do Chinese people celebrate the Spring Festival
Spring Festival is a time for celebrating with family and friends. No matter wherever, how busy they are, the Chinese will squeeze into the roads going home to spend the festival season with their family members. Traditionally, the Chinese celebrate the Spring Festival in the following ways:
Spring Cleaning: From December 23rd in the Chinese calendar, people begin to clean their houses to bid farewell to the old year and usher in a happy and fresh new year.
Spring Decorating: People hang flower-decorated red lanterns in front of their houses. Office buildings and stores are also decorated with red lanterns. Red couplets-red posters with black Chinese calligraphy, colored New Year paintings are posted on the doors of people’s houses. They symbolize happiness, prosperity and good luck in the New Year.
