Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year, has 4,000 years of history. As one of the traditional Chinese festivals, is China's largest and most important festival. The same is true of the whole family gathering, which is the same as the Westerners' Christmas. Originated in the Shang Dynasty (17th - 11th century BC), celebrating the family reunion of the Spring Festival is full of colorful activities, hoping with the arrival of spring and flowers. People from different regions and different peoples celebrate in a unique way.
Holiday time
This is the first day of the Chinese lunar calendar, lasted nearly a month's time. But in folklore, this traditional festival dates from the twelfth day of the lunar calendar to the fifteenth day of the first month (the Lantern Festival). In these days, New Year's Eve and the first day of the New Year is the peak period. According to the lunar calendar, the exact date of each year is different. The following table lists the recent Spring Festival timetable.
History
It is said that in the last month of the Chinese lunar month, when the people sacrifice to the ancestors, the Spring Festival began. At that time, people through thorough cleaning, bathing, etc. to do sacrifice. Later people began to worship different gods that day. Almost all of the farm work has been done, people have time to spare time. The time of sacrifice was changed according to the progress of agriculture until the Han Dynasty (202BC-220AD) was modified. Even if these rituals were not as great as before, the custom of worshiping God and ancestors remained. It is time for spring to come, so people are welcome to hold various ceremonies.
Legend
Chinese culture there are many legends of the Spring Festival. In folk culture, also known as "security" (meaning "past year"). It is said that "year" (one year) is a powerful demon, is a fierce cruelty, eating an animal, including a day of human beings. Human fear, had to hide in the evening, "Ning" came out. Later people found that "Ning" on the red and fireworks are very afraid. So later, people with red fireworks or firecrackers out of the "Ning". Therefore, the use of red and fireworks habits still exist.
Celebration arrangement
New Year's Eve, ready to start the New Year. According to the Chinese lunar calendar, on December 24, the butcher began to clean up the house on December 26, and so on. People do something every day. These activities will end on lunar January 15.
Customs
Each family thoroughly cleans and buys enough food during the holiday season, including fish, meat, roasted nuts and seeds, all kinds of sweets and fruit. In addition, you must buy new clothes, especially for children. The red scroll with the complementary poetic couplet, the door of each side of the line, is affixed to each door. Chinese character "Fu" is affixed to the center of the door, paper-cut picture decorative windows.
Taboo
The Spring Festival is the beginning of a new year, so it is considered a year's time. During this period, there were many taboos. In the conversation to prohibit the "death", "broken", "kill", "ghost", "disease" or "disease" related to many ill. In some places, there are more detailed details. They think rice buckets are empty, because they think there is nothing to eat next year. Today, doping medicine, or patients sick all year round, and kept taking medicine.
Festive food
The food in this happy event has its own characteristics, which is the representative of Chinese festive food culture. Dumplings and reunion dinner are indispensable. All hot and cold dishes are served. The fish has always been an important dish, which expresses the hope that people have a wealthy year.
The best place to go
In China, different places have their own traditions and activities to celebrate the Spring Festival. Beijing, Guangzhou, Xi'an, Pingyao, if you intend to come within this time, it would be a good place. If you do not want to travel for so long, but still want to enjoy the Lunar New Year atmosphere, the local Chinatown is the best place.