1, sweep the house
The folk proverb says, "On the 24th of the twelfth lunar month, dust and sweep the house". After holding the sacrificial stove, they officially began to prepare for the New Year. Dust removal is year-end cleaning, which is called "house cleaning" in the north and "dust removal" in the south.
Cleaning the dust before the Spring Festival is a traditional habit of China people. Whenever the Spring Festival comes, every household should clean the environment, clean all kinds of electrical appliances, remove and wash bedding curtains, sweep six yards, dust cobwebs and dredge culverts in open channels. North and south of the great river, everywhere is filled with the atmosphere of being willing to engage in hygiene and welcoming the Spring Festival cleanly.
2. Post Spring Festival couplets
Spring Festival couplets, also called couplets, are an indispensable custom element for the New Year. Every Spring Festival, whether in the city or in the countryside, Spring Festival couplets should be posted, which means to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new. Of course, as early as ancient times, the way to paste Spring Festival couplets at first was not what we see today. Spring Festival couplets are evolved from the symbol of peach. At that time, people posted not Spring Festival couplets at the door, but two rectangular mahogany boards, called peach charms, to ward off evil spirits. In other words, writing Spring Festival couplets on Fu Tao began with Meng Changjun, the monarch of Shu in the late Five Dynasties, and gradually became Spring Festival couplets after the Ming Dynasty.
Now every year in the twelfth lunar month, writing Spring Festival couplets begins quietly. At this time, it is time for talented people who write well to show their talents. With a wave of his hand, the black characters on the red paper gradually appear, either vigorous and powerful or dignified and beautiful. People who write Spring Festival couplets can earn a little money by this good hand, and people who buy Spring Festival couplets are also happy. Spring Festival couplets can be said to be a folk calligraphy exhibition. Every year on New Year's Eve, every household sticks Spring Festival couplets with red paper to set off the festive atmosphere and make people feel happy.
Step 3 hang lanterns
Hanging lanterns in the Spring Festival is a custom, which is to "celebrate the New Year" and create a festive atmosphere, which can set off the atmosphere of the New Year. Generally, red lanterns are hung and Spring Festival couplets are posted on New Year's Eve. This is the custom of welcoming the Spring Festival. In some areas, lanterns are hung during the Spring Festival, while in others, lanterns are hung during the Lantern Festival.
There is a legend about hanging lanterns during the Spring Festival. On New Year's Eve, all the gods returned to their places, except Jiang Ziya, who had nowhere to go. Seeing that he was pitiful, the people lit a lamp at the head of the Gaoshe and let him spend the night under the lamp. Over time, the custom of lighting lamps has been formed.
In addition, people hang lanterns to drive away the legend of Nian beast. According to legend, there was a monster named Nian in ancient China, which was very fierce and even killed people. Later, it was discovered that Nian animals are afraid of red things, so on New Year's Eve, everyone hangs red lanterns, sticks red couplets and sets off firecrackers.
4. New Year's Eve
Keeping watch on New Year's Eve is also called "keeping watch", which is called keeping watch in folk activities. On New Year's Eve, every household will turn on the lights all night. It is said that this will enrich the family. In addition, there is a custom of vigil all night in some areas. On New Year's Eve, the whole family get together for a reunion dinner and send blessings to each other. Everyone sits around the fire and chats together, which means reunion and harmony. Vigilance, hoping that all evil diseases and epidemics will be driven away.
The vigil on New Year's Eve is the most important annual custom activity in the traditional Spring Festival in China. On New Year's Eve, all the family members get together to celebrate the festival and enjoy family happiness. New Year's Eve has a history of thousands of years. In ancient times, there were two meanings: the old man kept his age, which meant cherishing time; Young people keep their age, which means keeping their parents safe and prolonging their lives.
5. Happy New Year
"Happy New Year" and "Happy New Year to you". On the first day of the first month, when people meet, they will exchange such New Year wishes with each other. There are three traditional new year greetings: first, worship. Minors should pay New Year greetings to their elders. The second is to bow and scrape. Generally speaking, the younger generation uses it to pay New Year greetings to their elders, commonly known as "Bai Ji". The third is boxing. Most of them are New Year greetings between peers. Legend has it that one day more than two thousand years BC, Shun became emperor and led his men to worship heaven and earth. Since then, people have regarded this day as the beginning of a year and called it the first day of the first month.
The above is my understanding of the customs of the Spring Festival. What else do you know, my friend?