As soon as the wax moon begins, the land of China begins to be immersed in the hustle and bustle of welcoming the Spring Festival. This month, as if it has magical power, people have a warm current from the bottom of their hearts, and traditional customs are staged in various places for the blessing of peace and prosperity in the New Year.
At some point in the first month of the lunar month, you will hear the soft sound of prayer as people perform the Lap Sacrifice, a ritual to pay homage to ancestors and gods. They carefully prepared various offerings and reverently placed them in front of the tablets of their ancestors, and the smoke of incense and candles filled with prayers, like the wishes of people's hearts, praying for the safety of their families and the success of their careers. At the same time, they also prayed to the gods for good weather and abundant harvests.
As the wax moon deepens, every household will carry out a grand "dust removal" action. People wave brooms, clean every corner of the house, wash all kinds of utensils, and welcome the arrival of the new year in the cleanest environment. At the same time as dusting, some unlucky things will also be thrown away, symbolizing the removal of bad luck and good luck.
On the 23rd or 24th day of the lunar month, the worship day of the god of the stove came as scheduled. The god of the hearth, the deity who is in charge of the peace and career of the family, is regarded as the protector of the family. When worshipping the god of the stove, people will put rich offerings in front of the tablet of the king of the stove, burn incense and paper money, and the whole process is full of respect and piety.
In the second half of the lunar month, the door frames and walls of every household are pasted with auspicious spring couplets. The neat words of the Spring Festival couplets seem to tell people's good wishes for the New Year. Spring Festival couplets are not only the inheritance of Chinese culture, but also the expectation of a happy life.
On Chinese New Year's Eve, the family sits around to celebrate the New Year. Keeping the New Year is the practice of keeping watch on Chinese New Year's Eve until the arrival of the New Year, and this custom carries blessings and prayers. During the New Year's celebration, people will carry out some traditional activities, such as eating reunion dinners, watching the Spring Festival Gala, etc., and the happy atmosphere makes people feel warm.
At this time, the elders will give the younger ones New Year's money, which means blessings and peace. Although the amount of New Year's money varies depending on the region and the family's economic situation, it is an auspicious blessing. When receiving the New Year's money, the younger generation should kowtow to the elders, which is not only an expression of respect and gratitude, but also a traditional etiquette.
On the first day of the new year, people celebrate and drive away bad luck by setting off firecrackers. The sound of firecrackers resounded in the sky, bringing auspicious and beautiful meaning to the New Year.
From the first day of the first lunar month to the fifth day of the first lunar month, people greet each other for the New Year. Bringing gifts to visit relatives or friends is a traditional etiquette, but also a kind of emotional exchange and transmission.
In some places, various events are also held at temple fairs. Temple fairs such as burning incense and praying for blessings, watching theaters, and shopping have become a way for people to celebrate the New Year and pray for peace.
Although these traditional customs may not be as important in modern society, they are still an important part of traditional Chinese culture. By understanding these customs, we can better understand the history and heritage of Chinese culture.