In the traditional customs of the land of China, Chinese New Year's Eve is a time of reunion and joy. On this special day of saying goodbye to the old and welcoming the new, every family will carefully prepare the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner, which means that the new year is auspicious, happy and healthy.
On such a peaceful day, there are also some details and taboos that we need to pay attention to, among them, "Chinese New Year's Eve is not a swing, the year of the dragon is not prosperous" is a widely spread saying.
1. Don't put pears
On the Chinese New Year's Eve table, pears are a fruit to avoid. Pear is homophonic for "leave" in Chinese, and the character "leave" is often associated with unlucky imagery such as separation and parting in traditional culture. Therefore, on the night of reunion and harmony on Chinese New Year's Eve, placing pears on the table is seen as a symbol of bad luck and may bring a harbinger of separation and misfortune for the family.
I remember when I was a child, my mother was always busy preparing the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner on Chinese New Year's Eve, and what I looked forward to the most was those delicious dishes.
One year on Chinese New Year's Eve, I accidentally saw my mother put a few pears in the fruit bowl while preparing fruit. Curious, I asked my mother why she put pears, and my mother smiled and explained that this was to avoid it, because pears are homophonic with "leave", and it is not appropriate to place pears on Chinese New Year's Eve, so as not to bring bad luck.
After listening to this, it dawned on me that behind these seemingly insignificant details, there is a profound cultural connotation and people's expectations for a better life.
Second, do not put peaches
The second type of fruit that should not be placed on Chinese New Year's Eve is peaches. Although peaches are regarded as auspicious fruits in daily life, symbolizing longevity and health, they have special taboos on Chinese New Year's Eve. In traditional culture, peaches are homophonic to "escape", and placing peaches on the table may be interpreted as a symbol of escape and bad luck.
Aunt Zhang's house, a neighbor, is a vivid example. One year on Chinese New Year's Eve, Aunt Zhang specially prepared a plate of fresh peaches as the fruit for the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner, implying that the family was healthy and long-lived.
However, when her son, Xiao Li, saw Peach, he frowned. Xiao Li is a cultural person with a deep understanding of traditional culture, and he explained to Aunt Zhang the taboo of peach homonym with "escape" and suggested replacing it with other fruits.
Aunt Zhang suddenly realized after hearing this, and gratefully accepted Xiao Li's suggestion. This small detail not only avoids possible taboos, but also adds harmony and auspiciousness to the family on Chinese New Year's Eve.
3. Do not put persimmons
The third fruit that should not be placed on Chinese New Year's Eve is persimmon. Persimmon is homophonic with "thing" in Chinese, and the word "thing" is often associated with unlucky imagery such as right and wrong and trouble in traditional culture. Therefore, on Chinese New Year's Eve, people usually avoid placing persimmons so as not to bring unnecessary trouble and strife to the new year.
My friend Xiao Li once made a joke about placing persimmons on Chinese New Year's Eve. On Chinese New Year's Eve that year, in order to show his filial piety, he specially prepared a plate of persimmons for his parents.
When his parents saw the persimmon, they showed embarrassed expressions. It turns out that in his hometown, persimmons are regarded as a symbol of bad luck, and placing persimmons on Chinese New Year's Eve may cause right and wrong and disputes.
Xiao Li felt very embarrassed after hearing this, he deeply reflected on his behavior, and paid more attention to these details and taboos in the days to come.
Chinese New Year's Eve is not a pendulum, the year of the dragon is not prosperous", although it seems simple, but it contains rich cultural connotations and people's expectations for a better life.
On Chinese New Year's Eve, we should not only indulge in the feast of food, but also respect the traditional customs and taboos that have been passed down for thousands of years. This is not only a tribute to the wisdom of our ancestors, but also a prayer for an auspicious New Year and a harmonious and happy family.
Behind these customs, there are countless stories and meanings, which are like bright stars, illuminating our way forward and guiding us to avoid the thorns and dangers of life.
Let's explore the deep meaning behind these customs and comprehend the wisdom of those ancients. On this special night, let's not only taste the food with our mouths, but also feel the details that have been precipitated by time with our hearts. Only in this way can we truly integrate into the festival and make Chinese New Year's Eve full of warmth, harmony and auspiciousness.
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