Xiji, as a county in Guyuan City, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, is famous for its rich specialty snacks, full of New Year's flavor. Local traditional delicacies and specialties create a unique atmosphere during the Spring Festival, allowing people to enjoy the food while feeling the strong atmosphere of the New Year.
First of all, Liupan Mountain broad beans are one of Xiji's special snacks, which is not only a nutritious ingredient, but also an indispensable delicacy for the locals during the Spring Festival. Liupan Mountain broad beans are full of grains, bright in color and delicate in taste, which can make a variety of delicacies and add color and nutrition to the festival table.
Guyuan hand-grabbed mutton is also a major feature during the Xiji Spring Festival. The Guyuan region lamb is of high quality, and this dish embodies the original gastronomic philosophy with its tender meat and simple seasoning. At the moment of family reunion during the Spring Festival, grasping mutton with one hand not only satisfies the taste buds, but also symbolizes unity and abundance.
Pengyang red plum apricots are one of Xiji's specialties, and during the Spring Festival, the sweet aroma of red plum apricots can add a sweetness to family dinners. In addition to being eaten directly, red plum apricots can also be processed into a variety of foods, such as dried apricots, dried apricots, etc., which are not only convenient to preserve, but also a good product for visiting relatives and friends during the Spring Festival.
As a special snack in Longde County, Guyuan City, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Longde long noodles are also a traditional food in Xiji during the Spring Festival. The long noodles are made with fine craftsmanship, noodles with gluten, and different soup stocks, which can not only warm the body and mind, but also imply longevity and auspiciousness, and are essential foods for family dinners during the Spring Festival.
In traditional festivals such as the Spring Festival, Xiji's special snacks are not only a food, but also a cultural embodiment. They carry the emotions and blessings of the people of Xiji, making the Spring Festival, an important festival, full of the taste of home and the atmosphere of the year.
Xiji County has many traditional celebrations and special customs during the Chinese New Year, so that people can enjoy the food while also feeling the strong atmosphere of the New Year. In Xiji County, Chunguan is a role closely associated with traditional festivals and cultural events. During the Spring Festival, the role of a spring official is usually played by a local dignitary or community leader, whose role is to lead traditional activities such as fire performances, spring heralds, and blessings. Here are some of the activities and customs of the Chinese New Year in Xiji County:
Spring: The spring official will recite specific words and phrases to announce the arrival of spring to people. These phrases often contain good wishes for the new year and descriptions of the changing seasons. The purpose of the Spring Festival is to convey vitality and hope, and to bring good signs for the new year.
Cultural inheritance: The role of the Spring Officer is not only the host of the event during the Spring Festival, but also the disseminator of traditional culture and knowledge. Through their actions and words, they impart knowledge to the younger generation about festival customs, historical traditions, and agricultural production. In Xiji County, the image of Chunguan is often associated with auspiciousness, wisdom, and authority, and their presence adds a strong sense of tradition and ritual to the festival. While the specific roles and activities of the Chun Guan may change over time, this traditional role still holds an important place in the local Tei Festival culture.
Blessing ceremonies: In some places, spring officials may also participate in the pre-Spring Festival prayer ceremonies to pray for good weather and abundant crops in the new year.
Lion dance: Lion dance is one of the important local folk art activities, especially in traditional festivals such as the Spring Festival, Lantern Festival, National Day and other important celebrations, lion dance performances can often attract the attention of the masses and create a festive and warm atmosphere. During the Chinese New Year, lion dance teams often perform in the streets and alleys, bringing blessings to businesses, families and shops, symbolizing good luck and prosperity in the new year. In Xiji, lion dance performances are often accompanied by dragon dances, Yangge, stilts and other traditional folk art forms, which together form a grand celebration procession, which greatly enriches the cultural life of the local people. Lion dance is a traditional Chinese folk art form, symbolizing courage and auspiciousness, originating from ancient Chinese rituals to ward off evil spirits and avoid disasters. In Sigi, lion dance performances are usually performed by two dancers, one for the lion's head and one for the lion's body and tail. Dancers wear specific costumes that bring the lions to life through clever movements and rich expressions. Lion dance has a long history in Xiji County, it is not only an entertainment activity, but also carries the local people's yearning for a better life and the inheritance of traditional culture. During the performance, the lion dance will show the liveliness and majesty of the lion through a series of traditional movements, such as jumping, tumbling, itching, etc. At the same time, the lion dance will also follow the rhythm of the drum music and make corresponding movements, bringing a shocking audio-visual experience to the audience.
With the development of society and the importance of cultural inheritance, the lion dance activities in Xiji County have been well protected and promoted, and have become an important carrier to show the charm of local culture and national spirit. Lion dance is not only an art, but also a cultural inheritance, which brings auspiciousness and blessings to people, and has also become a unique cultural landscape in Xiji County.
Shehuo Performance: Shehuo is a traditional Chinese folk performing art, including lion dance, dragon dance, stilts, Yangge, etc. In Xiji, the fire show is an important event during the Spring Festival, and the fire teams from each village will tour from village to village to add a festive atmosphere to the festival.
Spring Festival couplets and window flowers: During the Spring Festival, residents of Xiji County will put up Spring Festival couplets and window flowers to add to the festive atmosphere. Spring couplets are red couplets with auspicious words written on them, while window flowers are red paper cutouts pasted on the windows, with different shapes and symbolic blessings.
Firecrackers and fireworks: On Chinese New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, residents of Xiji County celebrate the arrival of the new year with firecrackers and fireworks. The sound is considered a symbol of driving away and welcoming the new year.
Eat Chinese New Year's Eve Dinner: On Chinese New Year's Eve, residents of Xiji County will eat Chinese New Year's Eve Dinner with their families and enjoy hearty food, such as Liupan goat meat, hand-grabbed lamb, Liupanshan broad beans and other specialties.
New Year's greetings: During the Spring Festival, people will greet each other and send red envelopes and gifts to each other to express their blessings and greetings.
Watch the Spring Festival Gala: On Chinese New Year's Eve, many families will gather at the **China** TV Spring Festival Gala, which is the largest New Year celebration in China, covering a variety of performance forms such as singing and dancing, sketches, and acrobatics.
Temple fairs and water rides: Some places have temple fairs and water rides, where people can visit temples, eat snacks, play rides, and engage in water activities such as boating in nearby waters. Xiji County has a strong New Year's flavor, and colorful celebrations allow people to welcome the arrival of the New Year in a joyful and peaceful atmosphere.