According to historical records, the Chinese New Year's Eve celebrations of the ancients have strong folk characteristics and cultural connotations. Here are some of the ways that the ancients celebrated Chinese New Year's Eve according to historical records:
Driving Away: In the Song Dynasty, there was a custom of driving away people on Chinese New Year's Eve. This kind of activity is divided into big and small rituals, and is mainly carried out in the palace. The purpose of the Da Da Yi is to expel the yin energy and guide the yang energy. During the ceremony, people wear masks, wear colorful clothes, hold dragon flags and golden guns, and play the role of various gods, such as generals, door gods, judges, etc., and parade around the palace to ward off evil spirits and evil spirits. This custom is also similarly recorded in Lin'an during the Southern Song Dynasty.
New Year's Celebration: Chinese New Year's Eve is one of the most important annual activities of the ancients. This custom originated in the Western Jin Dynasty, when people would give each other gifts on Chinese New Year's Eve, invite wine and food, gather together to celebrate the New Year, and stay up all night waiting for the dawn. The meaning of keeping the New Year is to pray for peace and auspiciousness in the coming year, and it also has the meaning of cherishing time. In the Tang Dynasty, Tang Taizong Li Shimin also wrote a poem "Keeping the New Year", expressing his best wishes for the New Year.
Firecrackers: The ancients believed that setting off firecrackers could drive away evil spirits and welcome the arrival of the New Year. This custom has a long history in China, dating back more than 2,000 years to the Han Dynasty. The sound of firecrackers sounded, implying saying goodbye to the old and welcoming the new, bringing joy and auspiciousness to people.
In addition, according to historical records, the ancients would also carry out dust sweeping activities before Chinese New Year's Eve to clean up dust and debris in the home to pray for good luck in the new year. On Chinese New Year's Eve, families will enjoy a Chinese New Year's Eve dinner together, eating fish and other auspicious dishes. At the same time, people will also paste Spring Festival couplets, hang New Year's pictures and other decorations to add to the festive atmosphere.
To sum up, the Chinese New Year's Eve celebrations of the ancients have strong folk characteristics and cultural connotations, including various customs such as driving the people, keeping the New Year, and setting off firecrackers. These traditional customs have continued to this day and have become an important part of the Chinese national culture.