The Spring Festival has a long history, originating from the primitive beliefs and nature worship of early humans, and evolved from the first prayer sacrifice of the year in ancient times.
All things are based on the sky, people are based on the ancestors, pray for the New Year, worship the heavens and the ancestors, and report the beginning of the book.
The origin of the Spring Festival contains profound cultural connotations, and carries a rich historical and cultural heritage in the inheritance and development.
In ancient times, there was a fierce monster called "Nian", which would go from house to house in the thirtieth month of the lunar month, foraging for human flesh and mutilating living beings.
The year "beast, with a long head and sharp horns, is fierce and abnormal.
It lives deep under the sea for many years, and every Chinese New Year's Eve, it will climb ashore to devour the livestock in the village and kill people. Therefore, every Chinese New Year's Eve, people in villages and villages help the old and the young, and flee to the mountains to avoid the harm of the "year".
It's Chinese New Year's Eve again, and the villagers, as in previous years, are busy packing up their things and preparing to flee to the mountains. At this time, a white-haired old man came from the other side of the village, and the white-haired old man said to an old woman: as long as he let himself stay at her house for one night, he will definitely be able to drive the "Nian" beast away. The people didn't believe it, and the old woman persuaded him to go up the mountain to hide, but the old man insisted on staying, and everyone saw that he couldn't stop it, so they went up the mountain to hide.
When the "Nian" beast was about to break into the village and wreak havoc as in previous years, suddenly there was a burst of firecrackers in the village. The "year" beast trembled, and no longer dared to move forward.
It turns out that the "Nian" beast is really most afraid of red, fire and explosion. At this time, the gate opened, and I saw an old man wearing a red robe and a red scarf walking out of the courtyard, "laughing", and the "Nian" beast was shocked and fled in a hurry.
As a result, people figured out the weakness of "Nian" being afraid of sound, red, and firelight, and thought of many ways to resist it, so it gradually evolved into the custom that every household will set off firecrackers during the New Year.
Although the ancient folk of our country have long had the custom of the New Year, it was not a festival at that time. Because the Spring Festival at that time refers to the "beginning of spring" in the 24 solar terms. The Northern and Southern Dynasties referred to the Spring Festival as the whole spring.
It is said that the official name of the Lunar New Year was the Spring Festival after the Xinhai Revolution. Because the solar calendar was to be used at that time, in order to distinguish the agricultural and yang festivals, the first day of the first lunar month had to be renamed "Spring Festival".
As a result, the exact date and time of visiting relatives varies from place to place in China, but usually begins on the second day of the first month of the Spring Festival[gf]e641[gf].
On this day, the son-in-law needs to go to his father-in-law's house to pay New Year's greetings and bring gifts. The daughter leads her spouse back to her parents' home.
In addition, there are some specific rules, such as starting to visit other relatives and friends after the third day of the Lunar New Year.
On these days, relatives usually prepare rich meals to entertain visitors, making the whole family atmosphere warm and harmonious.
With the change of the times, the gifts of visiting relatives have also changed. At different times in the past, people may bring different foods and specialties as gifts, such as pastries, meat, rock sugar, shochu, etc.
In modern times, gifts have become more diverse, including fruits, dairy, health supplements, high-end wines and others.
All in all, visiting relatives during the Spring Festival is part of traditional Chinese culture, which not only reflects the importance that people attach to family, but also carries deep cultural and emotional values.
However, do you know that the origin of burning incense and praying for blessings comes from **? This can be traced back to ancient Chinese religious beliefs and folk traditions.
As early as ancient times, the Chinese worshiped the rituals of worshiping the gods, believing that burning incense could convey people's respect and prayers to the gods.
Therefore, on the eve of the Lunar New Year, people burn incense in their homes or temples to worship the gods as a sign of hope for divine blessings and good fortune. In addition to religious beliefs, burning incense and praying for blessings is also related to Chinese New Year customs.
Chinese believe that during the New Year, the gods will descend on earth and give people good luck and blessings.
Therefore, it is believed that burning incense and praying for blessings at the end of the year can inspire the gods and bring good fortune and peace.