The origin of Chinese New Year's Eve and traditional customs.
Chinese New Year's Eve, a festival rich in folk customs, contains rich cultural connotations and historical origins.
It is not only the eve of the Lunar New Year, but also the emotional sustenance in the hearts of the Chinese people, and a symbol of reunion, harmony and hope.
First, the origin of Chinese New Year's Eve
Chinese New Year's Eve, as one of the most important festivals in traditional Chinese culture, contains profound cultural connotations and historical backgrounds. Its origin is closely related to traditional customs such as year-end sacrifices and exorcism and evil spirits in ancient times.
In ancient times, the awe and ignorance of the forces of nature led them to create many sacrificial rituals for peace and a good harvest.
Among them, Chinese New Year's Eve is one of these rituals. According to the Huainanzi, Chinese New Year's Eve was originally a festival for ancient ancestors to expel plague ghosts and worship ancestors for blessings.
It is believed that on the night of the end of the year, plague spirits will come out to haunt them, and in order to protect their families from harm, they will light torches, set off firecrackers, hang peach charms and other items to ward off plague ghosts.
At the same time, they also hold ancestral worship ceremonies at home to pray for the protection and blessing of their ancestors.
Over time, these customs evolved into today's Chinese New Year's Eve.
In the process, many unique customs and traditions have also been formed in various places. For example, in the northern region, people will make dumplings, paste window flowers, eat reunion dinners, etc.; In the southern region, there are customs such as eating rice balls, pasting New Year's pictures, and worshipping ancestors.
These customs not only reflect the local characteristics of each place, but also reflect people's attachment to home and good wishes for the New Year.
In addition, there are some legends and stories about Chinese New Year's Eve. One of the most famous is the story of the Year Beast.
Legend has it that the Nian Beast is a fierce monster that comes out every year on Chinese New Year's Eve to harm the people.
Later, people found that the New Year beast was afraid of red and loud sounds, so there were customs such as pasting red spring couplets and setting off firecrackers, in order to drive away the New Year beast and celebrate the New Year safely.
Over time, Chinese New Year's Eve has gradually evolved into one of the most important traditional Chinese festivals, symbolizing the junction of the end of the year and the new year.
2. Traditional customs on Chinese New Year's Eve
1. Family reunion: On Chinese New Year's Eve, no matter where they are, people will do their best to return home and reunite with their families.
Home is the warmest harbor in everyone's heart, and the reunion on Chinese New Year's Eve is not only a tradition, but also an emotional sustenance.
Families sit around and enjoy a sumptuous Chinese New Year's Eve dinner while telling the bits and pieces of the past year to welcome the arrival of the new year together.
2. Paste Spring Festival Couplets and New Year Paintings: Spring Couplets and New Year Paintings are indispensable decorations for Chinese New Year's Eve.
The Spring Festival couplets are full of words of blessing and expectations for the coming year, entrusting people's yearning for a better life.
New Year's paintings are often presented with auspicious patterns and festive colors, implying a bumper harvest and auspicious wishes.
Under the portraits of gods such as the door god and the stove god, people will also paste red paper or gold leaf to show reverence and pray for blessings.
3. Keeping the New Year and worshiping ancestors: Keeping the New Year is the time when the old and the new are alternated, and people will stay by the fire, chatting and entertaining while tasting food, waiting for the arrival of the new year.
In addition, many families also perform ancestor worship ceremonies on Chinese New Year's Eve. They will set up ancestral tablets in their homes, place offerings, burn incense and wine, and express their respect and gratitude to their ancestors.
In this way, people do not forget the kindness of their ancestors and pray for the blessings and blessings of their ancestors.
4. Eat Chinese New Year's Eve dinner: Chinese New Year's Eve dinner is the highlight of Chinese New Year's Eve and the witness of family reunion.
The meal is very hearty and usually has traditional delicacies such as fish, meat, dumplings, etc.
Fish symbolizes surplus every year, meat symbolizes wealth and good luck, and dumplings have the meaning of "fortune and treasure".
During the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner, the family will respect and love each other, talk freely, and spend a warm and happy evening together.
5. Set off fireworks: Fireworks are one of the indispensable elements of Chinese New Year's Eve.
Fireworks are set off in an open area outside, and colorful fireworks are set off in the air, symbolizing the dispel of all bad luck and calamity.
The sound of firecrackers represents the joy and joy of welcoming the New Year.
6. Watch the Spring Festival Gala: Another important traditional event on Chinese New Year's Eve is the ** Spring Festival Gala.
Since 1983, the Spring Festival Gala has become an important cultural feast for Chinese to welcome the New Year.
People will sit in front of the TV in advance and wait for the show to start, enjoy the wonderful performances, and spend a pleasant evening with laughter.
The Spring Festival Gala not only shows the charm of Chinese culture, but also embodies the nostalgia and family and country feelings of Chinese children.
Conclusion: As one of the most important traditional festivals in China, Chinese New Year's Eve carries rich cultural connotations and folk customs.
These traditional customs not only make people feel the warmth and happiness of home, but also convey the unique charm and profound heritage of Chinese culture.
In the new year, may we all be reunited with our families, happy and healthy!