In the time of Confucius, the Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, was the most important festival of the year, with a series of celebrations and traditional customs. While the exact way to celebrate may vary from region to region and family to family, here are some of the common New Year customs:
1. Sacrifice to ancestors:
This is one of the most solemn events during the Spring Festival. People will set up altars in their homes or ancestral temples to show respect and gratitude to their ancestors. They would prepare sumptuous food, wine, and other offerings, and pray for the blessings and protection of their ancestors. This tradition embodies respect and respect for ancestors, and is an important way to unite family feelings.
2. Family Reunification:
Chinese New Year is a festival of family reunion. In the time of Confucius, family members would come together as much as possible to spend this special moment together. Together, they prepare the Chinese New Year's Eve Dinner, a sumptuous dinner that usually consists of a variety of delicacies that symbolizes reunion and a good harvest. At the dinner table, family members will bless each other and express their love and blessings to each other.
3. Keeping the New Year:
On Chinese New Year's Eve, family members stay at home and wait for the new year to arrive. This is known as "keeping the year". It is believed that doing so will drive away evil spirits and misfortune and bring good luck and happiness. In the process of keeping the New Year, family members will make dumplings, paste Spring Festival couplets, set off firecrackers, etc., to welcome the arrival of the New Year together. These events are filled with joy and festivity, and are also an important way to bond with family members.
4. Wear new clothes:
Chinese New Year is also a new beginning, and people will wear new clothes to welcome the new year. New clothes are usually red, as red symbolizes luck and auspiciousness in Chinese culture. Wearing new clothes is not only to show your new look, but also to pray for peace, smoothness and happiness in the new year.
It should be noted that although we can learn about some of the Chinese New Year customs of the Confucius era from historical documents and archaeological discoveries, due to the changes of the times and the evolution of culture, these customs may differ in specific details. In addition, Confucius himself was a philosopher and educator, and his writings focused on moral, ethical, and educational issues, without detailing the specific ways in which the Chinese New Year was celebrated. Therefore, our understanding of the Chinese New Year customs in the time of Confucius is mainly derived from the research and inference of other historical documents and archaeological materials.
In general, the Chinese New Year customs of the Confucius era reflect people's respect for ancestors, the importance of family, the pursuit of happiness, and the good expectations for the new year. These customs not only enrich people's cultural life, but also enhance the cohesion and centripetal force of society.