Chinese New Year is the most important traditional festival in China, which has a long history and rich customs. These customs not only reflect the Chinese people's yearning for a good life but also carry profound cultural connotations and historical memories.
Firstly, one of the most typical customs is family reunion. On the eve of the New Year, no matter how far away they are, family members will try their best to get together and have a big dinner. For example, in many cities, there is a phenomenon called the “migration tide” during the Spring Festival transportation rush. People travel thousands of miles by train, plane or bus just to have this warm gathering with their families. The family reunion dinner is usually a feast with various delicious dishes, such as fish symbolizing abundance, dumplings representing wealth and reunion. It is a time for family members to share their joys and sorrows of the past year and look forward to the new year.
Secondly, house cleaning before the New Year is an essential part of the customs. This tradition is called "sweeping the dust". People will thoroughly clean every corner of their homes, getting rid of the dirt accumulated over the past year. It is believed that this can sweep away bad luck and make way for good luck in the coming year. For instance, in some rural areas, people even use special long brooms to reach high places to ensure no dust is left behind. In addition, after cleaning, people often paste couplets on the doors. Couplets are two lines of poetic writing with rhyming characters, expressing good wishes and hopes for the new year. The content usually includes blessings for wealth, health, peace and so on. Red lanterns are also hung outside the houses to create a festive and warm atmosphere.
Another important custom is giving red envelopes. Red envelopes, also known as "lucky money", are usually given by the elders to the younger generation. Inside the red envelopes are usually paper money. The color red is considered auspicious in Chinese culture, symbolizing good luck and happiness. For children, receiving red envelopes is one of the highlights of the Chinese New Year. It not only gives them a sense of joy but also is a kind of financial support for their future. In some families, the amount of money in the red envelopes may increase as the children grow up. For example, in some well-off families, the red envelopes for teenagers might be hundreds or even thousands of yuan.
Moreover, setting off firecrackers is an old custom that still exists in many places. The origin of this custom is related to ancient mythology, which says that firecrackers can scare away evil spirits. On Chinese New Year's Eve and the first few days of the new year, you can hear the deafening sound of firecrackers everywhere. Fireworks display is also an important activity. Various colorful fireworks light up the sky, creating a spectacular scene. However, due to environmental and safety reasons, in recent years, some places have restrictions on setting off firecrackers. Instead, electronic fireworks are becoming more popular, which can provide a similar visual effect without causing pollution or danger.
In conclusion, Chinese New Year customs are an important part of Chinese culture. They not only bring joy to the Chinese people but also help to preserve and pass on the unique cultural heritage. Through these customs, we can feel the strong family affection, the deep-rooted traditional values and the positive attitude towards life of the Chinese people. As time goes by, although some customs may change in form or scale, the essence and significance they contain will always be remembered by the Chinese people and continue to be inherited and developed.
