My teacher asked me share her some things about Chinese traditional customs of the Spring Festival yesterday.
So I found out.
The first day of the first lunar month is the New Year’s Day in the Chinese lunar calendar.
It is a time especially for rest and joy. We can’t wait to go home for it .
It is the most solemn of traditional Chinese folk festivals.
The Chinese have many traditional customs relating to the festival.
Family undertake a thorough cleaning.
Do their Spring Festival shopping.
Create paper-cuts(剪纸) for window decoration.
Put up New Year pictures(年画).
Write Spring Festival couplets(对联) and make New Year cakes(年糕).
The people would give children lucky money as a gift of new year and give some blessing for them.
The night before the festival is the New Year’s Eve(除夕).
It is the time for a happy family reunion to have a sumptuous New Year’s Eve dinner.
People talk and laugh until daybreak.
Which is called “staying up to see the year out “.
When the bell tolls midnight people eat dumplings.
Setting off firecrackers is a favorite activity of children in the festival.
The sound of firecrackers can be heard everywhere.
Adding to the rejoicing atmosphere.
From the first day of the lunar year people visit relatives and friends to greet each other.
We called that paying New Year’s visit to them.
Another thing that some holiday gathering was hold between friends is common
For the Chinese all over the world, the Spring Festival is the most important day.
red envelopes/red packets=A traditional Chinese gift of money presented in a red envelope.