The first day of the first lunar month is the New Year in the Chinese lunar calendar.Among the traditional Chinese festivals,this is the most important and the most bustling .Since it occurs at the end of winter and the beginning of spring,people also call it the Spring Festival.
Chinese have many traditional customs relating to the Spring Festival.From the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month,people start to prepare for the event.Every faily will undertake a thorough cleanning,do their Spring Festival shopping,create paper-cuts for window decoration,put up New Year pictures,write Spring Festival couplets,make New Year cakes,and also prepare all kinds of food to bid farewell to the old and usher in the new.
New Year’s Eve is the time for a happy reunion of all the family member,when they sit around the table to have a sumptuous New Year’s Eve dinner,talking and laughing,until daybreak,which is called “ staying up to see the year out”.when the bell tolls midnight on New Year’s Eve,people eat dumplings.
From the first day of the lunar year,people visit relatives and friends,to great each other,which is an important custom for the Spring Festival.
Setting off firecrackers is the favorite activitiy of children in the Spring Festival.According to legend,this could drive off evil spirits.The continuous sound of firecrackers can be heard everywhere,adding to the atmosphere of rejoicing and festivity.
Many places hold temple fairs during the Spring Festival.The onderfull dragon lantern dance and lion dance performances,along wit various handicraft articles and local snacks attract thousands of people.
These customs have been changed a lot over the years,but for the Chiense all over the wolrd,the Srping Festival is the most important day,and firecrackers and dumplings are the two most important things of this day.
