The Spring Festival,the most Important Traditional Festival in China
2 min readChinese New Year is often called Chinese Lunar New Year although it actually is lunisolar.It is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays.It is an all East and South-East-Asiacelebration.In China it is known as the”Spring Festival”,the literal translation of the Chinese name (chunjie),owing tothe difference between Western and traditional Chinesemethods for computing the seasons.It marks the end ofthe winter season,analogous to the Western carnival.Thefestival begins on the first day of the first month(zhengyue)inthe traditional Chinese calendar and ends with the LanternFestival which is on the 15th day. Chinese New Year’sEve,a day when Chinese families gather for their annualreunion dinner,is known as Chú Xi(chu)or”Eve of the New Year.”
Chinese New Year is the longest and most important festivity in the Chinese lunisolarcalendar.The origin of Chinese New Year is itself centuries old and gains significance becauseof several myths and traditions.Ancient Chinese New Year is a reflection on how the peoplebehaved and what they believed in the most.
Chinese New Year is celebrated in countries and territories with significant Chinesepopulations,such as China,Indonesia,Malaysia,Philippines,Singapore.Thailand,and also InChinatowns elsewhere.Chinese New Year is considered a major holiday for the Chinese andhas had influence on the new year celebrations of its geographic neighbors,as well as cultureswith whom the Chinese have had extensive interaction.These include Koreans,and Bhutanese.Mongolians,Vietnamese,and the Japanese before 1873.
In countries such as Australia,Canada and the United States,although Chinese New Year Isnot an official holiday,many ethnic Chinese hold large celebrations and Australia Post.CanadaPost,and the US Postal Service issue New Year’s themed stamps.
Within China,regional customs and traditions concerning the celebration of the ChineseNew Year vary widely.People will pour out their money to buy presents,decoration,material,food,and clothing.It is also a tradition that every family thoroughly cleans the house to sweepaway any ill-fortune in hope of making way for good incoming luck.Windows and doors will bedecorated with red colour paper-cuts and couplets with popular themes of”happiness”,”wealth”,and”longevity”.On the Eve of Chinese New Year,supper is a feast with families.Food willinclude such items as pigs,ducks,chicken and sweet delicacies.The family will end the nightwith firecrackers.Early the next morning,children will greet their parents by wishing them ahealthy and happy new year,and receive money in red paper envelopes.The Chinese New Yeartradition is to reconcile,forget all grudges and sincerely wish peace and happiness for everyone.
