The Lunar New Year, also known as Spring Festival, is the most significant holiday in China. It’s a time of family, celebration, and renewal. Here’s how China celebrates this special occasion.
The festivities begin on New Year’s Eve with a family reunion dinner. This meal is one of the most important of the year, featuring dishes that symbolize good luck and prosperity for the coming year. Dumplings, fish, and glutinous rice cakes are common fare. After dinner, will take some gifts.
Following the reunion dinner, many families tune in to watch the annual Spring Festival Gala, a variety show featuring performances from some of China’s biggest stars. As midnight approaches, the skies light up with fireworks and firecrackers to ward off evil spirits and usher in the new year.
The first day of the new year is often reserved for honoring elders. Many people visit their parents and grandparents, offering them wishes for a healthy and prosperous year. It’s also common to give children red envelopes, or ‘hongbao’, filled with money, today, people will wear new clothes, new hat, and new shoes, and new socks.
Throughout the 15-day celebration, various traditional activities take place. Lion and dragon dances are performed to bring good luck and fortune. Lantern festivals are held, where people release lanterns into the sky or float them on water.
Food continues to play a central role throughout the festival. Many families make ‘tangyuan’, sweet glutinous rice balls, during the Lantern Festival. These symbolize family unity and perfection.
The Lunar New Year period ends with the Lantern Festival, celebrated on the 15th day of the first lunar month. People come together to admire the beautiful lanterns, solve lantern riddles, and eat tangyuan, marking the end of the New Year celebrations.
In conclusion, the Lunar New Year is a time of family, celebration, and renewal in China. Despite the modern age, these traditional celebrations continue, reminding us of the rich cultural heritage of this ancient civilization.
Post time: Jan-25-2024