Chinese Traditional Festival (Spring Festival)

 The Spring Festival is the most important traditional festival in China and has a wide variety of colorful customs.

                                                       Pasting Spring Couplets

Spring couplets are usually antithetical sentences with neat antithesis and auspicious

 meanings written on red paper. On the eve of the Spring Festival, people paste spring couplets on both sides of the front door to express good wishes for the New Year and drive away evil spirits. Couplets such as "The old year leaves amid the sound of firecrackers; The spring breeze brings warmth into Tusu wine" are very popular.

                                                Staying up Late on New Year's Eve

On New Year's Eve, the whole family gets together and stays up late to welcome the arrival of the New Year. People chat and watch TV programs together, especially the Spring Festival Gala. Staying up symbolizes driving away bad luck from the old year and looking forward to good luck in the New Year.

                                                        Paying New Year's Calls

During the Spring Festival, people visit relatives and friends to pay New Year's calls to each other. The younger generation kowtows or bows to the elders, wishing them a long and healthy life and a happy New Year. The elders will give red envelopes to the younger generation. The red envelopes contain money and represent good luck and blessings.

                                                        Setting off Firecrackers

Although it is restricted in many cities for safety and environmental reasons, setting off firecrackers was once an essential activity during the Spring Festival. The sound of firecrackers can add a festive atmosphere to the festival. Legend has it that it can also drive away the "Nian" beast. People think that the crackling sound of firecrackers can scare away evil spirits.

                                            Having a Family Reunion Dinner

The family reunion dinner is the most important meal of the Spring Festival and is usually held on New Year's Eve. Family members will try to come home no matter how far they are. There are various dishes with auspicious meanings on the table, such as fish (representing having more than enough every year) and dumplings (whose shape is like a gold ingot, representing attracting wealth and treasures).