History of Spring Festival
According to historical records, the Spring Festival was celebrated in Tang Yu, Sui in Xia Dynasty, Si in Shang Dynasty and Nian in Zhou Dynasty. The original meaning of "nian" refers to the growth cycle of grain, which is hot every year, so the Spring Festival is once a year, which means cool breeze.
It is also said that the Spring Festival originated in "La Worship" at the end of primitive society. At that time, whenever the twelfth lunar month in spring came to an end, the ancestors slaughtered pigs and sheep, sacrificed ghosts and gods and ancestors, and prayed for good weather in the new year to avoid disasters. Their faces were painted with vermilion and bird feathers, and they sang, danced, ate and drank, which was very lively.
However, it is generally believed that the Spring Festival began in Yu Shun. One day more than 2000 BC, Shun became emperor and led his men to worship heaven and earth. Since then, people have regarded this day as the beginning of a year. It is said that this is the origin of the Lunar New Year, which was later called the Spring Festival.
In different times, the name of the Spring Festival is different. In the pre-Qin period, it was called "going to Japan", "January Day", "changing the year" and "offering the year". In the Han Dynasty, it was also called "Three Dynasties", "Sui Dan", "Zheng Dan" and "Zhengri". Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties were called Chen Yuan, Yuan Ri, Fuehrer and Sui Dynasty. In the Tang, Song, Yuan and Ming dynasties, it was called New Year's Day, Yuan, New Year's Day and Singapore dollar. In the Qing Dynasty, it was always called "New Year's Day" or "Yuan Day".
It was not until after the Revolution of 1911 that the Lunar New Year was officially named Spring Festival. During the period of Beiyang government in the Republic of China, Yuan Shikai defined New Year's Day as Gregorian calendar 065438+1October 0 1 and renamed the first day of the first lunar month as Spring Festival.
China people have celebrated the Spring Festival for more than 4,000 years. People regard the first day of the first lunar month as the Spring Festival, and generally it doesn't end until the fifteenth day of the first lunar month (Shangyuan Festival).
The customs of the Spring Festival
? Cut window grilles?
Cutting window grilles is one of many customs. There are all kinds of animal and plant anecdotes on the window grilles, such as magpies climbing plum blossoms, swallows wearing peaches and willows, peacocks playing with peonies, lions rolling hydrangeas, three sheep (Yang) opening Thailand, two dragons playing with pearls, deer crane (Liuhe playing with spring), five bats (Fu) celebrating longevity, rhinoceros watching the moon, lotus (Lotus) having fish (the rest) and Yuanyang playing with water.
? Write Spring Festival couplets?
Spring Festival couplets, also known as "spring stickers" and "door pairs". It depicts a beautiful image with neat, concise and exquisite words. During the Spring Festival, no matter in urban or rural areas, every household should choose a pair of red Spring Festival couplets and stick them on the door to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new, so as to increase the festive atmosphere of the festival. For thousands of years, the form of Spring Festival couplets has developed from writing with a brush to printing on colored paper. However, the ever-changing flavor of the year is an eternal treasure in China people's bones.
? Sweep the dust?
Cleaning before the Spring Festival is a traditional custom in China, and it is also a way to get rid of bad luck and welcome happiness. On the day of dusting, the whole family began to clean the house and yard together, scrub the pots and pans, dismantle and wash the bedding, and greet the New Year cleanly. According to ancient records, there was a habit of cleaning at the end of the year in ancient times, and people used the homophonic sound of "dust" and "Chen" to express their willingness to get rid of the old and welcome the new.
The Spring Festival is an annual major festival of the Chinese nation, with a long history and rich cultural characteristics. Today, let's build a bright future with the joy of family reunion, the encouragement of love, the bond of friendship and hard work. To this end, the Spring Festival is not only a tradition to commemorate the past, but also a positive belief to embrace the future. It breeds inner hope and rich benefits with precious time. Let's live up to the time, savor the beautiful Spring Festival with our heart, pass on our best wishes to our family, friends and everyone around us, welcome the Spring Festival and wish you all a happy New Year!