For example, people in the north eat dumplings, while people in the south eat glutinous rice balls. Since the New Year, the family has been busy in the New Year, cleaning the room, removing dust, eating more delicious food, and preparing to welcome the new year. Until New Year's Eve, the whole family gathers together to have New Year's Eve dinner. However, at this time, there must be controversy among netizens. For example, most northerners should eat dumplings during the Chinese New Year, but many southerners feel that they should eat glutinous rice balls during the Chinese New Year. So, is there really such a big difference between the north and the south? Let’s start with the origin of the Spring Festival.

The origin of the Spring Festival: Every Chinese is familiar with the Spring Festival. It has been with us since we were born, carrying forward our childhood memories and inheriting the traditions of our ancestors. All the children began to tell the legend of the "Nian Beast". Legend has it that a long time ago, there was a monster named "Nian" in ancient times. On New Year's Eve, it climbed up from the bottom of the sea and hurt humans. People who had no choice but to flee to the mountains had no choice but to flee. Later, someone told the Nian beast that it was most afraid of the color red, explosions and fire, so every household put up Spring Festival couplets and lit firecrackers on New Year's Eve. As expected, the Nian beast was scared away. The custom spread more and more widely, and later became the Spring Festival. The Spring Festival is also called the New Year. On the first day of the Lunar New Year, everyone happily greets each other. In addition to the legend of the Nian beast, there is also folk legend that a long time ago called Wannian Youth, he was inspired by the movement of tree shadows to design a clepsydra and a dial that measured the sun's shadow and measured the time of the day. The perpetual calendar was born based on the instrument, and the Spring Festival came from the perpetual calendar.

There is a legend about the origin of the Spring Festival. More than 2000 BC, Shun succeeded the leader of the tribal alliance. Later, Shun led the tribe to worship heaven and earth on the first day of the first lunar month, so later generations regarded this day as The beginning of the year. In addition to this, legend has it that during the Shang and Zhou dynasties, officials and emperors would all worship eight gods to pray for good weather in the coming year, which later evolved into the Spring Festival. There are so many legends about the origin of the Spring Festival alone, not to mention the customs of the Spring Festival?

Northern New Year Customs: Henan is located in the Central Plains, the birthplace of Chinese civilization. It has a long history, its customs are very representative, and its profound cultural heritage makes it have many unique New Year customs. Henan people have a lot of "fried goods" on their New Year's Eve dinner, which are also "fried New Year goods". Fried radish balls, fried meatballs, fried vegetable buns, and fried crispy pork are all delicacies that Henan people cannot miss on their dining tables during the Spring Festival.

Besides eating, people in Henan like to celebrate the Spring Festival. "Criticizing Shehuo" is an activity with special regional characteristics. A typical example is the Shehuo Fire in Yangping Town, Lingbao City, Henan Province. In 2007, it was included in the intangible cultural heritage of Henan Province. The ?Scouting social fire? activity has two performances: social fire and scolding. It lasts until the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, and the activities are always very lively. The scolding wars are usually based on the village. Villagers in the village will select the villagers who are sharp-tongued and have particularly loud voices to go to other villages to fight with gongs and drums. Of course, "cursing" refers to expectations for the New Year and one's own motivation, rather than actually cursing, so participants will not only not be angry, but also experience the joy of celebrating the New Year in the process.

Southern New Year Customs:

People in the north have a great time during the New Year, and people in the south are certainly not to be outdone. Take Guangdong as an example. The lively New Year celebrations are no less lively than those in the north. Beijing has its temple fairs and Guangdong has its flower markets. Here, visiting the flower market is called "walking in the flower market". Visiting the flower market and having New Year’s Eve dinner are essential activities on New Year’s Eve. Due to the geographical location in the south, the temperature in Guangzhou is not low in the first month, so there are many flowers in bloom. In fact, whether it is glutinous rice balls or dumplings, they all contain people’s expectations for the New Year and reunion. China is a country with a vast territory and many ethnic groups. Different customs across the country reflect the unique cultural traditions of people of various regions and ethnic groups.

It doesn’t matter whether you eat glutinous rice balls or dumplings. What’s important is that the whole family can get together and welcome the New Year happily!