"The sound of firecrackers in the first year, the spring breeze sends warmth into the Tu Su" of the "Tu Su" refers to Tu Su wine. Ancient people had the custom of drinking tusu wine on the first day of the first month of the lunar calendar, which was meant to drive away evil spirits, avoid the plague and seek longevity. The phrase "the sound of firecrackers is the beginning of a new year, and the spring breeze brings warmth into the Tu Su" is from "The Day of the New Year," written by Wang Anshi, a poet of the Song Dynasty.

The New Year's Day

Wang Anshi

The sound of firecrackers marks the end of the year, and the spring breeze brings warmth to Tu Su.

A thousand doors and tens of thousands of tels, always changing the new peach for the old one.

Translation

The old year has passed with the sound of firecrackers, and with the warm spring breeze, we are enjoying drinking Tusu wine.

The rising sun shines on thousands of households, all of which have taken down their old peach charms and replaced them with new ones.

Background

This poem was written at the time when Wang Anshi was first appointed as a minister and started to implement his new policy. In order to get rid of the political and economic crisis faced by the Song dynasty and the constant intrusion of Liao and Xixia, Wang Anshi was summoned by Emperor Shenzong of the Song Dynasty in 1068, and he wrote a letter to advocate for a change of law. In the following year, he became the Counselor of Government and presided over the change of law. In the New Year of the same year, Wang Anshi associated with the new atmosphere at the beginning of the change of law, and had the feeling to create this poem.