China
        

Society

Backgrounder: The Spring Festival

Updated: 2011-02-03 10:04

(Xinhua)

Twitter Facebook Myspace Yahoo! Linkedin Mixx

The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, is the most important traditional holiday for Chinese people, just like Christmas in the west.

The Spring Festival, which dates back thousands of years, falls on the first day of the first lunar month. The festival, which falls on February 3 this year, is an occasion for family reunions.

Hundreds of millions people travel around the Spring Festival holiday, congesting transport systems as the world's largest annual human migration takes place. People often go on shopping sprees to prepare for the week-long holiday.

According to the lunar calendar, 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit.

According to the Chinese zodiac, each year is represented by one of 12 different animals: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Ram, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.

The following are some Spring Festival traditions:

- Families clean their houses to sweep away bad luck.

- Many decorate their windows and doors with red color paper-cuts and happiness, wealth, good luck and longevity-themed couplets.

- People often have baths and haircuts to welcome the new year.

- Families offer sacrifices, light candles and burn incense and even paper money to pay their respects to the gods and their ancestors.

- A lavish family dinner is served on the eve of the Lunar New Year. Some stay up all night to cherish the year just past and welcome the new year.

- Families usually set off fireworks at midnight or early in the morning. The fireworks were used to drive away devils - now they add to the jubilant atmosphere.

- Early in the morning, children greet their parents, grandparents and other elders by wishing them a happy new year. They often receive a red envelope with money inside in return.

- Dumplings are typically eaten in northern China while sticky rice cakes are popular in the south.

E-paper

Ear We Go

China and the world set to embrace the merciful, peaceful year of rabbit

Preview of the coming issue
Carrefour finds the going tough in China
Maid to Order

European Edition

Specials

Mysteries written in blood

Historical records and Caucasian features of locals suggest link with Roman Empire.

Winning Charm

Coastal Yantai banks on little things that matter to grow

New rules to hit property market

The State Council launched a new round of measures to rein in property prices.

Top 10 of 2010
China Daily in Europe
The Confucius connection