**The Origin and Customs of Chinese New Year**
**Origin:**
Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival, is the most important traditional festival in China. It has a history of over 4,000 years and is based on the Chinese lunar calendar. The festival celebrates the beginning of a new year on the first day of the first lunar month, which usually falls between late January and mid-February.
According to ancient Chinese mythology, the festival originated from a time when a mythical beast called the "Nian" (Year) would come out at the end of the year to eat people and livestock. To scare the Nian away, villagers would set off fireworks, wear red clothes, and hang red lanterns. These customs have been passed down through generations and became an integral part of the Chinese New Year celebrations.
**Customs:**
1. **Spring Cleaning:** Before the New Year, people clean their homes from top to bottom to sweep away bad luck and make way for good fortune.
2. **Red Decorations:** Red is the color of happiness and good luck in Chinese culture. People decorate their homes with red lanterns, couplets, and paper cuttings.
3. **Fireworks and Firecrackers:** Fireworks and firecrackers are set off to ward off evil spirits and attract good luck.
4. **Family Reunions:** The most important aspect of the Chinese New Year is the family reunion. People travel long distances to be with their families and celebrate together.
5. **Dumplings and Nian Gao:** Traditional foods like dumplings and Nian Gao (a sticky rice cake) are eaten during the New Year. Dumplings symbolize wealth, while Nian Gao represents prosperity and growth.
6. **New Year'sGreetings:** People exchange greetings such as "Gong Xi Fa Cai" (Wishing you wealth and happiness) and "Xin Nian Kuai Le" (Happy New Year).
7. **Dragon and Lion Dances:** These traditional performances are believed to bring good luck and drive away evil spirits.
8. **Red envelopes:** Elders give red envelopes containing money to younger family members as a gift and blessing for the coming year.
**Festivities in Chinese New Year (风俗中英文):**
1. **春联 (Chunlian):** The couplets are red paper scrolls with traditional poems or blessings written on them, which are hung on doors to bring good luck.
2. **剪纸 (Jianzhi):** Red paper cuttings with various patterns and symbols, like golden fish or flowers, are used to decorate homes.
3. **灯笼 (Denglong):** Red lanterns are hung in windows and on doors to light up the celebrations and symbolize joy and prosperity.
4. **拜年 (Bainian):** Visiting friends and family to wish each other a happy New Year and receive red envelopes.
5. **放鞭炮 (Fang paozhu):** Set off fireworks and firecrackers to create loud noises that scare away evil spirits.
6. **贴福字 (Tie fu zi):** Paste "fu" (meaning "luck" or "blessing") characters on doors and walls to attract good fortune.
7. **年夜饭 (Nianye fan):** A special dinner with family, often including dishes like dumplings, fish, and Nian Gao.
8. **庙会 (Miaohui):** Traditional street markets with food stalls, games, and performances that are held during the New Year period.
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