Origin, customs and taboos of Spring Festival celebration
Regarding the origin of the custom of celebrating the New Year, it is said that in ancient times there was a monster with a single horn on its head and a mouth like a blood basin. People called it "Nian". Every night on the 30th night of the twelfth lunar month, it escapes out of the mountains and forests to plunder and devour people. People had to prepare some meat and put it outside the door, then closed the door, and hid at home. It was not until the morning of the new moon, when Nian had a full meal and left, that people opened the door to meet each other, bowed and congratulated each other.
Celebrating the New Year is a traditional folk custom in China. It is a way for people to say goodbye to the old and welcome the new and express their best wishes to each other.
In ancient times, the original meaning of the word "New Year" was to pay tribute to the elderly for the New Year, which included kowtowing to the elderly, congratulating them for a happy New Year, and congratulating them for a good life. When you meet relatives and friends of your generation, you should also salute and celebrate.
New Year greetings usually start at home. On the morning of the lunar new day, after getting up, the younger generation must first congratulate the elders on the New Year and wish them health and longevity, and all the best. After the elder is worshipped, he must distribute the "New Year's Eve expenses" prepared in advance to the younger generation. After paying New Year greetings to the elders at home, people also have to smile and congratulate the New Year when they go out and meet each other, saying auspicious words such as "Congratulations on prosperity","Have the best seasons", and "Happy New Year". Neighbors or relatives and friends also visit each other to celebrate the New Year or invite each other to drink and entertain them.
In Volume 6 of "Dongjing Dream Hualu", Yuansheng Meng of the Song Dynasty wrote about Bianjing in the Northern Song Dynasty: "October 1st is the New Year's Festival, and Kaifeng Prefecture is closed for three days. Scholars and civilians congratulate each other early." In the middle of the Ming Dynasty, Lu Rong said in Volume 5 of "Shuyuan Miscellaneous Notes","On New Year's Day in the capital, people travel on staggered roads for several days from officials in the court to ordinary people, which is called a 'New Year '. However, scholars and ordinary people each worship their relatives and friends more sincerely. When there are exchanges between the court and officials, there is more charity than specialization..." Gu Tieqing, a Qing Dynasty man, described in "Qing Jialu","Men and women worship their parents in turn, while the master leads the younger ones to visit neighbors and friends, or only send their children to congratulate them on their behalf. This is called 'New Year '. There are people who do not meet each other at the end of the year, but also go to each other and worship at the door..."