The custom of hanging Spring Festival couplets dates back to the Song Dynasty. During this time, every household decorates their doorways with these couplets, commonly known as "door couplets" or "spring stickers." They must be red to enhance the festive atmosphere, symbolizing people's aspirations for welcoming good fortune and embracing a new life.
Upside-Down "Fu" Characters
During the Spring Festival, families adorn their homes with "Fu" characters, symbolizing blessings, fortune, and happiness. These characters are often hung upside down, as the Chinese word for "upside-down" (倒) sounds similar to "arrived" (到), signifying that blessings have arrived.
New Year's Eve Dinner
The New Year's Eve dinner is one of the most important customs of the Spring Festival. Also known as the reunion dinner or family gathering feast, it specifically refers to the family meal held on New Year's Eve. This tradition originated from ancient year-end sacrificial rituals, where families would worship deities and ancestors before gathering for a feast.For Chinese families, the New Year's Eve dinner is a reunion feast, the most lavish and significant meal of the year.In some families, parents place the money under their children's pillows after they fall asleep at night. Giving New Year's money embodies elders' care and heartfelt blessings for the younger generation. Staying Up All Night Another significant custom on New Year's Eve is staying up all night, also known as keeping the New Year's fire or illuminating the year. This long-standing tradition is one of China's folk New Year customs.On New Year's Eve, the custom primarily involves lighting the "year-keeping fire" or "year-guarding fire," where every household keeps lamps and candles burning all night. Families gather together to welcome the new year. Keeping lights and candles burning throughout the night is called "illuminating the void," believed to bring prosperity to the household in the coming year.
Why Firecrackers During Spring Festival
Lively Atmosphere
The tradition of setting off firecrackers during the New Year celebrations has always existed. The loud explosions shatter the surrounding quiet, adding a lively atmosphere to the Spring Festival and enhancing the festive spirit.
Bidding Farewell to the Old and Welcoming the New
Households love setting off firecrackers during the Spring Festival because it symbolizes bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming the new one. This also expresses people's aspirations for a better life in the coming year.
Banishing the Nian Beast
Legend tells of a monstrous beast called "Nian" that terrorized ancient times, ravaging crops, harming people, and committing every conceivable evil. Later, people discovered this beast feared loud noises, the color red, and bright light. Thus, they produced vast quantities of firecrackers to drive away the monster.