In China, as in many other countries of the world, the New Year, or Chun Jie, is the main and most beloved holiday of the year. The Chinese have been celebrating it for over 2,000 years. The traditions of Chun Jie celebration date back to the Neolithic period, when the Chinese celebrated La and Zha - the holidays that are the prototypes of the modern New Year.
New Year in China is celebrated according to the lunar calendar at the end of winter. Date floats: The celebrations begin on the second new moon after the winter solstice (roughly between Jan 21 and Feb 19). With the advent of the Gregorian calendar, Chun Jie began to be called the Spring Festival so that it would not be confused with the Western New Year. In everyday life, Chun Jie is simply called "Nian" (Chinese for "year").
The New Year Celebration in China is a 15-day festival with official weekends lasting a week. All this time, spectacular carnivals, endless pyrotechnic shows and theatrical performances are held. The love for fireworks and firecrackers, on which the Chinese spend colossal money, is due to tradition.
According to an ancient myth, on New Year's Eve, a terrible horned monster named Nian crawled out of the sea foam and devoured people and cattle. This happened annually, until one day, on New Year's Eve, a beggar old man came to the village of Tao Hua with a sack and a cane. The old man asked for food and shelter, and only one elderly woman offered the poor man food and lodging for the night. The beggar thanked her and promised to drive the monster away. He dressed in red, painted the doors of houses with red paint, lit the lights and started making noise with bamboo "fire rattles" (the very first pyrotechnics were invented in China). Nian, seeing this, was afraid to approach the village. Soon all the surrounding villages knew how to drive the monster away. In honor of the release from the Nanny, the residents organized a noisy celebration.
Since then, during Chun Jie, the streets of cities turn red from lanterns and decorations, and the sky is lit up with grandiose fireworks. Indispensable New Year's attributes are red, incense, fireworks, firecrackers and firecrackers.
As for the celebration, first of all, on the first New Year's Eve, one should not sleep: it is necessary to guard the year (this tradition is called "show sui"). During the first five holidays, it is customary to visit each other, but gifts cannot be given. The exception is small children who receive pocket money in red envelopes ("ya-sui qian").
Festive New Year dishes in China are those whose names are consonant with the words "happiness", "prosperity", etc. Basically, these are meat, fish, tofu bean curd.
During the festival in China, deceased ancestors are always honored and offerings are made to their spirits. Festive gifts to perfume are, as a rule, specific decorations and dishes: legumes and boiled rice. Chun Jie ends with a large-scale Festival of lanterns that are lit in the streets.
