Guide:
The Spring Festival is the most anticipated day of the year. On this day, whether it is the city or the countryside, whether it is rich or poor, whether it is the elderly or children, they will put aside their usual busyness and troubles, gather together, share their families, and celebrate new beginnings. The customs of the Spring Festival have been passed down from generation to generation, and they bear witness to the history and culture of the Chinese, as well as record the emotions and ideals of the Chinese. Some of these customs have disappeared, some are still continuing, some have changed, and some are still innovating. Let's review the stories of the Spring Festival that moved or are moving or joyful for us.
Picture 1: Lama Temple's jumping cloth
This is an old photograph taken during the Spring Festival in 1919, when China had entered the Republican period. In the photo, many people gathered in front of the Lama Temple are watching a performance of dancing Buza. Dancing Buzha is a religious ritual in the Mongolian region, in which Tibetan Buddhist monks play various sacred beasts and ghosts, and use dance to ward off evil spirits and pray for good luck.
Picture 2: The New Year's flavor of paper-cut window flowers
This is an old photo from the sixties of the last century, and the girl in the photo is called Haiyan, who is a paper-cutting artist. She has been learning paper-cutting with her grandmother since she was a child, and her grandmother can cut out all kinds of beautiful window flowers, flowers, birds, fish and insects, as well as auspicious words. Every Spring Festival, Haiyan's home will be covered with window grilles, so that the whole home is full of festive atmosphere.
Picture 3: The custom of sacrificing to the gods
This is an old photograph from the last years of the Qing Dynasty, and the scene in the photo is a family performing a ritual during the Spring Festival. They placed incense and candles, flowers, fruits, and other offerings in the courtyard, and then burned incense and bowed to pray for the blessings and protection of the gods. It is an ancient custom that embodies the reverence and gratitude of people for nature and the gods.
Photo 4: Fei Xiang's Spring Festival Gala night
This is an old photo of the 1987 Spring Festival Gala, and the male singer in the photo is Fei Xiang, who is a famous pop music singer. He sang a song "A Fire in Winter" in the Spring Festival Gala, and ignited the enthusiasm of the national audience with his voice and dancing. This song has become his masterpiece and the memory of a generation.
Picture 5: The little chubby baby in the New Year's painting
This is an old photo from the Qing Dynasty, and the painting in the photo is a New Year painting, which is a traditional Chinese folk art that is usually pasted on the wall or door around the Spring Festival to symbolize auspiciousness. The protagonist of this New Year painting is a little chubby baby, who is holding a big carp in his hand, symbolizing more than every year, and also placing people's wishes for the reproduction of children and grandchildren.
Photo 6: Fei Xiang's Spring Festival Gala night
This is an old photo of the 1987 Spring Festival Gala, and the male singer in the photo is Fei Xiang, who is a famous pop music singer. He sang a song "A Fire in Winter" in the Spring Festival Gala, and ignited the enthusiasm of the national audience with his voice and dancing. This song has become his masterpiece and the memory of a generation.
Picture 7: The fun of visiting the temple fair
This is an old photo from the 80s of the last century, and the scene in the photo is a temple fair, a traditional Chinese folk fair, usually held during the Spring Festival or other festivals, where people can buy New Year's goods, eat snacks, play games, watch performances, etc. The little ones in the photo are very happy, they can taste delicious food such as rock sugar gourds, sugar people, sugar paintings, etc., and they can also enjoy a variety of wonderful works of art.
Picture 8: Spring Festival on stilts
This is an old photograph from 1928 that shows a group of people stepping on stilts during the Spring Festival, a traditional Chinese folk performance in which young men in colorful costumes stand on two long bamboo poles and walk down the street, performing various movements and techniques. This kind of performance not only tests the ability to balance, but also implies high and auspicious.
Photo 9: New Year's greetings
On the first day of the new year, an old secretary rode a bicycle to the countryside and sent the care of the party and the state to the villagers. He not only kindly inquired about their living conditions, but also helped them post New Year couplets, wishing them a happy new year and a good harvest. The villagers gratefully gathered around him and paid him their respects and gratitude.
Picture 10: The temptation of the TV
At the end of the seventies, television sets were still a rare luxury, available only to a few city dwellers. When the news came after the Spring Festival that black and white TVs could be bought without TV tickets, many people were excited and rushed to the stores, hoping to buy this magical thing. Some people even come from afar, spending time and money just to see what the TV looks like, or to be lucky enough to buy one.
Photo 11: The fun of fireworks
At that time, fireworks were children's favorite toys and a must-have for the Spring Festival. Every Chinese New Year's Eve, the children will excitedly take out their fireworks and set them off on the street with their friends. They would play pranks on each other, throwing cannonballs or ground rats at someone's feet, and laughing at their panicked looks. Although doing so will ruin their new clothes, they don't care, they just think it's fun for the New Year.
Photo 12: The warmth of making dumplings
During the Chinese New Year, making dumplings is an important family activity and a way to express family affection. The elders will prepare the dumpling wrappers and fillings in advance and wrap them with the children. Children will learn to knead dumplings with curiosity, and although the dumplings are made in different shapes, the elders will praise them and make them proud. The whole family sat together, chatting while wrapping, waiting for the dumplings to be cooked, and enjoying the warmth of the New Year.
Photo 13: anticipation of new clothes
At that time, people's lives were not rich, and new clothes were a rare thing that could only be worn during the New Year. Children will especially look forward to the new clothes that their mother has made for them, put it at the head of the bed, look at it carefully before going to bed, and then have a good dream. The next morning, they can't wait to put on their new clothes, run out to show off with their friends, and feel the joy of the new year.
Picture 14: The song of the Chinese in the last years of the Qing Dynasty
In the last years of the Qing Dynasty, some Chinese emigrated overseas, looking for opportunities and hope in a foreign land. When the New Year comes, they will gather together and sing the song that represents their attachment and pride in their motherland: "We all have a home, the name is China......" Their songs are full of power and emotion, through time and space, echoing in their hearts.
Photo 15: The Spring Festival tug-of-war in Wanghaotun Town, Heze
During the Spring Festival in 1991, the villagers of Wanghaotun Town, Heze held a unique tug-of-war competition. This is an activity initiated by them to celebrate the achievements of reform and opening up, enhance friendship between neighbors, and show the unity and vitality of the villagers. The tug-of-war competition attracted the participation of the whole village, everyone cheered each other for victory, and the scene was very lively and joyful.
Photo 16: Traditional customs of the Spring Festival
Spring Festival is the most important festival for Chinese, it has a long history and rich cultural connotations. During the Spring Festival, people will change into new clothes, eat Chinese New Year's Eve dinner, set off firecrackers, visit relatives and friends, visit temple fairs, and pray for a safe and auspicious new year. These customs are our cultural heritage and our collective memory, which deserves to be cherished and passed on.