Spring Festival, a festival full of festivity and peace, is one of the most important traditional festivals of the Chinese people. However, in the vast land of China, due to the differences in region, climate, history and other aspects, the north and south have formed their own distinctive Spring Festival customs. Today, let us cross the boundary between the north and the south, explore the similarities and differences between the north and the south of the Spring Festival customs, and feel the diversity and richness of this traditional festival. Whether it is dumplings and firecrackers in the north, or rice cakes, dragon and lion dances in the south, every custom carries people's best wishes and expectations for the New Year. Let's immerse ourselves in this strong festive atmosphere and feel the warmth and joy that belongs to the Spring Festival.
Food Customs:
- In the north, dumplings are an indispensable food during the Spring Festival. People usually make dumplings while watching the Spring Festival Gala on Chinese New Year's Eve, and they will put coins, sugar, peanuts and other mascots in the dumplings, symbolizing good luck and wealth. On the morning of the first day of the first lunar month, the whole family will eat dumplings together, implying the alternation of the old and the new.
- In the south, the staple food during the Spring Festival is usually rice cakes and glutinous rice balls. Rice cakes symbolize ascension year by year, while glutinous rice balls symbolize family reunion and happiness. In addition, southerners will also eat fish during the Spring Festival, because "fish" and "yu" are homophonic, implying that there is more than every year.
New Year's Customs:
- In the north, it is common for people to start greeting on the morning of the first day of the new year, first to the elders and then to neighbors. During New Year's greetings, the elders will give red envelopes to the younger ones, which means to send good luck and blessings.
- In the south, New Year's greetings usually begin on the second or third day of the Lunar New Year, and more emphasis is placed on family and relatives. In the south, in addition to red envelopes, some gifts such as sweets and pastries will be given during New Year's greetings.
Recreational Activities:
- In the south, there are various entertainment activities during the Spring Festival, such as dragon and lion dances, colorful boat rowing, bamboo horse running, stilt walking, etc., which are aimed at driving away evil spirits and praying for good luck. In addition, there are also celebrations such as temple fairs and lantern festivals in the southern region, where people can enjoy performances, taste food, buy New Year's goods, etc.
- In the north, there are also various celebrations during the Spring Festival, such as setting off firecrackers and visiting temple fairs. The temple fair is one of the important activities during the Spring Festival in the north, and people can go to the temple or ancestral hall to participate in the temple fair and pray for the blessings of the gods and the safety of the family. In addition, northerners will also play ice and snow sports during the Spring Festival, such as skiing and ice skating.
Other customs:
- In the north, another important custom during the Spring Festival is the pasting of window flowers and spring couplets. Window flowers are usually made of red paper with various patterns, such as flowers, animals, etc., which symbolize good luck. The Spring Festival couplets are neat couplets, which convey people's good expectations for the new year.
- In the south, there is also the custom of pasting couplets and blessing characters during the Spring Festival, but more attention is paid to reunions and sacrificial activities between families and relatives. In addition, there are some unique customs in the southern region, such as the release of sky lanterns, fire dragon dances, etc.
In general, there are some differences between the north and the south in terms of Spring Festival customs, and these differences reflect the cultural traditions and lifestyles of different regions. But in both the north and the south, the Spring Festival is an important traditional festival, during which people will go home for reunions, worship their ancestors, and pray for peace and auspiciousness in the coming year.