1. The Origin of the Spring Festival

The Spring Festival, also known as Chinese New Year, is the most important traditional festival in China. The festival can be traced back to the Shang Dynasty (1600 BC-1046 BC) when people began to offer sacrifices to the gods and ancestors to pray for good fortune and a fertile harvest in the upcoming year. However, the legend behind the Spring Festival is much more exciting.

2. Nian - The Terrifying Beast

According to Chinese legend, there was a terrifying beast named Nian that would come once a year on New Year's Eve to prey on the villagers. They discovered that the beast was afraid of the color red and loud noises. So, every year, just before the New Year, the villagers would hang red lanterns and scrolls, set off firecrackers, and wear red clothes to scare Nian away. This is thought to be the origin of the customs we see today during the festival.

3. The Reunion of Families

One of the most important aspects of the Spring Festival is family reunion. This tradition started during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) when people migrated to different parts of China to work. The festival was an opportunity for families to come together to eat, drink, chat, and watch the traditional Spring Festival Gala on TV. In modern times, due to the widespread practice of urbanization in China, the tradition of family reunion plays an even more important role.

4. Customs and Celebrations

The Spring Festival is a time of celebration, and there are many customs that people follow during this period. These include cleaning the house before the festival starts, buying new clothes and decorations, giving red envelopes with money to children, staying up late to watch the New Year in, and of course, eating a lot of delicious food.

The Spring Festival is not only a time of celebration but also represents the hope for a new beginning. It is a time for people to come together and usher in a prosperous new year with their loved ones.