Language/Mandarin-chinese/Culture/Spring-Festival-and-Chunyun
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The Spring Festival, also known as the Chinese Lunar New Year, is the most important traditional festival in China. It marks the beginning of a new year on the Chinese lunar calendar and usually falls between late January and mid-February. This festival is celebrated by over 1.4 billion people worldwide and is a time for family reunions, feasting, and honoring ancestors. In this lesson, we will explore the customs and traditions associated with the Spring Festival and Chunyun, the busiest travel season in China.
Customs and Traditions
The Spring Festival is steeped in traditions that have been passed down for generations. These customs are deeply ingrained in Chinese culture and are an integral part of the holiday celebrations. Here are some of the most important customs and traditions associated with the Spring Festival:
Preparations Before the Festival
In China, it is customary to prepare for the Spring Festival several weeks in advance. People clean their homes, buy new clothes, and decorate their surroundings with red lanterns and couplets. Red is the dominant color during the Spring Festival as it is believed to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits.
Another important custom is the reunion dinner on New Year's Eve, which is considered the most important meal of the year. It is a time for family members to come together and share a feast. The meal typically includes dumplings, fish, spring rolls, rice cakes, and other traditional dishes.
Red Envelopes and Fireworks
Red envelopes, or "hongbao" in Mandarin Chinese, are a popular Spring Festival tradition. They are monetary gifts given to children and unmarried adults as a way to spread good luck and blessings. The amount of money in the red envelope is usually an even number, as odd numbers are considered unlucky in Chinese culture.
Fireworks also play a significant role in Chinese New Year celebrations. They are believed to scare away evil spirits and bring good fortune. The Chinese have been using fireworks to celebrate the Spring Festival for over 2,000 years.
The Lantern Festival
The Lantern Festival, or "Yuanxiao Jie" in Mandarin Chinese, marks the end of the Spring Festival. It falls on the 15th day of the first lunar month, which is usually in February or March. On this day, people light colorful lanterns, solve lantern riddles, and eat glutinous rice dumplings, also known as "yuanxiao."
Chunyun: The World's Largest Human Migration
Chunyun is the annual period of mass migration in China during the Spring Festival. It is the largest annual human migration on Earth, as millions of people travel to their hometowns or popular tourist destinations to be with their families.
The period of Chunyun starts 15 days before the Lunar New Year and lasts for 40 days. During this time, Chinese transportation systems are stretched to their limits, with long lines and jam-packed trains, buses, and planes. For many Chinese people, Chunyun is a test of endurance and patience, as they face long hours of travel and unpredictable weather conditions.
Vocabulary
Here are some vocabulary words related to the Spring Festival and Chunyun:
| Mandarin Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 春节 | chūnjié | Spring Festival |
| 红包 | hóngbāo | red envelope |
| 爆竹 | bàozhú | fireworks |
| 团圆饭 | tuányuánfàn | reunion dinner |
| 元宵节 | yuánxiāojié | Lantern Festival |
| 财神爷 | cáishényé | God of Wealth |
| 春运 | chūnyùn | Chunyun |
| 贴春联 | tiē chūnlián | paste Spring Festival couplets |
Sources