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春节的时候你跟你的家人做什么?

Hi, ​I have a text to write about the Spring Festival, but I don't know what families are doing at that time. Do you have activities together? Special meals? What about decorations? Local customs? :)

 

 


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jenny1014 profile picture jenny1014January 2020
Well, we all know Chinese would eat dumplings and paste couplets and set off firecrackers, let me tell you something different about Chinese tradition. After New year's eve, the first 7 days we need to do different things: on 1st day, which is 初一 in Chinese, we visit relatives or neighbors to give new year's greetings, like 恭喜发财 meaning wish you a prosperous year and earn a lot of money, or 万事如意 meaning everything will go on successfully as you wish; 2nd day, which is 初二, this is the day for visiting your wife’s parents particularly. On that day, the couple will bring the kids (if any) and a lot of 礼 presents to wife’s parents and have meals together, red envelops should be prepared with no doubt; on the 3rd day, which is 初三, some say that it’s the birthday of rice, and also bad luck to go out visiting others, but most of people didn't pay much attention to that as it was somehow interpreted as superstition; Then it comes to 4th day, 初四, on this day, many families will get ready to welcome all sorts of gods. They will prepare meat dishes, fruits and flowers on the tribute table or bring those to the temple. Again, it might happen in rural areas, young people or people live in the city don’t quite follow that; the 5th day, 初五,activities refer to getting rid of poverty. Dirt of the house will be dusted into a cloth bag and sent away. Dirt here refers to poverty. On this day, people will also open their shops as in some places, this is the day specifically for being visited by the god of wealth; the 6th day, 初六, businessmen will officially start their business, cleaning the house thoroughly; the 7th day, eat noodles. Because noodles are long and thin, in Chinese we often refer it to longevity.
It’s just a rough guideline and we don't have necessarily to do so. Actually you can do or eat whatever you want in those days, but it’s good to know in the old times, our grandparents or great grandparents followed these rules strictly. I believe there must be some kind of beauty in those traditions as it gives you a chance to experience the ritual.
GrimPixel profile picture GrimPixelMarch 2018

Traditionally the whole family has a reunion, then people eat dinner with dumplings, clean up the house, paste couplets, wear new clothes (often red), play crackers, visit their relatives, give or receive red envelopes with money inside, watch Spring Festival Evening Party of CCTV.

About crackers, many governments ban them in urban area because of "pollution". They were never so eager at environmental protection like this.

About that party of CCTV, it used to be a great event, but now it has become stereotype and is constantly losing its popularity. Local TV channels also present evening festivals.

The way to celebrate New Year is not fixed. I prefer playing online games at New Year's Eve. I don't want to buy new clothes. I want to eat something better than dumplings at that time.

  • ordinateurTW profile picture ordinateurTWMarch 2019
    Thanks for High Speed Railway around the mainland China, almost everyone work and study outside nationwide could return hometown within ONE day, All my fellow of chinese would do the things during chinese new year above GrimPixel mentioned. but now some rich person plan to travel aborad with family at the same time.