7 Fun and Healthy Things To Do During Chinese Spring Festival

7 Fun & Healthy Things To Do During The Chinese Spring Festival

<p>The Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival is here. In keeping with tradition, the event is a grand ceremony in China and several other SE Asian countries, that is celebrated with family, friends, and age-old customs.</p><p>According to the Chinese lunar calendar, the year 2023 is the year of the rabbit. In Chinese culture, rabbits represent the moon. Some say it is because the shadows of the moon resemble a rabbit. Others say it is because of the rabbit's pure characteristics.</p><h2>Here's how the Chinese celebrate their new year and the Spring festival!</h2><h3>1. Cleaning</h3><p>It is a tradition to clear houses of old things and sweep away ill fortune that may have gotten into our homes the previous year. People thoroughly clean their house including beds, clothes, utensils, and get rid of old items that are no longer in use.</p><h3>2. Decorations</h3><p>Getting ready for the Spring festival calls for some traditional decorations! Here are some common decorations during this time.</p><h3>3. Paper cuttings</h3><p>These are handicrafts made by cutting the paper into attractive and traditional designs. The preferred color is usually red as it is considered to be the most auspicious. These paper cuttings are pasted to windows to boost the festive spirit and make the atmosphere more cherry.</p><h3>4. Chun Lian</h3><p>These are special types of couplets that are used to express positivity and good wishes. During the spring festival, every household will paste these Chun Lian on their doors. They are usually on red paper and written beautifully in calligraphy with black or gold ink.</p><h3>5. Chinese lanterns</h3><p>These are a symbol of vitality, social status, and good luck. The red lantern is a symbol of Chinese pride all around the world. During the spring season, people hang these lanterns to celebrate the spirit of the new year.</p><h2>Food</h2><p>Food has always been a crucial part of Chinese culture. Here are some special and traditional foods eaten during the Spring festival.</p><h3>1. Laba porridge</h3><p>This is a Chinese ceremonial congee dish eaten on the eighth day of the twelfth month in the Chinese calendar. It is a delicious and nutritional porridge made with glutenous rice, millets, beans, fresh and dried fruits, nuts and seeds, tofu, meat, and vegetables.</p><h3>2. Jiaozi</h3><p>Jiaozi are dumplings that are often eaten for supper on Spring Festival Eve. They are a major attraction during the new year and have a mightly cultural significance. They also signify bidding goodbye to the old year and welcoming the new.</p><h3>3. Nian Gao</h3><p>This is a type of glutenous rice cake that is a specialty in Southern China during the Spring festival. It signifies getting a step higher every year.</p><h2>Entertainment</h2><p>Entertainment is always a highlight when it comes to celebrations. Here are some Chinese attractions during the Spring season.</p><h3>1. Dragon and Lion dance</h3><p>In Chinese culture, the dragon represents power, strength, luck, health, and nobility whereas the lion represents auspiciousness, superiority and, stability. These dances are very popular during the Spring festival and the new year.</p><h3>2. Spring festival Gala</h3><p>Watching the Spring festival gala has become an essential entertainment for the Chinese people around the world. Various Gala's are aired on television featuring singing, dancing, drama, and comedy all put up for the entertainment of the people during the new year.</p><h3>3. Fireworks</h3><p>Fireworks are a Chinese specialty and it is a tradition to set off fireworks during the Spring festival. The noise is believed to drive away from the evil spirits.</p><h3>4. Greetings and gatherings</h3><p>During this time family, friends, and relatives all get together and spend quality time together. On the day of the Lunar new year, One must extend their greeting to their parents, grandparents, relatives, neighbors, and friends.</p><h3>5. Gifts</h3><p>Lucky money is given by the elders to the children and unmarried youths as gifts. It is tucked into red envelopes known as hongbao. During the Spring season, it is a tradition to exchange gifts among families as a symbol of love and unity.</p><h2>Celebrate The Chinese Lantern festival</h2><p>Also known as the Shangyuan Festival, the Chinese lantern festival marks the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations. It is celebrated on the full moon, the fifteenth day of the first month in the lunisolar Chinese calendar.</p><h3>1. Significance</h3><p>The Chinese lantern festival is celebrated to honor the deceased ancestors and aims to promote reconciliation, peace, and forgiveness. They are also lit as a prayer for a bright future and to honor the memory of Buddhist monks.</p><h3>2. Activities</h3><p>During this festival, People hang traditional Chinese lanterns outside and even inside their homes. There are riddles written on lanterns and the solver gets a small prize if they get the answers right.</p><p>While you indulge in the festivities, it is however important to wear a mask, avoid large crowds, sanitize, and keep your loved ones protected from diseases of any kind.</p><p>Stay safe and have a Happy Chinese New Year!</p>

7 Fun & Healthy Things To Do During The Chinese Spring Festival

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