HistoryofSpringFestival

　　TheSpringFestival,alsoknownastheLunarNewYear,isthemostimportanttraditionalfestivalinChina,whichfallsoninlateJanuaryorearlyFebruary.

　　Thehistoricalreasonforbeginningthenewyearinsuchatimeisthatitisthetimebetweenautumnharvestandspringplowingandplanning.Inanotherwords,itisthetimeforrest,relaxationandcelebrationafterayear’stoil.ExceptthispracticalreasonforcelebratingtheSpringFestival,apopularChineselegendoffersanotherexplanation,whichisaffectedlyknowninChina.Inancienttime,amythologicaldemoncalled”Nian”thatlivedundertheseawouldplaguepeopleonceayearontheevenofthenewyear.Itjumpedoutfromthesea,attackedvillages,devouringpeople,animalsandplants.CouldnolongerbearNian’sbrutalpersecution,thevillagersgatheredtodiscusshowtodealwith”Nian”andsomepeoplesuggestedthatthedemonwasafraidofloudnoises,redcolorandflame.Sopeoplelightedfirecrackers,putonredcoupletsontheirgates,litfireworkandbeatgongsanddrumstodriveNianaway.TheideaworkedandNianranaway.Sinceever,thecustomandtraditionofcelebratingtheSpringFestivalbornandthepracticeofputtingredcoupletsongates,settingofffirecrackers,etchavebeenpasseddown.

　　HowdoChinesepeoplecelebratetheSpringFestival

　　SpringFestivalisatimeforcelebratingwithfamilyandfriends.Nomatterwherever,howbusytheyare,theChinesewillsqueezeintotheroadsgoinghometospendthefestivalseasonwiththeirfamilymembers.Traditionally,theChinesecelebratetheSpringFestivalinthefollowingways:

　　SpringCleaning:FromDecember23rdintheChinesecalendar,peoplebegintocleantheirhousestobidfarewelltotheoldyearandusherinahappyandfreshnewyear.

　　SpringDecorating:Peoplehangflower-decoratedredlanternsinfrontoftheirhouses.Officebuildingsandstoresarealsodecoratedwithredlanterns.Redcouplets-redposterswithblackChinesecalligraphy,coloredNewYearpaintingsarepostedonthedoorsofpeople’shouses.Theysymbolizehappiness,prosperityandgoodluckintheNewYear.