Spring Festival

The Spring Festival, also known as the Chinese Lunar New Year, is the most important traditional festival of the Chi- nese nation. During the festival, people cast out the old and usher in the new. They worship gods and ancestors, pray for good fortune, and gather with family and friends for celebra- tions. The Spring Festival has a long history. Originating in primitive beliefs and the worship of nature in ancient China, it evolved from the practices of offering sacrifices and praying for good harvests. The ancient Chinese believed that spring is the time when everything rejuvenates and a new year begins. A good start to a new year was of great significance in an agrari- an society. Today as before, people celebrate the first day of the first lunar month as the Spring Festival with festive activities,which continue until the 15th of the month.

Family reunions are the most important part of the Spring Festival. As the festival approaches, every household posts a new spring couplet on the sides of their door. The couplet, a unique literary form consisting of an upper line (on the right side), a lower line (on the left side), and a horizontal scroll, expresses people's good wishes for the new year. People also post the Chinese character "Fu" (good fortune), Nianhua (Spring Festival picture) and Menshen (guardians of doors and gates) on their doors, walls, and lintels, and hang red lanterns in the courtyard or at the door, to create a festive atmosphere and express their desire for a happy life. On the eve of the Spring Festival, families will have a grand reunion dinner. During the festival, people wear new clothes, visit relatives and friends, and exchange greetings and good wishes. Setting off firecrack- ers and performing dragon and lion dances are also traditional customs to pray for harvests and good luck. On the 15th of the first lunar month (Lantern Festival), people eat glutinous rice balls and participate in various activities to complete the cele- brations of the Spring Festival.

As an important Chinese tradition, celebrating the Spring Festival carries profound cultural meanings and showcases the Chinese people's rich and colorful social and cultural life. With its joyful atmosphere and unique cultural charm, the festival is now celebrated in almost 200 countries and is gaining popularity worldwide as a happy event shared by all.

春節

春節即中國農歷新年，是中華民族最隆重的傳統節日，承載著除舊布新、拜神祭祖、祈福辟邪、親朋團圓、歡慶娛樂等功能。春節歷史悠久，起源于中國遠古時期人們的原始信仰和自然崇拜，由祭祀祈年活動演變而來。中國古人認為，春回大地、萬象更新，春天開啟新的年歲輪回，這在農耕社會具有重要意義。今天，人們把農歷正月初一定為春節，節慶活動一直延續到農歷正月十五。

闔家團圓、共聚一堂，是春節的重要內涵。在春節將近時，家家戶戶都在大門兩邊貼上嶄新的春聯，以上聯、下聯、橫批的獨特文學形式，表達人們對新一年的美好愿望。人們還在屋門、墻壁、門楣等處貼上象征好運的"福"字， 張貼驅邪魔、保平安的年畫和門神，并在庭院或房屋門口掛起大紅燈籠，烘托隆重熱烈的節慶氣氛，寄托對幸福生活的期待。春節的前一天即除夕，家家戶戶團聚享用豐盛的年夜飯。春節期間，人們要穿上新衣，走親訪友，問候拜年，彼此表達美好祝愿。燃放爆竹、舞龍舞獅也是春節的節慶習俗，用來祈求風調雨順、事事如意。到了正月十五元宵節， 人們還會吃元宵，舉行游藝活動，完成春節的迎春儀式。

春節是中華傳統文化的重要組成部分，承載著博大精深的中華文化底蘊，展現著中國人豐富多彩的社會文化生活。當前，春節已經走進全球近200個國家，世界各地的春節年味越來越濃。春節以歡樂祥和的氣氛和獨特的文化魅力，逐漸成為世界人民共同的節日。