The Spring Festival, also known as Chinese New Year, is the most grand and traditional festival in China. It not only embodies the thoughts, beliefs, and ideals of the Chinese people, but also includes activities such as praying for blessings, feasting, and entertainment.
In a narrow sense, the Spring Festival refers to the first day of the lunar calendar, and in a broader sense, it refers to the period from the first day to the fifteenth day of the lunar calendar. During the Spring Festival, people engage in various customs and traditions, but the main focus is on getting rid of the old, worshipping gods and ancestors, warding off evil spirits, and praying for a prosperous year.
Each region has its own unique customs and traditions. In Guangdong, for example, there are different customs and characteristics in different areas, such as the Pearl River Delta, the western region, the northern region, and the eastern region (Chaozhou, Hakka). A popular saying in Guangdong is "Clean the house on the 28th of the lunar month", which means that on this day, the whole family stays at home to clean, get rid of the old and welcome the new, and put up red decorations(calligraphy).
On New Year's Eve, worshiping ancestors, having a New Year's meal, staying up late, and visiting flower markets are important customs for the people of Guangzhou to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new one. On the first day of the New Year, many rural areas and towns start celebrating the New Year from early in the morning. They worship the gods and the God of Wealth, set off firecrackers, bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new year, and engage in various New Year celebrations.
The second day of the New Year is the official start of the year. People offer fish and meat dishes to the gods and ancestors, and then have a New Year's meal. It is also the day when married daughters return to their parents' homes, accompanied by their husbands, so it is called "Welcoming the Son-in-law Day". From the second day of the New Year onwards, people visit relatives and friends to pay New Year's visits, and of course, they bring gift bags representing their good wishes. In addition to the auspicious red elements, the gift bags often contain large oranges and tangerines symbolizing good luck.
The fourth day of the New Year is the day to worship the God of Wealth.
On the sixth day of the New Year, stores and restaurants officially open for business and firecrackers are set off, as grand as on New Year's Eve.
The seventh day is known as Renri (Human's Day), and people usually do not go out to pay New Year's visits on this day.
The eighth day is the day to start work after the New Year. Red envelopes are distributed to the employees, and it is the first thing for bosses in Guangdong to do on their first day back to work after the New Year. The visits to relatives and friends usually end before the eighth day, and from the eighth day onwards (some places start from the second day), various grand group celebrations and worship activities are held, accompanied by folk cultural performances. The main purpose is to thank the gods and ancestors, ward off evil spirits, pray for good weather, prosperous industries, and peace for the country and the people. The festive activities usually continue until the fifteenth or nineteenth day of the lunar calendar.
These series of holiday celebrations express people's longing for and wishes for a better life. The formation and standardization of Spring Festival customs are the result of the long-term accumulation and cohesion of Chinese national history and culture. They carry rich historical and cultural connotations in their inheritance and development.
As the leader of the shared power bank industry, Relink has organized several activities for this festival.
Firstly, our office is decorated with red lanterns, symbolizing prosperity and good fortunes for the coming year. Secondly, we have put up couplets to offer blessings and well wishes to all.
On the first day of work, every team member received a red envelope as a symbol of good luck and prosperity in the new year.
We wish everyone a prosperous year ahead with abundance of wealth and business opportunities.
Post time: Feb-09-2024
