Chinese Traditional Festival Series: Our Spring Festival

Author: Peng Guoliang (Compiler)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-02-01
Features: It is said that the "Year" was an ancient man-eating beast that gnawed its teeth and sucked blood, causing the ancestors to tremble in fear. Eventually, Shennong, the legendary figure, subdued it with a magical artifact on the 30th day of the 12th lunar month. The common people then called this day "celebrating the New Year," with the character "celebrate" implying removal, meaning that celebrating the New Year was to drive away the beast. The custom of setting off firecrackers during the New Year celebrations today has its original meaning as driving away the beast. This belongs to mythology. The New Year is a lively and explosive festival with "explosiveness" as its characteristic.