The Spring Festival has lasted for thousands of years in China. But for a long time, the term "Spring Festival" refers to the "beginning of spring" among the 24 solar terms in a year. It was not until the Revolution of 1911 overthrew the Manchu rule and the Republic of China was founded that Sun Yat-sen ordered the whole country to switch to the solar calendar. Later, the New Year will also be changed to New Year's Day in the solar calendar. But after all, the Lunar New Year has become a traditional festival celebrated by the whole people, and it is difficult to change the solid local customs and national culture. The celebration of the Lunar New Year is still endless year after year. Since there is a new New Year's Day in the solar calendar, the Lunar New Year has been called "Spring Festival" in the solar terms since the Republic of China.
In the old days, it entered the "New Year" from the 65438+February 23rd of the lunar calendar and continued until the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first month, forming a set of fixed programs. Let's see how Shanghai celebrated the New Year in the past.
The 24th of the twelfth lunar month, that is, the 24th of December, is the day when the Kitchen God plays a role in the sky. Therefore, on the evening of 23rd, every household should "send a stove" and "offer a stove" to celebrate the New Year. In the evening, every household worships the Kitchen God in the hall. More often, wine and fruit are placed on the kitchen with the image of the Kitchen God, and water chestnuts, clams, good fish and good meat are also provided. There is a bamboo cloud: "fame and fortune are prosperous and less right and wrong, all depending on the sky." There is nothing to offer at present. Fish buy fresh meat and fat meat. "
Kitchen God is going to report the human quality and human faults to the Jade Emperor for one year. In order to prevent him from going too far, people also offered candy ingots made of caramel when he sent them to the kitchen stove. It is said that it is to make him eat and stick his teeth, to make him unable to speak clearly, to make him talk less and not to speak ill of the world. When "sending the stove", all the points are incense sticks. It was night, cigarettes filled the room, and the offerings were dazzling, and the atmosphere of the New Year came at once.
The 25th day of the twelfth lunar month is the day when immortals descend to earth. Traditionally, every household has to dust inside and outside, remove the accumulated dust for one year, and clean up the sundries accumulated at ordinary times. This move is quite serious, and in today's words, it can be called an active and orderly mass health movement. After this day's work, every household is dirty, the supplies are better than before, and the appearance is fresh inside and outside, like a New Year's Eve.
From this day on, every household began to be busy with all aspects of the Spring Festival. The first thing is to buy and prepare all kinds of food for the New Year. Every family must also grind flour to make dumplings, and some families make rice cakes with flour. The former means "round and round", while the latter can mean "happy" and "high every year". The second is to prepare new clothes, new hats and new shoes. People may wear old clothes all the year round, but they must examine their "clothes" in the new year. Once again, I began to buy Spring Festival couplets, New Year pictures and "door gods" and put them on the doors, upstairs and downstairs. During this period, in order to meet the needs of the public, many kinds of such things appeared in the market. Every family also needs its own things. For example, when buying Spring Festival couplets, the store will choose "the business is booming all over the world, and the financial resources are reaching the Three Rivers", while the average household will choose "the sky is increasing, the people are increasing, the spring is full, and Kunming is beaming".
This period is also the busiest time for shops in the middle of the year. On the one hand, business is booming and sales are booming. On the other hand, the end of the year is the period when each family cleans up the current accounts for one year and asks the debtor for arrears. So each family sent someone to handle this matter, and a large-scale "debt collection" team appeared in the city: "Cross the street from east to west with bills in cloth bags. Step into the heavy door and call it, and the husband will be together. " There are many people who can't repay on time for various reasons. Debt collectors have great responsibilities and pursue hardships, often day and night, regardless of the cold day and night.
Among those who can't pay their bills on time, in fact, many people are completely unable to pay their bills. In addition to the debts owed to the store, these people probably owe personal debts. The end of the year is also the time when most debts are paid off, so these people are under pressure from two sides to ask for money. However, according to the usual practice, debt collection can only be done on New Year's Eve, and it is not allowed to be done during the New Year. It is unlucky to blame yourself for "bad luck". Therefore, the New Year's Eve dinner is the last pass for those who evade debts. If they escape this, next year will be another matter. So they have been dealing with debt collectors and trying their best to get through this New Year's Eve: "The creditors who are riddled with holes have come, and it is difficult to get them back without any plans. I have to go on stage today to avoid it, and I will drive it away after dawn. "
However, except for the poor people mentioned above, on the whole, when the New Year comes, everyone is inevitably extremely happy and in high spirits. After all the preparations mentioned above, the New Year's Eve that we are looking forward to every day has finally come to our eyes, and the celebration of the New Year has reached a climax.
The beauty of New Year's Eve is at sunset. In the evening, all the families gather indoors, even those who are far away from home, try to go home and spend the New Year with their families before. Everyone sat under the lamp, eating the "New Year's Eve", eating and drinking, talking and laughing, and eating this meal for a long time. This is a year of trying to enjoy family happiness, hence the name "Family Happiness".
This night is next to the Chinese New Year, so many family elders don't sleep after the New Year's Eve. Still talking and laughing, eating omnivores. People don't think this night is deeper and longer. At midnight, some people will go to temples in the city to burn "head incense".
At the time of the crow, every household, men, women and children, put on new clothes, hats and shoes, and worship the heavens and the earth and ancestors in the hall where offerings have already been arranged. Then, young people and old people pay New Year greetings to their parents. They distribute the lucky money prepared many years ago to their children. This is the long-awaited hope of the children, and they finally happily put it in their pockets. Then open the door and let sonic boom greet the New Year, and the neighbors will meet to celebrate the New Year.
Every day from the first day of junior high school is a time when friends and relatives return to pay New Year greetings. When guests bring more gifts, they must treat them to "Yuanbao tea", that is, put olives in the tea or put an olive on the tea cover. He also offered fruit in a golden lacquer plate and said, "Congratulations!" " . I will treat you to wine and rice. At that time, the elders had to send lucky money when they saw the younger generation, which was inevitably a big burden for those who were financially strapped. However, this new year greeting method was simplified in Shanghai in the late Qing Dynasty. People who have a lot of contacts go out to pay New Year's greetings, and often just throw a thorn for them, which can save entertainment and expenses: "In exchange for new peaches and new colors, the robe is short to the door. Who is most afraid of frequent bending and rushing to throw thorns for the New Year. "
In the new year, in addition to visiting each other to celebrate the New Year, the rest of the time is to "celebrate" with various travel and entertainment activities. Some people go out for a stroll, and the most visited places are the City God Temple and the connected West Garden (that is, Yuyuan Garden): "There is nothing to do in the New Year, so you can take a walk in the zigzag bridge in the garden. Suddenly I heard the children clap their hands together and the kite shook for a long time. " However, since the establishment of the modern concession, the colorful Shili Yangchang has become a fascinating amusement place in the New Year, especially for those who live outside the Yangchang: "People in the city love the Yangchang, while people outside the city compete for the Temple Garden. At the same time, they are generally willing to watch, and everyone is speechless. " Others go out to the theatre, listen to books and have tea. After the opening of the port, there was a lot of prostitution in and out of Shanghai's foreign exchange. Some people took advantage of this period to travel wildly, so they were busy with fireworks everywhere: "The new year weather mirror is polished, and money is like a shuttle. There are thousands of Chuting in Qian Qian in Qin Lou, and there are many laughs at the opening of the fruit bowl "; Of course, more people often stay at home, and indoor fun can be found by themselves, such as inviting relatives and friends to build a "square city", playing drums and playing the piano, singing by themselves, and so on: "Food, new clothes and happiness make people old, and thousands of people borrow common names. Every household is closed for three days (referring to merchants), not the sound of cards or drums. "
On the fifth day of the first month, it is the birthday of the God of Wealth (commonly known as the "Road God"), and there are actions of "connecting with the God of Wealth", "connecting with the God of Wealth" and "connecting with the Road God" everywhere. The god of wealth talks about "wealth", and everyone pays attention to it, especially businessmen who start businesses for wealth, so their celebration is the most energetic. Shanghai has long been a prosperous commercial city in the southeast, and businesses can be seen everywhere. It is conceivable that the celebration of the fifth day is particularly intense. Businessmen get more than three kinds of sacrifices from the god of wealth: pig head, carp and rooster. Carp lovers, homophonic "Li Yu", are particularly popular. As early as a few days ago, villagers from rural areas were selling fresh carp to various pockets in the streets and alleys. Carp is also called "silver ingot fish", so it is called "sending silver ingots".
On the fifth day of the fifth grade, a new portrait of Marshal Zhao was hung in the middle of the merchant hall. Except for three sacrifices, the other sacrifices are extremely rich. Incense candles were lit and the house was brightly lit. Then, firecrackers were set off indoors and outdoors, one after another, and the whole city roared and the sound shocked hundreds of miles. And continuously, its sound and strength are too strong for the first morning: "firecrackers can't be picked up, and the god of wealth is busy fighting." I just hope that business will be good this year. Why not pick me up at the fifth watch? "
Finally, it is the fifteenth Lantern Festival. The expiration of May coincides with the reunion and is for good luck. On this day, every family must eat "Yuanxiao", which means reunion and good luck. But the prosperity of the Lantern Festival lies in "lights", so it is also called "Lantern Festival". It is a big lantern in front of every household and shop, and it is also a big lantern in public places such as temples, gardens and squares. After sunset, all the lights are put together, connected together, and the red light shines. Lanterns have various shapes, including various lanterns, plant lanterns, animal lanterns, character lanterns, story lanterns and so on. The most common lanterns in Shanghai are rabbit lanterns, ingot lanterns and lantern lanterns, among which the biggest and most wonderful one is the "dragon lantern": the dragon has a head and a tail, the scales are flashing, it is * * * long, and it has a long handle, which is held by the dragon dancer. There is also a special person holding a "rolling lantern" like a big ball, playing with the dragon's body, chasing and even fighting. They are dancing in the streets of Shanghai.
At that time, men, women and children will appear in groups. Chenghuang Temple and Xiyuan Garden are also the center of an activity. It is a pavilion decorated with colored lights, bright inside and outside. In the garden, there is a big rockery and high rocks, and fireworks are set off, which is the most attractive. The audience who came here jostled shoulder to shoulder, all smiling. In addition to watching lanterns, this Lantern Festival has a special "popularity": the so-called "ten-mile bead curtain does not roll, and the lantern watcher looks at the lantern watcher" is that unique artistic conception. The midnight snack will last until late at night, and everyone will walk home slowly after lights out. There is a saying that this day happened to be the day when the kitchen god returned, so he just caught up with the kitchen god when he went home.
At the coming dawn, this year's Spring Festival celebrations have come to an end. (Text/Zheng)
Chongming Spring Festival custom
Spring Festival is an important festival in China folk tradition. It is the first festival in all seasons, so people pay special attention to it. As the saying goes, "a hundred miles of different winds, a thousand miles of different customs." Due to the unique region of this county, the customs of Spring Festival vary slightly from place to place. Now collect some scenes and shots around the Spring Festival over the years, and indulge with readers.
24 nights
People who have worked hard for a year have been busy having a good Spring Festival since the 23rd day of the lunar calendar1February. The thirteenth or twenty-fourth day of the twelfth lunar month is collectively called "twenty-four nights". According to legend, this day is the day when the kitchen god goes to heaven, and there is a folk custom of sending the kitchen god to heaven. On this night, people cook with "rolled silver bags" (with green vegetables, arrows, tofu, etc. As fillings, venetian blinds wrapped), "Twenty-four Fragrances" and red bean rice are used as sacrificial food. The custom of lighting incense sticks to sacrifice to the Kitchen God, preparing paper money, tying colorful bridges, kowtowing to worship, then setting off firecrackers and using the front curtain (commonly known as "happy string") for the statue of the Kitchen God has been eliminated, but the ancient custom of eating red bean rice and rolling silver bags still exists. After 24 nights, every household is getting more and more busy, cleaning up inside and outside, commonly known as dusting eaves, washing bedding, brewing wine, frying peanuts and broad beans and purchasing food. People in urban and rural areas on the island generally grind steamed cakes, and this custom has continued to this day. Because "Gao" and "Gao" are homophonic, people are looking for a good oral color that is high every year. There are different ways to make cakes in different parts of the country. Steamed sponge cake is the main sand, steamed sticky cake is in the middle area and steamed sole cake is the main sand. Poor families use sorghum flour and white jade rice as the main raw materials for steamed cakes. In addition, people should prepare some things, such as tin foil, paper money, incense sticks, gold ingots, tea and fruits, as sacrifices to God. A few days before New Year's Eve, people will put up new Spring Festival couplets, hang up their ancestors, hang their portraits on the main wall of nave, arrange sacrifices, and burn incense at the time of New Year's Eve to let the younger generation pay a New Year call. Before New Year's Eve, people will also play hoarding games, that is, put lime into sacks and print them on the ground, hoping that there will be Man Cang in the coming year. These activities are gone now. Some farmers also put the garbage and useless chores and weeds in the city into the field and set them on fire in order to be auspicious and safe in the coming year.
New Year's Eve
December 30th of the lunar calendar is New Year's Eve, commonly known as New Year's Day. On this day, all the new year's furnishings are properly arranged, such as writing Spring Festival couplets and putting up doors. In the evening, the whole family, old and young, get together for dinner, and the food is much richer than usual. The main course is cooked with Chinese cabbage and tofu, and wrapped in venetian blinds, which is called rolling money bundle, to show that the financial resources will come in the coming year. This evening is the happiest day for children, because parents and elders give lucky money. In the old society, this day was very difficult for people who had no money. According to the old rules, when the debts were paid off, they could not be collected at the end of the year. They can't be forced to collect debts before the lights are turned off in early February, so the creditors send people to collect debts everywhere, and those who can't pay their debts have to hide around until the first day of the new year. Therefore, there used to be a saying that "grain farmers are young and strong, and they are sad when they have no money."
the Spring Festival; Chinese New Year
The first day of the first lunar month is the Spring Festival, commonly known as the Spring Festival. The first thing every household does in the early morning of 2008 is to set off firecrackers, which is called "opening the door". Its original intention is to exorcise evil spirits, and later it means to open the door and make a fortune. During the Spring Festival, adults and children all put on new clothes and dress neatly, and the whole family sits around the dining table. * * * There was a hearty breakfast, mainly vegetarian, with glutinous rice balls and sugar rice cakes to show family reunion. In the last 24 nights, a bowl of red bean rice, commonly known as "old rice", was added to the breakfast, which meant a good meal every other year. After breakfast, the children greet their neighbors, relatives and elders one after another. There are many taboos on the first day of the first month. You can't use knives, splash water, go to the water bridge to wash rice, sweep the floor, open the back door, move firewood, swear words, hit people, stay up too late and so on. Even the firewood for cooking should be put in the furnace hall with sesame stalks and soybean stalks, making a crackling sound. The brighter the fire, the more auspicious it is, which indicates that everything will be fine this year. In addition, on the morning of the third and fifth day of each year, every family should make breakfast and light incense before meals, hoping that the whole family will be prosperous and safe.
In the past, there were more beggars during the Spring Festival. There was a beggar who begged not because his family was poor, but for filial piety. Some people say that there is a death gate for the elderly to live to 998 1 year-old, and only by eating "100 meals" can they spend it safely. Therefore, the filial sons and daughters took the old people out to beg for food for their parents on the first day of the Spring Festival. There is also a beggar, commonly known as "beggar". The way they beg is very funny. Some beggars wrap vegetable heads in red paper and hang them on bamboo poles. Every time they come to a house, they say that the vegetable head has arrived, business is good, and they ask for charity. This is called "delivering vegetable heads". Some people make cows out of paper and bamboo silk, and say good words and auspicious words in front of every house for charity. This is called "sending a spring cow". Some people hold branches of holly or cypress and hang some small bells on the branches to show that their families will be like cash cows in the new year. This is the so-called "cash cow". Beggars in some companies, wearing Buddhist shirts and statues and masks, rushed into houses disguised as the God of Wealth to show that the God of Wealth had arrived. This is called "jumping to the God of Wealth". Chongming people lived in poverty in the old society, but when they met beggars from these enterprises, they were still charitable and gave them some food such as dry food. After liberation, these ways of running enterprises have long since disappeared.
In the early morning of the second day of the Lunar New Year, all shops and craftsmen have to burn incense and worship God. This is the so-called "burning profit festival". At noon 10, the shopkeeper also held wine for the clerk, praying for a prosperous business in the new year. On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, according to legend, it is the birthday of the God of Wealth, and all the shops in the street are open for business. On this day, every household eats wonton at noon to show wealth. In addition, there are puppet shows in the country. From the first day to the fifth day, families will visit each other. The incense in the temple is far more vigorous than usual. Especially on the morning of New Year's Day, many people go to the temple to burn incense and worship Buddha, and it is very early. Catch up with burning incense, Shouan Temple outside the city and Guangfu Temple in Zhongxing Town are the most lively places.
On the fifteenth night of the first lunar month; Lantern Festival; night of the 15th of the first lunar month；Lantern Festival；yuanxiao
The fifteenth day of the first lunar month is the Lantern Festival, also known as Shangyuan Festival, commonly known as the first half of the first month. People regard the fifth to twentieth day of the first month as the Lantern Festival. In the past, before the Lantern Festival, every household used glutinous rice flour to make cakes of various shapes. Some looked like ancient silk balls and silver, while others looked like chickens, ducklings, carp, cotton peaches, corn, peaches and rice piles. At noon in half a month, every family eats wonton. In the afternoon, people will take these foods as sacrifices, worship their ancestors in graves, and offer sacrifices to the fields. In the evening, people will throw fireballs or carry lanterns of different shapes in groups of three or five, and then cross the third bridge to have fun. The habit of playing lanterns at 1: 30 in the first month is very popular. Lanterns are shaped like rabbit lights, carp lights and pentagonal lights. Moreover, the places where lanterns are hung also have local characteristics, such as arranging many red lights in glyphs or various figures, lighting candles inside the lights and using them. This is called "running a red light". Insert a bamboo pole between things without ditches in the countryside and hang a red lantern. Lighting a candle at night seems to be the same as during the day. When you look up, it looks good. This is called hanging spear lights and tying them into colorful buildings on the bridge. It is covered with all kinds of grotesque lanterns, and there is a feeling of amorous feelings here at night. In addition, there are lanterns, lions and lanterns in the Lantern Festival evening.
As the saying goes, "after eating two big heads, everyone will find their way." After the 16th day of the first month, the celebrants returned to all walks of life. At this point, the Spring Festival activities are over. After liberation, the Lantern Festival tends to be simplified, but the custom of eating wonton, making silk balls, making dumplings and playing with lanterns by children still exists and has been given new meaning. Especially in the streets of the county, it is more attractive to hang lanterns and set off fireworks at the Lantern Festival night.
For more than a thousand years, our ancestors have thrived in this beautiful land, and gradually formed various customs with strong local characteristics in their long-term production activities and daily life. These customs and habits condensed the ancestors' pursuit and yearning for a better life, and showed their good qualities of simplicity and hard work. Of course, there are some backward and ignorant contents on the other side of traditional customs. With the development of production and social progress, people's traditional customs have also changed from barbarism to civilization and from ignorance to science. With the development of civilization and the progress of science, some old customs contained in this paper have been abandoned, and some customs have been injected with new contents and inherited and carried forward. At the turn of the century, we should devote ourselves to building a new socialist fashion, strengthen the construction of socialist spiritual civilization and ensure the smooth progress of socialist modernization. When celebrating traditional festivals, don't forget that it is our conscious behavior to change customs and make due efforts for the construction of socialist spiritual civilization.