The Spring Festival is the most important traditional festival for our people. People believe that eating some traditional food at this time can bring good luck to themselves and their families. The Spring Festival is a special festival for the Chinese people. There are also many folklores about the Spring Festival. So what are the legends about the Spring Festival? Interested friends, let’s find out together. Legend 1: The Story of the Nian Beast
In ancient times, there was a monster called "Nian", which looked like a dog. Many people are affected by it, and people are very scared at this time of year! However, as time went by, people later discovered that Nian was afraid of the sound when firecrackers exploded, so every time it was about to come out, people would set off firecrackers to scare it, so that it would not dare to come down the mountain and harm others. So people can spend this period of time safely, and hence this period of time is called "New Year". Legend 2: Receive the God of Wealth during the Spring Festival
The day to receive the God of Wealth during the Spring Festival is on the fifth day of the first lunar month. Legend has it that this is the birthday of the God of Wealth. After the first day of junior high school, we must prepare to welcome the God of Wealth. On the evening of the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, every household will prepare a banquet to celebrate the birthday of the God of Wealth and welcome the arrival of the God of Wealth.
Who is this God of Wealth? Legend has it that during the Song Dynasty, people believed that Prime Minister Cai Jing was very rich, so they said he was born as the God of Wealth. Since he was born on the fifth day of the first lunar month, people worshiped Cai Jing as the God of Wealth. Later, after Cai Jing fell, the people changed the God of Wealth. In the Song Dynasty, the country's surname was Zhao, and the people named the God of Wealth "Zhao Xuantan" and worshiped it. Legend 3: The Story of Laba Porridge
“Children, don’t be greedy, it’s the New Year after Laba Festival. Drink Laba Porridge for a few days.” This is a New Year’s song in the north. After Laba Festival, it’s New Year. Drink it for a few days. A bowl of Laba porridge marks the beginning of the Spring Festival, and you can start buying new year’s goods!
The custom of drinking Laba porridge on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month originated from the late Yuan Dynasty and early Ming Dynasty. It is said that when Zhu Yuanzhang was imprisoned and suffered in prison, it was cold weather, cold and hungry, and he actually dug out the mouse hole in the prison. Find some seven or eight kinds of whole grains such as red beans, rice, and red dates. Zhu Yuanzhang cooked these things into porridge. Because it was the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, Zhu Yuanzhang nicknamed this pot of multi-grain porridge Laba porridge. Enjoyed a wonderful meal. Later, Zhu Yuanzhang settled the world and became emperor from the north to the south. In order to commemorate that special day in prison, he designated this day as the Laba Festival and officially named the whole grain porridge he ate that day Laba porridge. Legend 4: The Wannian Calendar Method
It is said that in ancient times, there was a young man named Wanli who felt that the seasons at that time were very chaotic, so he wanted to create a punctual and accurate method. When Wanli went up the mountain to cut firewood, he was inspired by the shadows of trees and the dripping springs on the cliffs. He created a dial to measure the shadow of the sun to determine the time, and a five-layer clepsydra to calculate time.
When Wanli knew that the then monarch Zu Yi was worried about the uncertainty of the weather, he recommended himself. After Zu Yi heard Wanli's method, he kept it in the hope that Wanli could calculate the accurate morning and evening times and create a calendar to benefit all people.
A few years later, Zu Yi went to visit Wanli and saw the poem about the time of the day inscribed on the altar of the sun and moon for determining the time of the day. He knew that the legislation had been completed. Wannian pointed to the sky and said to Zu Yi: "The new year has begun, please designate a festival for your majesty." Zu Yi said: "Spring is the beginning of the year, let's call it the Spring Festival." It is said that this is the origin of the Spring Festival. Customs of the Spring Festival
1. Posting couplets
Before the New Year’s Eve, for every household, other door decorations can be ignored, but they must be posted. A pair of red and joyful Spring Festival couplets. Whether in urban or rural areas, every household must select a pair of red Spring Festival couplets and paste them on the door to increase the festive atmosphere of the festival and also herald good omens for the coming year. 2. Making dumplings
It is a Chinese tradition to make dumplings on New Year’s Eve. Dumplings must be eaten on New Year’s Eve, so every household will get up early to make dumplings, and only make a few of the many dumplings. Anyone who eats dumplings with peanuts or other nuts will have good luck in the new year and be auspicious. 3. New Year’s Eve dinner
New Year’s Eve is the most important day of the year, and it is also a day for family reunion. On New Year's Eve, the whole family gets together, has a New Year's Eve dinner, and waits for the time to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new.
Every family has a very sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner. In addition to having the whole family dine together to express harmony and reunion, they must also offer sacrifices to their ancestors before eating and pray for their blessings.
These are the four legends about the Spring Festival. Friends, what else do you know?