Spring Festival Day

The Spring Festival start from the last lunar month, which people begin to clean their house put up window paper – cuts and couplets.
One popular folk belief is that during the 12th lunar month all gods and spirits either ascend to heaven or descend to hell to report on the family activities over the past year. People take this opportunity to clean their houses, so the gods and spirits will not be disturbed or offended. The house cleaning is also carried out to create a heat and festive environment for the Spring Festival.
Also major activity that is occurred before the Spring Festival is offended sacrifices to the kitchen god on the 23rd. The kitchen god is a household God. People offer him delectable dishes to encourage him to say good things about the family when he goes to heaven to make his report, thus securing the family good luck throughout the new year.
The last day of the 12th lunar month is New Year’s Eve. The climax of the Spring Festival covers the period from New Year‘s Eve to the 5th day of the first lunar month. New Year’s Eve is the day for family reunions. A ceremonious family banquet is held, generally in the evening, If there are those who have difficulty returning home, the family nevertheless lays them a the table, thus symbolizing a complete family reunion.
The dinner dishes include everything: meats, vegetable, tidbits, rice, buns, noodles and dumplings. Jiaozi (dumplings) were formerly a major Spring Festival dish. Although hand or machine-made frozen jiaozi are on sale in supermarkets throughout the year, families still like to gather together and make their own jiaozi during the Spring Festival, as they symbolize family reunions and harmony. Fish is a must for luck, as the Chinese word for fish is pronounced the same way as that for “surplus”.
It is the custom for people to stay up all night on New Year’s Eve, so children are generally the happiest of the company that evening. They are allowed to run about carrying beautiful lanterns, and to set off firecrackers.
Finally, at midnight, a bell peals sonorously to announce the arrival of New Year, and everyone joyfully exchanges greetings while fireworks illuminate the sky as a new year coming.

The following morning, ceremonies are performed at the family altar, thanking gods and ancestors for the blessings receiver during the year, and the younger generation kowtows to the older generation to express their respect. In return, the older generation presents to their young money wrapped in red paper, together with oral instructions and encouragement.
From the 2nd days of the first lunar month everyone goes out to visit relatives and friends, until the 15th days end. It is during Spring Festival that those who have harbored grudges or resentment against one another may, within this warm and celebratory atmosphere, be reconciled.