Mount Wutai’s New Year traditions
(chinadaily.com.cn)
Mount Wutai observes Spring Festival in a similar fashion to people all around China. The celebration of New Year on the mountain also starts with the continuous sound of firecrackers on the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month. The day is called “Xiaonian”, which was set to see off “Zaowangye (the kitchen god)” who conventionally returns to Heaven and reports to the Yu Huang (Jade Emperor) about every household’s good or evil practices over the past year.
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Craftsmen create colorful clay figures to reproduce a children’s game of chicken during the Spring Festival period. [Photo/sxwts.gov.cn] |
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To pile firewood for a big bonfire is a characteristic activity at Mount Wutai to celebrate the arrival of a new year and the bonfire usually begins at about 5 p.m. on the New Year’s day according to Chinese lunar calendar. [Photo/sxwts.gov.cn] |
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It has been a tradition since antiquity in China to set off firecrackers after Chinese New Year’s Eve dinner. People would also burn incense and joss papers made to symbolize money as offerings to the gods, to relieve the uneasiness of their minds. And they will not walk on the streets after the ceremony of firecrackers. [Photo/sxwts.gov.cn] |
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On New Year’s Eve, it is a time-honored custom for the whole family to be seated around a table, making jiaozi or dumplings and chat freely after setting off firecrackers. The dumplings they make can be stuffed with a coin, and the family member who happens to eat that jiaozi is said to be blessed in the coming year. Red dates or peanuts are a commonly used stuffing which is an implied wish for couples who have just gotten married to have a baby in the new year. [Photo/sxwts.gov.cn] |
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Legend has it that in ancient times, there was a monster called "nian" or "year" that would harm people. Later on, people found out that the monster routinely came out on New Year's Eve, so they determined to gather on that day, staying up the whole night and chatting, so they could have a peaceful and secure night. The custom of staying up on New Year's Eve was then started. The custom symbolizes the warding off of all diseases and disasters, wishing for good luck in the coming year. [Photo/sxwts.gov.cn] |