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E-mail China.org.cn, February 24, 2024Editor's note:
The Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, has been officially listed as a U.N. floating holiday as of 2024. This year, it falls on Feb. 10. To enjoy a traditional and fascinating Spring Festival, the most important festival for Chinese people, here are 16 days with unique traditions you won't want to miss this holiday season.
Day 15, Lantern Festival (Feb. 24, 2024)
The Lantern Festival is on the 15th day of the first lunar month. Families reunite for this festival to celebrate the first full moon of the lunar New Year. This year, it falls on Feb. 24.
People eat "yuanxiao" or "tangyuan," a kind of round rice dumpling, on this day. The snack is traditionally made from glutinous rice flour with such fillings as rose petals, sesame, bean paste, jujube paste, walnuts, dried fruit and sugar.
Lanterns of all shapes and sizes can be seen on trees or in the streets on this day, as admiring lanterns is a popular holiday pastime. Many places also hold lantern-designing competitions and lantern-riddle guessing games to entertain locals. Performances such as dragon dances and lion dances can also be seen on this day.
Day 14, Day for Worshiping God of Fortune (Feb. 14, 2024)
As a traditional festival custom, worshiping the God of Fortune on the fifth day of the first lunar month is another important activity that follows the celebrations on the first day. In 2024, this day falls on Feb. 14.
It is said that this day is the birthday of the God of Fortune, and in the past, businesses generally began to open on this day, hoping that the deity could bring wealth and luck. People often set off firecrackers, clean the house and work hard on this day, as it is believed that hard work and diligence can help people lead a good life.
Day 13, Day for Not Wasting Food (Feb. 13, 2024)
On the fourth day of the first lunar month, families traditionally eat the leftovers of the big dinners made during the past several days. It prevents wasting food and shows respect for families' hard work in preparations. In 2024, it falls on Feb. 13.
In the past, people would welcome back the Kitchen God on this day by burning incense, offering sacrifices, including delicious foods and fruits, and setting off firecrackers, hoping that the Kitchen God will continue to oversee and protect the household in the year ahead.
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