A contact in China has been telling me about the New Year celebrations – rather muted this year in the light of current events but still marked and celebrated at home.
The New Year is also known as the Spring Festival – the holiday marks the end of the really cold days and people start looking forward to spring – planting and harvests, new beginnings and fresh starts.
The New Year is a time for praying to the gods and ancestors for good fortune in the year ahead, particularly in agricultural areas.
One of the legends around New Year tells of an evil monster named Nian. He terrified the people and most folk would hide – but one small boy stood up to him and fought him off with firecrackers. The next day the people celebrated their survival by setting off yet more firecrackers and so the practice became an important part of New Year celebrations – a way of scaring off monsters and bad luck.
Red is considered essential for keeping bad luck at bay. Just as Westerners might deck their homes with bright lights and decorations to banish the darkness so the Chinese decorate their homes with as much red as possible.
Our greetings go to all our Chinese friends as we wish them a Happy New Year.
