When Lunar New Year comes, Spring comes as well, at the same time. I guess that thousands years ago people were not sure whether the hard Winter would last forever or another Spring would come. If we live in the countryside, at this time is when we can see the first signs that fresh life comes in small plants, in animals, etc. We call Spring Festival to all celebrations of those happy events around New Year.
And strictly speaking, the days since Lunar New Year starts and it lasts until two weeks later when celebrations end up with the Lantern Festival. And much more strictly, to the celebration that we have with our family during the evening and night to pass from one year to the next one, or New Year´s Eve. But this is not the usual meaning of the word Spring Festival. For most villages and cities the days before are also days for celebrations such as washing, cleaning, refurbish of decoration, time to get rid of old and useless outfits and other things, and to buy new ones, etc. In most families, that preparation, in particular washing and cleaning and redecoration, has its traditional sequence and rituals. Also, it uses to be done among all members of the family and extended family, and sometimes with friends and neighbours. Therefore they are fun and celebration. Ancestors and important gods stay, but somehow, we make the old little spirits to pass away with the dust amid we prepare ourselves and our environment to attract the new ones as soon as the New Year will come. That is why, unaccurately, we also say sometimes that Spring Festival goes since Laba Festival, when preparation starts, till Lantern Festival. In the West, people call Christmas to a certain period of time, that I do not know yet. However, strictly speaking, Christmas is just one day. Peace and best wishes. Xi On Jan 6, 12:26 am, antidefm <[email protected]> wrote: > What is the "Spring Festival"?! Is there any specific date(s) for > that? How it related to "Chinese Lunar New Year"? > > On Jan 5, 8:26 am, "[email protected]" <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > First of all, we have to realise that China, in terms of people is > > bigger than the whole Europe, bigger than all countries from Alaska to > > Argentina combined, etc. Some say that China is not a country, it is a > > world. > > > It means that whatever you might do or imagine for New Year, probaly > > it fits into a tradition and will be more or less what at least one > > family will do in China too. Therefore do not mind too much to find > > the right tradition. Do what you want, probably it is a tradition > > somewhere. And if it is not in China, it will be somewhere across East > > Asia. > > > But, in case, you want to know some of them, in case you want to > > follow what astrologers say that will push an auspicious year, I will > > post some links that tell the most extended ones. Supersticion, > > tradition or just fun? Does it matter? To have peaceful, friendly, > > comfortable, loving and exciting Festival matters. > > > Somehow the meaning of Chinese New Year is more radical than the > > Western New Year. We break completely with the former year, we clean > > the dust of the past year, we change ourselves more than in the West. > > Also, it is not about lists of wishes, resolutions, goals, etc. The > > next year is a blank book that will be written among many (including > > spirits). To make resolutions, goals, etc. would sound arrogant, as if > > we had full power over our destiny. The right attitude and the promise > > to do our best according to what next year will bring to us is all > > that we can do. > > > I start with what our fellow member antidefm cooked for us from CCTV, > > a dish and how some people prepare themselves for this celebration. > > > Chinese ready for Spring Festival - Weather > > Forecasthttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAfqQ8QnXFY > > > Peace and best wishes. > > > Xi --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "World-thread" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/world-thread?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
