Christmas is just one day even it is different day for Catholic (December 25) or Orthodox (january 6 or 7) for the historical reason. But "Chirstmas Season" means the period of time around Christmas (no specific dates). I guess "Spring Festival" is probably similiar to "Christmas season", just that period of time around Chinese Lunar New Yaer Day. Today is Orthodox Christmas, so Merry Christmas !
On Jan 5, 8:49 pm, "[email protected]" <[email protected]> wrote: > 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- Hide quoted text - > > - Show quoted text - --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ 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 -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
