Well, one of the main customs is family reunion. People will come back home no matter how far away they are. And giving red envelopes is also very common. It's a way to send blessings and good luck, especially for the kids.
The story of Nian is very famous. Nian was a terrifying monster, and people discovered its weaknesses and used red things, noise, and light to fend it off. And that's why we have traditions like using red decorations and setting off firecrackers during Chinese New Year.
Sure. There's the story of how people used to clean their houses thoroughly before Chinese New Year. It was believed that by sweeping away the dust, they were also sweeping away bad luck from the previous year. This cleaning was not just about tidying up, but had a symbolic meaning related to starting fresh for the new year.
There is also the story of the Kitchen God. The Kitchen God, also known as Zao Jun, stays in people's kitchens all year. Right before Chinese New Year, he ascends to heaven to report on the family's behavior to the Jade Emperor. To ensure a good report, families often offer sweet foods like malt sugar to the Kitchen God, so that his words will be sweet when he reports. This is a very interesting part of Chinese New Year traditions.
The story of the Nian monster is very popular among children. They are fascinated by how the Nian is scared off by things like red lanterns and firecrackers. It makes the New Year celebrations seem like a big adventure against the monster.
In Chinese New Year 2016, it was the Year of the Monkey. The monkey is often seen as clever and mischievous in Chinese culture. It represents intelligence and agility. There are many stories about monkeys in Chinese mythology, like the Monkey King in 'Journey to the West' who was extremely intelligent and had great powers.
One free Chinese New Year story could be about a poor family in a small village. During Chinese New Year, they didn't have much money for new clothes or fancy food. But the neighbors, knowing their situation, secretly left some dumplings and new clothes at their door. This shows the warmth and kindness in Chinese New Year traditions, where people care about each other even in difficult times.
One interesting story could be the Monkey King's influence on the Year of the Monkey in 2016. The Monkey King is a well - known figure in Chinese mythology. His courage and intelligence are often admired. In 2016, people might have been inspired by his stories to be more brave and resourceful.
Chinese New Year traditions include many customs and activities. Some of the customs included sweeping the dust during the Spring Festival, posting couplets, Fu characters, door gods, worshipping ancestors, worshipping gods, and visiting the New Year. The Spring Festival was to get rid of the old and welcome the new, hoping to sweep away bad luck. Couplets, Fu characters, and door gods were pasted to express people's yearning for a happy life and add to the festive atmosphere. The purpose of offering sacrifices to ancestors and gods was to pray for good weather, bumper harvests, good luck, and so on. New Year greetings were a way for people to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new, and to express good wishes to each other. In addition to the traditional way of paying New Year's greetings, there were also the rise of etiquette telegrams, telephone calls, text messages, and online New Year greetings. These customs and activities were an important part of the traditional Chinese New Year culture.