0 Comment(s)
Print
E-mail China.org.cn, February 14, 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 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.
Day 12, Day for Resting at Home (Feb. 12, 2024)
On the third day of the first lunar month, people tend to sleep late to recover from staying up late on New Year's Eve and the first two days of the holiday. In 2024, it falls on Feb. 12.
In ancient times, people would also burn pine, cypress branches and portraits of the Door God on this day, which represented sending the Door God to heaven to celebrate the New Year. The family would then invite the Door God back on a selected auspicious day to guard the whole family and keep out evil.
