HSK 4 -6 How Do Chinese People Actually Celebrate the New Year chinesepodcast chinesenewyear

Actually the way we Chinese celebrate the Lunar New Year is really quite fascinating—think about it it starts on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month and goes all the way to the 15th day of the first lunar month spanning nearly a full month There are different customs every day and they vary slightly from place to place I was especially curious as a child about why celebrating the New Year had to be so complicated Ha you're absolutely right But once you truly understand the meaning behind these customs you'll find they're actually quite fascinating Let's talk about this in detail today Sure where should we start Let's begin with the Little New Year December 23rd is known as Little New Year in folk tradition this day is actually quite significant especially when it comes to honoring the Kitchen God—do you know why people worship the Kitchen God It's said that the Kitchen God is going to heaven to report his duties Yes just a legend The Kitchen God spends a whole year in the kitchen of every household He keeps a record of every good and bad deed done by this family On the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month he ascends to heaven to report to the Jade Emperor That's why everyone tries to win his favor Let him speak more kindly—ha you're not wrong Ordinary people prepare sticky candy that super sweet and sticky kind to offer to the Kitchen God I know that already Would you like to stick his mouth shut so he can't speak ill That's one saying Another claims you should make his mouth sweet so he speaks only good words No matter how you look at it Everyone hopes for a peaceful and smooth coming year that's quite interesting After honoring the Kitchen God the next day the twenty-fourth of the twelfth month is when you clean the house thoroughly I'm familiar with this—yes— but sweeping away dust isn't just regular cleaning Think about it: "dust" and "dust" sound the same so sweeping dust means removing the old getting rid of what's outdated Clearing away the old things— Get rid of all the bad things Yes sweep away the ill luck and hardships of the past year and clear them out the door On this day every household conducts a thorough deep cleaning Roof wall corners windows —no spot gets left behind I remember when I was a kid my mom was always so particular this time of year Places she never touched otherwise suddenly got wiped down thoroughly Yeah exactly That's exactly how you clean your utensils—disassemble and wash the bedding make the house spotless that' s how you welcome the New Year Indeed this sense of ritual is quite important After sweeping away the dust It's time to stock up on New Year's supplies At this point the streets start coming alive Everything from food to clothing and household items needs to be fully prepared Hmm There's a saying about the twenty-sixth day of the twelfth lunar month Slaughtering a pig for New Year's meat Back then many families would raise a pig raising it all year long just to slaughter it and eat the meat during the New Year Now most people just buy it from the market instead That's right But the meaning behind this custom still holds true—think about it after a year of hard work reaching the end of the year and being able to enjoy a good meal is the perfect reward for all your efforts Hmm that makes sense Then comes the twenty- seventh day of the twelfth lunar month The Year of the Ox Rushing to the big market That's when the market is busiest Especially lively I once visited the market during the twelfth lunar month Back then people were packed so tightly you couldn't move Haha That's exactly the kind of lively energy you want Everyone's getting ready for the Lunar New Year and the atmosphere is especially lively—yes it instantly feels like festival time has arrived On the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month it 's time to pound rice cakes steam buns and put up red paper cutouts Is this sticker for window decorations Yes Window decorations New Year paintings—everything needs to be put up Also steaming buns Making rice cakes These are all essential for the Lunar New Year Rice cakes symbolize rising prosperity year after year Right Yes You see everything has its symbolism— steamed buns should be white and big symbolizing a prosperous and vibrant year ahead Hmm it's all about tradition By the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month Some places visit ancestral graves to invite ancestors home and we do the same—offering incense to our ancestors yes inviting them back to celebrate the New Year a gesture of respect and remembrance deeply valued by Chinese people Honoring ancestors and remembering the past—this tradition truly should be preserved Then comes the most important day: New Year's Eve That's when things really come alive Yes on this day preparations begin as soon as morning breaks First up is putting up the Spring Festival couplets I know what a Spring Festival couplet is—red paper with black characters pasted on both sides of the door—yes —but do you know why we put them up Celebration That's just one aspect The earliest name for spring couplets was "peach blessings" Ancient people believed peach wood could ward off evil So they wrote characters on peach wood plaques and hung them at the entrance Later this evolved into writing couplets on red paper Oh I see—red itself symbolizes warding off evil and misfortune and since the couplets are filled with auspicious phrases it's like double protection Makes sense But why do we stick the character for "fortune" upside down You've definitely heard this one —when the character for "fortune " is hung upside down it means "fortune has arrived " That's a play on words but actually not every "fortune" character should be posted upside down The one on the front door must not be reversed Since the front door is where blessings come in the character for "fortune " must be posted upright to symbolize opening the door to welcome good luck Ah and there's another custom —yes the character for "fortune" posted upside down is usually placed inside the house such as on a cabinet On the water jar or in the courtyard oh I've learned so much—there are also window decorations with all sorts of patterns like magpies perched on plum blossoms or "abundance every year " all especially beautiful Yes I used to love looking at those intricate paper cuttings as a child the kind made with such skilled craftsmanship—true artistry in every cut Even though most are now machine-made the traditional art of paper cutting still holds its timeless charm It's still worth keeping Yes Once you've put up all these decorations it's time to start preparing the New Year's Eve dinner Exactly The New Year's Eve dinner is the main event This meal happens only once a year and is especially grand I remember we always spend the whole day preparing the New Year's Eve dinner at home That's right and every dish has its own significance For example fish must be served because it symbolizes "abundance every year " Exactly and this fish shouldn't be completely eaten Having a little left over symbolizes abundance Oh and there 's this saying too—keeping the whole chicken represents great good fortune Hmm dumplings are also essential especially in the north Why are dumplings so important Dumplings resemble ingots so eating them symbolizes attracting wealth and prosperity moreover "dumpling" sounds like "jiaozi " which is a homophone for "excellent child " It's the moment of transition between old and new New Year's Eve precisely when the old year and the new year meet and exchange That's how it works I never actually thought about it before In some places they even put coins inside dumplings Who eats it gets good luck next year — that's right I know that — I once ate it as a child and was especially happy — ha — that feeling really is nice — and there's also rice cake meaning rising higher every year — yes — These are all auspicious signs— look at the feast before you every dish carrying its own meaning you 're not just enjoying delicious food but also embracing blessings and hopes Indeed this cultural depth is quite profound After finishing the New Year's Eve dinner It's time to stay up for the New Year —staying awake means waiting for the clock to strike midnight That's right but the meaning of staying up goes beyond just staying awake Think about it: a family gathered together chatting watching the Spring Festival Gala—this sense of togetherness is what truly matters It's especially nice Yeah everyone 's usually busy during the regular days so it's难得 to have such a chance to gather together Exactly Staying up late on New Year's Eve is also about cherishing time— treasuring every moment spent with family That's true When midnight arrives The firecrackers went off Now in many places they don’t allow setting off firecrackers do they Right For safety and environmental reasons many cities have banned them But in places where it’s still allowed the festive energy is really something to see It really is deafeningly loud I used to love setting off firecrackers as a child even though I was a little scared —there was just something incredibly thrilling about it The tradition of setting off firecrackers actually has a history: legend says that long ago there was a monster called Nian It would come out on New Year's Eve to cause trouble Later people discovered it feared the color red firelight and loud noises so they used red paper torches and firecrackers to scare it away Oh that's how it is So setting off firecrackers isn't just about creating a lively atmosphere —it also symbolizes driving away evil spirits and misfortune Even though people don't set off real firecrackers anymore that sense of ritual still needs to be preserved Right some places now use electronic firecrackers Or watching the fireworks display is also nice What other traditions are there on New Year's Eve Well red envelopes of course— that’s every child’s favorite Hehe Yes that’s exactly right I used to look forward to that the most when I was a kid Red envelopes It's not just about giving money— the word "sui" in "sui" is a pun on "sui " meaning year What does "sui" mean According to legend there was a little monster called Sui that would come on New Year' s Eve touch children's heads and whoever it touched would fall ill So elders give children some money wrapped in red paper and place it under their pillow to ward off bad luck—oh I see it's meant to bring protection and peace of mind—exactly the amount doesn't matter anymore What matters most is the blessing and care behind it Yeah really Now that I think about it the joy I felt as a child receiving red envelopes wasn' t just because I had money but more because I felt the affection from my elders Exactly That is the meaning of lucky money What about the first day of the lunar new year The first day of the lunar new year is when people visit relatives and friends to pay their New Year's greetings Wearing new clothes Going to visit family and friends To Getting up early in the morning Putting on new clothes First wish your elders a happy new year with auspicious greetings—Happy New Year congratulations on prosperity and good health —then head out to visit neighbors and relatives Back then everyone lived close by You used to visit several homes in a single morning but now everyone lives farther apart so a quick phone call or WeChat message suffices—yes the situation has changed but the heartfelt intention remains New Year greetings are all about sharing blessings One way to strengthen relationships is through greetings and on the first day of the lunar new year there are indeed many taboos— like not sweeping the floor because it's believed you might sweep away good fortune You can't throw out garbage Oh There's also this custom And you mustn't break anything If you accidentally do You must immediately say "breakage brings safety" Hehe To defuse the bad luck Yes And you can't say anything unlucky They all say nice things for good luck yes it 's about bringing fortune On the second day of the lunar new year it's the day to return to the mother' s home Married daughters come back with their husbands and children Yes this day is special The Xue family always prepares a lavish meal to welcome their daughter and son-in-law I remember my older sister would come back every year on the second day of the New Year and my mom would start preparing days in advance Haha That's just how parents are Always want to give the best to your child and when visiting your mother-in-law 's house you can't go empty-handed —must bring some gifts usually in pairs for good luck Hmm on the third day Some places refer to this day as the Red Dog Day—considered inauspicious for going out to pay New Year visits Why According to legend this day increases the likelihood of arguments with others so people stay home to rest and avoid going out Oh and there's another belief too Another version says that on this day people go to bed early to avoid disturbing the mice as they hold their wedding ceremony Haha that's quite interesting Yes it's really just an excuse for everyone to rest especially since the days before the Lunar New Year are so exhausting Let's take a break during the third day of the month Hmm Makes sense The King of the Gods is coming back on the fourth Oh Isn't he supposed to go up to heaven on the second or third Right He's finished reporting to heaven So he returns on the fourth So on this day one must prepare offerings to welcome the King of Creation Oh I see In some places they also honor the Five Directions meaning they welcome the Five Gods of Wealth Yes the Five Gods of Wealth We must welcome the Five Fortune Gods from the east south west north and center hoping for an abundant flow of wealth next year ha that sounds great by the fifth day it's time to break the fifth what does breaking the fifth mean Breaking the taboos from the first to the fourth day of the lunar new year means that on the fifth day you can sweep the floor take out the trash resume business and life returns to normal Yes and the fifth day is also the day to welcome the God of Wealth Many businesses open their doors on this day hoping for a lucky start yes on the fifth day people eat dumplings a tradition known as "pinching the mouth of the little person " which means preventing gossip behind one's back When wrapping dumplings you have to pinch the dumpling wrappers tightly—ha that’s a pretty interesting saying On the sixth day of the Lunar New Year we “send off poverty ” meaning we drive away bad luck and welcome wealth and prosperity That’s the idea behind it You need to clear out all the trash accumulated from the first to the fifth day of the Lunar New Year thoroughly clean everything yes There' s also a saying that goes "Horse arrives and success follows " because the number six sounds similar to " liu " meaning smooth and effortless Hmm the seventh day of the Lunar New Year known as Renri is said to be the day when Nüwa created humans she made chickens on the first day dogs on the second pigs on the third sheep on the fourth oxen on the fifth and horses on the sixth It was on the seventh day that humans were created so the seventh day is known as Renri the day when everyone celebrates their birthday Oh I see— I had no idea On this day some places eat seven-ingredient soup It's a soup made with seven kinds of vegetables symbolizing a new year filled with abundant harvests and good health Hmm quite nice After the seventh day most of the visiting relatives have pretty much gone The New Year greetings are done so everyone starts getting ready for work Right but the New Year isn't over yet—there's still the Lantern Festival Exactly the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month This is the final climax of the Spring Festival—on the Lantern Festival people eat tangyuan Yes the round shape of tangyuan symbolizes reunion In southern China they' re called tangyuan in the north they're known as yuanxiao The preparation method is slightly different but the meaning remains the same—both symbolize reunion During the Lantern Festival people also enjoy viewing lanterns Yes the various lanterns are especially beautiful In the past the lantern displays on this festival were particularly grand featuring dragon lanterns among others Lion lantern Rabbit lantern All kinds of lanterns Nowadays there are still some but they don’t seem as lively as before Hmm Though some places still keep this tradition going big Yes I visited ancient town last year Their Lantern Festival display is especially beautiful The entire street is hung with lanterns That's right The atmosphere is truly special The Lantern Festival also includes the tradition of solving lantern riddles Exactly A prize awaits those who solve the riddle hanging beneath the lantern Hmm it's both fun and educational Exactly I loved guessing riddles as a child Even though I was often wrong Ha ha It's all about participation isn 't it Mm-hmm Once we've passed the Lantern Festival the New Year is truly over Yeah it's time to get back to work But think about it—from the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month to the 15th day of the first lunar month— It's been nearly a month of constant activity with different traditions each day each carrying its own significance—truly when Chinese people celebrate the Lunar New Year we place great importance on these customs It's more than just a simple ritual it carries our longing for a better life our care for family and our hopes for the future Hmm you see sweeping the dust symbolizes getting rid of the old and welcoming the new Putting up spring festival scrolls is for blessings and good fortune the New Year's Eve dinner symbolizes family unity and harmony staying up late honors the passing of time giving lucky money conveys care and well-wishes and visiting relatives spreads warmth and affection Every tradition carries its own cultural significance and these customs are not static—they evolve alongside the times For example many places no longer set off firecrackers nowadays But we'll celebrate in other ways Hmm The form can change But that core spirit must remain unchanged What is that core spirit Togetherness BlessingsGratitude Prayer for good fortune These are what matter most No matter how society evolves or how technology advances These emotions are eternal Hmm Indeed And you know the customs surrounding Spring Festival They are not just our own culture but also a treasure we leave for future generations Exactly These traditions should be passed down So we must understand these customs grasp their significance and pass them on to the next generation—because we cannot let these traditional cultures die out Actually many young people today don't really understand these customs anymore It's just going through the motions —yeah there's definitely that issue but if you truly understand the stories and meanings behind them you'll find these customs are actually quite fascinating Exactly—like the ones we're talking about today I didn’t know most of them before Now that you mention it it sounds especially interesting —ha right So the holiday isn't just about eating and drinking visiting relatives and friends but more importantly about experiencing the cultural atmosphere Feel that emotional connection —yes you're right and think about it there are so many Chinese people around the world no matter where they are during Chinese New Year they all celebrate in their own ways That's exactly the power of culture—yes Spring Festival is no longer just a holiday—it's a cultural symbol a spiritual bond for our Chinese nation Indeed every Lunar New Year no matter how far away we are everyone longs to return home Exactly—this is the true charm of the Spring Festival It reminds us where we come from helps us remember our roots and honestly that hits home deeply So I hope everyone gets to truly celebrate the festival—not just take a break but also feel the warmth of cultural heritage Feel the warmth of home To spend quality time with your family truly savor the spirit of the festival Hmm Actually many people today say the festive spirit has faded I don’t think the festive spirit has faded It’s our hearts that have grown distant How so You see back then living conditions weren 't great so the New Year was the only time we could enjoy good food and wear new clothes making it something we truly looked forward to Now that our lives are much better we can eat well and dress nicely every day so naturally the excitement has faded Hmm that makes sense But if we can calm our minds truly feel the culture behind these traditions and cherish the time spent with our families the true spirit of the festival will naturally return —yes the essence of the season is really in our hearts—yes So instead of constantly complaining that the festive spirit is fading take the initiative to create that atmosphere and carry on those traditions Yeah that's true —for example making dumplings together with your family Putting up Spring Festival couplets together watching the Spring Festival Gala together staying up late on New Year's Eve—these are all wonderful ways Yes also explaining to children the origins and meanings behind these traditions helps them understand our culture That’s very important yes Cultural heritage is passed down from generation to generation like this Indeed so the Spring Festival is not just a holiday but also a cultural 洗礼 a return to emotion Hmm that's truly well said Wishing everyone a meaningful Spring Festival— where not only the body returns home but the heart does too take the time to truly feel the warmth of home and the charm of culture Hmm that’s it Let's wrap up here for today Yes After talking so much I'm even more excited for the Lunar New Year now Haha That's great If you enjoyed today's chat feel free to share it with your friends Let more people understand our traditional culture To Let everyone experience the charm of how Chinese people celebrate the Lunar New Year Hmm So let's leave it at that Wishing everyone a happy new year happiness for your entire family Yes all your wishes come true Manifest your desires effortlessly