Spring Festival and Cat Litter culture

The Spring Festival is the most important traditional festival in China. Let’s get to know it:
I. The Origin of the Spring Festival
In ancient times, people would hold large-scale sacrificial activities at the end and the beginning of the year to express gratitude to the gods of heaven and earth and ancestors for their blessings and to pray for favorable weather and a bumper harvest in the coming year. Such sacrificial activities were the initial prototype of the Spring Festival.
The Legend of the “Nian” Beast (Folklore Element)
There is a widely circulated folk legend. In ancient times, there was a monster called “Nian” with antennae on its head, which was extremely fierce. “Nian” lived deep in the sea all year round and only climbed ashore on New Year’s Eve to devour livestock and harm people’s lives. Therefore, on every New Year’s Eve, people from every village and hamlet would help the elderly and children flee to the deep mountains to avoid being harmed by the “Nian” beast.
Later, people discovered that the “Nian” beast was afraid of the color red, firelight and the sound of explosions. So, on every New Year’s Eve, every household would paste red couplets and set off firecrackers; every household would keep their candles burning brightly and stay up to wait for the new year. Early in the morning on the first day of the first lunar month, people would also visit relatives and friends to offer congratulations and greetings. These customs gradually evolved into the traditional activities of the Spring Festival.
II. The Time of the Spring Festival
The Spring Festival falls on the first day of the first lunar month, but the celebration activities usually start from the Kitchen God Worship on the 23rd (or 24th) day of the twelfth lunar month of the previous year and continue until the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month.
Minor New Year
The 23rd or 24th day of the twelfth lunar month is called “Minor New Year”. On this day, people mainly worship the Kitchen God. The Kitchen God is responsible for managing the kitchen fire of each family and is regarded as the family’s patron saint. On this day, people will use sweet foods such as malt sugar candies to worship the Kitchen God, hoping that after eating the sweet foods, the Kitchen God will say more good words in front of the Jade Emperor and bless the whole family to be safe.
New Year’s Eve
The last day of the twelfth lunar month (the 30th day in a big month and the 29th day in a small month) is New Year’s Eve. On this day, the whole family will gather together to have a reunion dinner, which is usually very sumptuous, with various dishes that carry auspicious meanings.
There is also the custom of staying up on New Year’s Eve. The whole family will sit around together and stay up late to welcome the arrival of the new year. Meanwhile, on New Year’s Eve, people will set off fireworks and firecrackers to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new in a way to ward off evil spirits and celebrate the occasion.
During the Spring Festival (from the 1st to the 15th Day of the First Lunar Month)
The first day of the first lunar month is the first day of the new year. People will put on new clothes, visit relatives and friends, pay New Year’s calls to each other, and say some auspicious greetings such as “May you be prosperous” and “Happy Spring Festival”.
The Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month is the last climax of the Spring Festival. On this day, there are customs such as enjoying lanterns, guessing lantern riddles and eating yuanxiao.
III. The Customs of the Spring Festival
Pasting Spring Festival Couplets
Hanging New Year Paintings
Dragon and Lion Dances
IV. The Cultural Significance of the Spring Festival
A Symbol of Reunion
During the Spring Festival, the whole family will sit around together to have meals, chat, share the experiences of the past year and the plans for the new year, which enhances the feelings among family members.
Inheriting Traditional Culture
The Spring Festival carries a large number of traditional customs and cultural elements. Through the celebration ways passed down from generation to generation, China’s traditional culture can be continued and developed.
Condensing the National Spirit
The Spring Festival is a festival shared by the entire Chinese nation. In this festival, people from different regions and ethnic groups celebrate in similar ways.
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