The origin of celebrating the Spring Festival

The custom of observing age has a long history. The earliest records can be found in the local customs of the Western Jin Dynasty: on New Year's Eve, all parties give gifts to each other, which is called "feeding the elderly"; Wine and food are invited, which is called "not old"; Young and old get together to drink and wish a complete song called "age division"; Everyone stays up all night, waiting for dawn. This is the so-called "shou sui".

On New Year's Eve, the whole family get together, eat New Year's Eve, light candles or oil lamps, sit around the stove and chat, wait for the time to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new year, and keep vigil all night, which symbolizes driving away all evil diseases and epidemics and expecting good luck in the new year.

This custom gradually became popular. At the beginning of the Tang Dynasty, Li Shimin, Emperor Taizong, wrote a poem "Shou Sui": "Cold words and winter snow, warm with spring breeze". To this day, people are used to celebrating the New Year's Eve.

Extended data

Keeping old age on New Year's Eve is the most important custom, which was recorded in Wei and Jin Dynasties. On New Year's Eve, the Chinese nation still attaches great importance to staying up late with family members, getting together for drinking and enjoying family happiness, which is a custom.

After the first cock crow, the new year began. Men, women and children wear holiday clothes. First, they celebrate the New Year's birthday for their elders. Then they visit their relatives and friends and congratulate each other. At this time, the land of China is shining everywhere. From the first day to the fifteenth day, people have been immersed in a festive atmosphere of joy, peace and civilization.