Spring Festival is an excellent traditional festival of our Chinese people. As an important part of our culture, it contains rich humanistic and natural cultural connotations. And we celebrate the Spring Festival in various ways all over the world every year.
During this Spring Festival, members of the Red Pomegranate Promotion Team in School of Chemistry felt Chinese traditional culture in their hometowns and recorded their experience by taking photos then sharing with us, wishing us a happy new year. Let's have a look at them!
Grade 2017, Long Quanmei, Miao Nationality in Southeast Guizhou
The most meaningful thing during this year's Spring Festival is to be a member of the Association of College Students in Ouli, in which we undertook the recreational and sports activities in the countryside during the Spring Festival. And we also planned a lot of preparatory activities in the early part of the Spring Festival, aiming at letting the villagers have fun and celebrating the harvest in the past year. Apart from that, we had many small activities, such as riddle guessing games, finger games during drinking competitions, tug-of-war competitions, etc. Both adults and children were excited andlively. Although I’m only a small part of this group and my light and heat might be weak, I think it is our duty to work with others to publicize the excellent Chinese tradition of our willingness to help people.
Grade 2017, Yang Kun, Dong Nationality in Jinping, Guizhou
"Golden dog leaves disaster in the old age and brings peace in the house, while silver pig sends blessing and welcomes the new year, making the whole family joyful.” When we began to prepare for the Spring Festival and write couplets, the curtain of the Spring Festival had been gradually opened.
Everything was particularly lively in this year and everyone gathered together. All we young people were preparing for the New Year's Eve dinner, while the elderly were chatting in the living room and children were playing. The whole room was full of joy and laughter. We started to prepare the New Year's Eve dinner in the morning. And it is our custom to have steamed powder and egg rolls for the New Year. My sister and I got up early in the morning to make the egg rolls, making the entire house haunted by the nice smell of egg. We talked and laughed while eating the skin of egg rolls. Finally, we even did not want to eat our lunch! After noon, we began to prepare all kinds of small dishes with various flavor such as sweet, spicy and sour. And when the meal was served eventually, everyone raised their glasses and drank a toast to luck. In such a fragrant atmosphere, I realized how warm and happy it can be when the whole family gather together.
Grade 2017, Huang Ligang, Han Nationality in Yongzhou, Hunan
Spring always begins on December 30th of Chinese lunar calendar. But there were still some winter bamboo shoots in the bamboo grove in front of our door. On the afternoon of the first day in the New Year, when my family had nothing to do, they decided to carry a hoe and went out to dig the winter bamboo shoot, which never breaks out of the soil. Even in the spring, it only shows a tiny nod and then rots in the soil later. The reason why to dig winter bamboo shoots in the late winter are two. First, to taste the fresh winter bamboo shoots. Second, to do some exercise for not having done any sports these days. My family members were all busy with their own business during the last year and only in the past few days did they get together. Therefore, it was also wonderful and meaningful to go out for a walk in such a beautiful spring.
Grade 2017, Shi Xuan, Han Nationality in Dangyang, Hubei Province
New Year's Eve of this year is the same as , but not the very same.
What’s similar is that, the custom of New Year's Eve is always the same every year. On the morning of that day, my father would clean the room, hoping to welcome the new year with a completely new image. At the same time, mother begins to prepare reunion dinner early, being busy in the kitchen all the time. The whole family has a clear division of labor, each of us have our own duties and everything is in harmony and order.
And what's different is that after lunch this time, grandma wanted to visit Yuquan Temple. Grandma said that she had never visited Yuquan Temple so far, and she wanted to visit it in this year. So our family drove to Yuquan Temple together with two neighbors. Though grandma had trouble with walking and felt a little tired, she still looked very happy. And all the scenic spots in the Yuquan Temple had been visited all over. We also burned incense and prayed for peace and success in the coming year. And the most important thing during the trip is to fulfill one of grandma's wishes.
Grade 2016, Sieren Na Yi, Uygur Nationality in Xinjiang, Urumqi
Speaking of home, people will always have a warm feeling from their hearts. It is just like a boat sailing in the wind and waves: it is bumpy, but as long as the whole family work together to resist troubles, we will feel the incomparable happiness and warmth. Because of home, we will never lose. And in the long road of life, family members always care about each other and support each other regardless of difficulties. Whether the home is prosperous or humble, it is always our most yearning place. Love, consideration, tolerance and understanding will always exist among family members. Wherever you actually are, the harmonious atmosphere will make you feel at home. That's great! It feels so good to have a family! Taking advantage of the opportunity of family reunion at the end of a year, I accompany my family to have a dinner, and feel the warmth of home again!
Grade 2016, Peng Linxi, Han Nationality in Zigong, Sichuan
My father is a good cook, but he seldom cooks for his busy work. Only in the Spring Festival, when he is free during the holidays, will he put on his apron, go into the kitchen and cook a good meal for us. So for me, the sweetest scene is that my father puts on his apron and serves delicious dishes one after another.
In this New Year, my parents and I also took grandparents out for a tour and spent this Spring Festival in Chengdu. During this journey, I find that no matter where people come from, they always prefer a hilarious and lively New Year. Perhaps that is exactly the meaning of Spring Festival in China!
Grade 2017, Zhang Zhen, Tujia Nationality in Youyang, Chongqing
Oil-baked rice is our Tujia people's special delicacy, which is round, symbolizing "perfect"; golden color, symbolizing "wealth". Therefore, oil-baked rice has become one of the most popular foods for Tujia people to worship gods and present friends on New Year's Day, as well as the most common and ethnic snacks in urban and rural areas.
There are about four steps in making oil-baked rice: soaking, grinding, stirring and frying.
After New Year's Eve dinner, grandparents grinded rice and soybeans soaked in advance, which were done by stone mill, so it would be more time-consuming and laborious than by machine. In the grinding process, everyone wanted to try the grinding, and we were all pleasant. The stuffing had been prepared by grandma in advance, so we just fried the filling directly. We chatted about our daily life while doing it, and ate one of them every now and then. As a member of the Chinese nation, I am very proud of our rich and excellent traditional culture!
We shared our own records of the Spring Festival as members of the Red Pomegranate Promotion Team. In the thick atmosphere, we felt the significance of reunion for our Chinese people and the profound traditional Chinese culture. On this happy day, we wish you all the best in the New Year!
Translator: Xu Jinghan
Time: 2019-02-12
