Why can't I go to other people's homes on New Year's Eve (interpretation of traditional customs and cultural background)

New Year's Eve is an important traditional festival in China and the most important day of the year. On this day, people will reunite with their families, enjoy delicious food and celebrate the arrival of the New Year. However, there is a traditional custom that you can't go to other people's homes, so why can't you go to other people's homes on New Year's Eve? This paper will interpret it from two aspects: cultural background and traditional customs.

cultural background

In the traditional culture of China, New Year's Eve is a very important day. In ancient times, people thought that New Year's Eve was the "end of the year", that is, the last day of the year, on which many gods and ghosts would appear in the world. On this day, people will offer sacrifices to ancestors and gods to pray for peace and success in the coming year.

In addition, New Year's Eve is also the only day of the year for family reunion. In ancient times, people's living conditions were relatively difficult. Many people leave home to make a living and can only go home for reunion on New Year's Eve. Therefore, New Year's Eve is also called "Reunion Festival".

traditional custom

In the traditional culture of China, there is a very important concept called "longevity". Keeping old refers to staying up all night on New Year's Eve, waiting for the arrival of the New Year. In this process, people will carry out a series of activities, such as eating New Year's Eve, setting off fireworks and watching the Spring Festival Gala.

In addition, there is an important custom of observing the age, that is, you can't go to other people's homes. This is because New Year's Eve is a very important day, and people need to sacrifice their ancestors and gods at home to pray for peace and success in the coming year. If you go to someone else's house, it will destroy this sacrificial ceremony and affect the fortune of the coming year.

Besides, if you go to someone else's house, it will bring trouble to others. On New Year's Eve, every household will be busy preparing for the New Year's Eve dinner and the activities of observing the new year. If guests come, they need to prepare extra food and beds, which will bring unnecessary burden to the family.

operation sequence/order

1. Try to stay at home on New Year's Eve and don't go to other people's homes.

2. If relatives or friends come to visit New Year at home, you can warmly receive them, but don't invite them to stay.

3. If you have to go to other people's homes, such as attending a company or unit dinner, you should inform your family in advance and try to go home as soon as possible.

If someone visits, you can prepare some sweets or small gifts for them to express your wishes for the New Year.