Dongping's Spring Festival (composition)

This winter vacation, I came to my grandfather's home-shanting, Zaozhuang City, Shandong Province to celebrate the Spring Festival. I found that the custom of New Year here is similar to that of Changzhou, and the unique local custom of kowtowing for New Year has aroused my interest.

On New Year's Eve, people steam steamed buns, put up Spring Festival couplets, set off firecrackers, have a reunion dinner and watch the Spring Festival party. I look at the big, round, steaming steamed buns covered with red dots and full of dates on the table, and listen to the firecrackers and playful laughter of the children outside, and grandpa, grandma, uncle, aunt, uncle and uncle. From time to time, I also go out with my sister and brothers to set off fireworks and throw firecrackers to enjoy the festival!

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, people get up early and rush to pay a New Year call to their elders. The New Year greetings in Zaozhuang, Shandong Province are particularly special. In Changzhou, just say some blessings to your elders, sit at home and chat. In my grandfather's house, we should not only send blessings to the elders, but also kowtow to them. I'm surprised. Why should I kowtow? I didn't know why until I asked my grandfather:

"Because Zaozhuang is close to Qufu, the hometown of Confucius, and Confucius has advocated filial piety all his life, Zaozhuang has also been influenced by Qufu and respects its elders very much, so it is necessary to kowtow to the elders to pay New Year greetings during the New Year."

As the saying goes, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do". Since I have come to my grandfather's house, I should kowtow to my elders and pay a New Year call according to the customs here. Before I had breakfast, I began to prepare to pay a New Year call to my grandparents. Because I didn't knock my head before, my mother specially prepared a thick cushion for me. I thought it was foolproof, so I plopped down on my knees, but I didn't expect this mat to be useless. My head slammed into the ground and a bag immediately appeared on my head. This is the first time for me to pay a New Year call to my elders. Although I feel some pain, I still pretend to be calm and say with a strong smile, "I wish my grandparents good health, a happy New Year and all the best."

The families around me were so happy that I was "good". Grandpa saw that I was so "hard" on my first New Year call, and he said "OK, OK" and helped me up with a smile. Grandma touched my head lovingly, and took out a bulging red envelope from her pocket and stuffed it into my hand. Looking at my grandparents' happy smiles, I have already put the pain behind me.

When I went home for the Spring Festival this time, I not only felt the warmth and affection of my family, but also experienced the unique New Year greeting custom of my grandfather's family. It really killed two birds with one stone! The Spring Festival in year of the snake has passed, and I am looking forward to the Spring Festival in the Year of the Horse, and I am looking forward to reuniting with my loved ones again!