What are the stories of the eight traditional festivals?

The Spring Festival represents the arrival of the Lunar New Year. On this day, every household puts red couplets on their doors and sets off firecrackers, hoping for a smooth coming year.

According to legend, a long time ago, there was a fierce monster named Nian who constantly created panic. The gods imprisoned it in the mountains and released it only once every twelve months. Twelve months later, Nian was released and began to do evil.

People discuss ways to deal with Nian beast. Some people say that Nian is afraid of seeing red, fire and noise. People put up red couplets with auspicious words, set off firecrackers and beat drums.

The monster trembled with fear. When night fell, all the people lit lanterns. The monster was frightened and hid in the mountains and never came out again. Nian beast was defeated, but the custom of Chinese New Year continues to this day.

2. Lantern Festival

The fifteenth day of the first lunar month is the Lantern Festival. This custom can be traced back to two thousand years ago. Legend has it that in heaven, the Emperor of Heaven lived a dull life. He was very angry when he heard that people on the ground lived happily. So he sent a burning crane to the ground and burned it on the fifteenth day of the first month.

A kind fairy came down to tell people about it. A wise man suggested that everyone should light a lantern at once. The fairy also said that the crane should be kept in a cage and the fire should be put out. When the crane came to the earth, it was caught and put into a cage that could not burn fire.

People light lanterns and set off firecrackers and fireworks. Emperor Tiandi was very happy to see the fire on earth. He thinks that cranes have successfully destroyed the world.

In fact, people paraded with lanterns to celebrate their victory. To commemorate this day, people hang lanterns or walk in the street with lanterns. This is the Lantern Festival.

3. Tomb-Sweeping Day

Tomb-Sweeping Day is in early April every year. On this day, people walk in the countryside, place sacrifices in front of graves and wear flowers or tender wicker. The story goes back to the previous times. During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, Zhong Er, the prince of the State of Jin, was exiled by the Principality. 19 years later, he returned to the motherland. He rewarded and knighted those who remained loyal during his exile according to their merits.

Among them, a man named Jie Zhitui was forgotten by Zhong Er. He carried his mother back to Mianshan. A doorman in Zhong Er told him about it. Zhong Er went to Jiezhitui with his entourage, but Mianshan was too big for them to find.

Another public guest suggested Zhong Er: "Let Yamakaji go, and the introduction will come out." Zhong Er then ordered the mountain to be burned. A fire destroyed the mountain, and Jie Zhitui and his mother persisted until their death.

Zhong Er was so sad that he was not allowed to make a fire. Every family should eat cold food. The custom of not firing guns in Tomb-Sweeping Day no longer exists. But inserting willows and cleaning the graves of ancestors continue to this day.

4. Mid-Autumn Festival

August 15th of the lunar calendar is the Mid-Autumn Festival. People eat moon cakes and children buy "rabbit owners" made of clay. There are many legends about Mid-Autumn Festival. This is a ... A Taoist priest said to Tang, "I can put you on the moon palace." Then he threw his cane into the sky.

The walking stick became a bridge. The emperor boarded the bridge and followed the Taoist priest to the Moon Palace. There, the emperor saw the Jade Rabbit playing with medicine and the fairies playing and dancing. After returning to Earth, he composed a piece of music and nominated it as Travel Notes of the Moon Palace of Emperor Taizong.

5. Dragon Boat Festival

The fifth day of the fifth lunar month is the Dragon Boat Festival. On this day, every household in rural areas will eat zongzi wrapped in glutinous rice, wear sachets and insert mugwort leaves. People eat zongzi. Some people say it's in memory of Qu Yuan.

Qu Yuan played an important role in Chu State, and was highly praised for his outstanding achievements in the Chu-Han War. The treacherous king slandered his fault and he was removed from office. Soon after, he was exiled and lived a wandering life.

He was indignant at the misfortune of the country and people. General Qin sent troops south, but failed to return, breaking the capital of Ying. In despair and indignation, Qu Yuan threw a big stone into the Miluo River and died. Legend has it that local people threw zongzi to fish to prevent Qu Yuan's body from being eaten by fish, and later it gradually formed a ceremony. From now on, the fifth day of the fifth lunar month is the Dragon Boat Festival. People will eat zongzi and row dragon boats to commemorate this great patriotic poet.

On the fifteenth day of the fifth lunar month, he aroused people's enthusiasm. Chu people threw rice grains into the river to offer sacrifices to Qu Yuan. People are worried that the grain will be eaten by fish and shrimp, so they wrap the rice with reed leaves and tie it with silk thread. People still wear sachets and children wear colored ropes. People stick mugwort leaves on the door, symbolizing repelling the enemy's sword.