The custom of Chinese New Year in Shandong Province

1. Posting couplets and New Year pictures: In Shandong, during the Spring Festival, every household will post new couplets and New Year pictures to add festive atmosphere to the festival. The couplets are written with auspicious wishes, symbolizing the beautiful longing for the new year, while the New Year pictures are mostly based on auspicious patterns and myths and legends, pinning people's longing for a happy life.

2. Eat jiaozi: jiaozi is an indispensable traditional food in Shandong during the Spring Festival. Jiaozi is shaped like a gold ingot, which means making money and treasure. At the same time, the process of contracting jiaozi also symbolizes the harmony and unity of the family. During the Spring Festival, families sit around to make jiaozi and eat jiaozi, which has become a unique way for Shandong people to celebrate the New Year.

3. Happy New Year: Happy New Year is one of the important customs during the Spring Festival in Shandong. People will put on new clothes, visit relatives and friends with gifts and exchange New Year wishes. In Shandong, there is also a special way to pay New Year greetings called kowtow, and the younger generation will kowtow to their elders to express their respect and blessings.

4. Setting off firecrackers: Setting off firecrackers is also one of the traditional customs of Shandong Spring Festival. On New Year's Eve, people will set off firecrackers and fireworks to drive away evil spirits and diseases and welcome the arrival of the New Year. Firecrackers resounded through the sky, symbolizing a prosperous family and a smooth career in the new year.

5. Dragon and lion dancing: Dragon and lion dancing is a common traditional performance during the Spring Festival in Shandong. In China culture, dragon and lion dances symbolize good luck. The performance of dragon and lion dance not only shows the talent and enthusiasm of Shandong people, but also implies a good wish to pray for a bumper harvest and drive away evil spirits.

6. Giving red envelopes: In Shandong, giving red envelopes during the Spring Festival is also one of the traditional customs. The elders will give red envelopes to the younger generation, which means peace, health and academic success in the New Year. Red envelopes not only represent the care and expectation of the elders for the younger generation, but also add a festive atmosphere to the festival.