What are the origins and customs of New Year's Eve?

New Year's Eve originated from an "exile" activity in the pre-Qin period in China. According to Lu Chunqiu Ji, the ancients used drums to drive away the "plague god" on the day before the New Year, which is the origin of the "New Year's Eve" festival.

New Year's Eve began in the Southern and Northern Dynasties. In ancient times, it was also called: except night, except day, except year, year-end and year-end, commonly known as "year 30" or "year 30".

The custom of New Year's Eve:

I. New Year's Eve dinner

New Year's Eve is also called reunion dinner. The dishes of northerners' New Year's Eve dinner often include jiaozi, fish, rice cakes and rectangular dishes. Because jiaozi, like Jin Yuanbao, is rich. Fish can't be eaten, which means "more than one year". The rice cake has the meaning of "rising year by year"; Eating vegetables for a long time means longevity. In the south of China, there are many kinds of chicken, barbecue, Nostoc flagelliforme and oyster sauce, because Nostoc flagelliforme and oyster sauce are homophonic. Typical Jiangnan New Year's Eve dinner, there must be fish, there must be a rich soup pot.

Second, post Spring Festival couplets.

Spring Festival couplets are also called door couplets, spring stickers, couplets, couplets and peach symbols. They depict the background of the times and express good wishes with neat, dual, concise and delicate words, which are unique literary forms in China. On New Year's Eve, no matter in urban or rural areas, every household should choose a pair of bright red Spring Festival couplets and stick them on the door to add festive atmosphere to the festival.

Third, ancestor worship.

Sacrificing ancestors is the first important event on New Year's Eve. In many parts of our country, on this day, people will put rich meals and lit incense sticks at home, and parents will lead their children to worship. In some rural areas of Shanxi Province, on New Year's Eve, we will light incense sticks, pour wine and set dishes in front of the statues of our ancestors, and the whole family will hold a grand sacrifice ceremony to express the feelings of "pursuing the future with caution". It was not until our ancestors had dinner that people began to enjoy it.

Fourth, paste New Year pictures.

New Year pictures, like Spring Festival couplets, originated from "door gods". With the rise of block printing, the content of New Year pictures is not limited to the door gods, and the God of Wealth is gradually invited to the home, and then colorful New Year pictures such as Fu Lushou's three stars, God bless the people, abundant crops, prosperous six animals, greeting the spring and wishing the New Year are made in some New Year picture workshops to meet people's good wishes of celebrating and praying for the New Year.