What are the traditional activities in China and other countries in the world?

The traditional festivals in China have been basically stereotyped since the Han Dynasty, increasing and decreasing. After the Republic of China, great changes have taken place due to the westernization in form, but the people still insist on something that is not stipulated by government laws. Until the Cultural Revolution, the government even cut the promotion of traditional festivals except the Spring Festival, and even promoted the Spring Festival as "a revolutionary Spring Festival". After the reform and opening up, people began to celebrate some traditional festivals, and newspapers and periodicals also made some introductions and publicity accordingly. At present, including legal holidays, traditional festivals celebrated by the people account for about one-third of traditional festivals.

Traditional festivals contain many folk culture and traditional humanistic concepts, as well as religious factors, which is of certain significance for studying the culture, history and social life of ancient society.

One. Happy new year in the first month.

The first month, also known as New Year's Day, or the first day of the first month. The first day of the first month is the day when a year, four seasons and twelve months begin. In Chunqiu Zhuan, the first month is called Duanyue. When the rooster crows, firecrackers will be set off in front of the court to ward off evil spirits. Therefore, the first month is a festival that has existed since ancient times.

In the first month, there were many customs, for example, young people and old people dressed well, and this custom has been maintained until today. Drinking Zanthoxylum bungeanum wine is made of Zanthoxylum bungeanum wine or cypress wine. However, some specific activities have now been abandoned, including Han and Jin. For example, at the beginning of the week, he said in the Local Records: "Swallowing a chicken is called practicing shape." "Dream of China in Tokyo" records that the government of the Northern Song Dynasty will hold a grand court meeting in the first month, and the emperors and officials will hold large-scale group worship activities and entertain envoys from various countries, paying special attention to the banquet treatment for the Liao and Korean missions. This activity has been preserved to this day.

After the Revolution of 1911, the government of the Republic of China legally reserved only the first month of the traditional festival, but it was renamed as "Spring Festival", and New Year's Day was placed in the Gregorian calendar 1 month 1 day. It's just that the government and people pay more attention to the Spring Festival, and the people and China government have a four-day legal holiday. However, many private enterprises have extended the Spring Festival to varying degrees, and some even extended it to 1 month 15, including weekends.

Two. Beginning of spring offered sacrifices to farmers.

1 month 1 day to 1 month 15 is beginning of spring, which is an ancient traditional festival offering sacrifices to farmers. According to Ying Shao's "Custom Righteousness" in the Eastern Han Dynasty, the sacrifice to farmers was first held in April, and it was changed to February by Emperor Wendi of Han Dynasty, and changed to beginning of spring in Jin Dynasty. On the day of spring, officials should personally put on clothes to celebrate and sit on Koharu cows to show their support and attention to agriculture after spring, and people also have corresponding celebrations. In fact, this festival is the real Spring Festival. In the Western Jin Dynasty, Fu Xian's Yan Fu said, "Four o'clock has arrived, so it's time to start. He was born in the East, but Yan was established to welcome him. [Feather Army] The ambiguity of light wings, if it can fly but not rise. Mrs. He is skilled and similar in style and appearance. When Yu Qingshu praised it, it was the best in Yichun. "

Today, few people know that beginning of spring is a traditional festival.

Three. Lantern festival lantern

Lantern Festival is the busiest day of the year on the fifteenth day of the first month, because most people have to go to work after this day. Lantern Festival is a grand event, with lanterns and fireworks. Dragon and lion dances, social acrobatics, from day to night. In order to keep the attitude of sharing happiness with the people, Jin Wu couldn't help thinking that Jin Wu was holding Jin Wu, the bodyguard guarding the palace. Wu Jin couldn't help but point out that ordinary people were not forbidden to visit the Jinshui Bridge in front of the palace. Fireworks are set off near Jinshui Bridge, and the emperor and concubines can enjoy them at the Imperial Gate. In the old days, fireworks were all made by burning fireworks tied to a fireworks rack one after another. I saw them when I was a child. They are more spectacular than western-style fireworks, but they are also dangerous. Don Su Weidao's poem, "Fire trees and silver flowers meet, the golden bridge is untied, the dark dust goes with the horse, and the firefly comes." Vividly summarized the scene of Yuanxi.

With the coming of the Lunar New Year, many young women confined in boudoir and family members of officials were allowed to watch lanterns, which created a rare contact opportunity for young men and women and performed many love stories, which were described in the vernacular novels of the Ming Dynasty. Ouyang Xiu's Ci "The Birth of Mistakes" in the Northern Song Dynasty. Yuan "last year's Lantern Festival, the flower market was picturesque, with willow tips on the moon and later generations meeting at dusk." On the first night of this year, the moon and lights were still there. Last year's people disappeared, and Man Chun's shirt sleeves were crying. " Yuan wrote about his experience. He missed her for a year. How could this situation be embarrassing? Xin Qiji wrote, "Looking back suddenly, people are there, and the lights are dim! "Obviously, my sweetheart fell from the sky.

Celebrations of the Lunar New Year have been maintained in rural areas in the north, but they have also resumed in the south, and most of them are limited to watching song and dance programs on TV.

Four. March Qushui

On the third day of March, according to the Chronicle of Jingchu, "the gentry went out of the Zhu Jiang swamp and drank a glass of water." "Qushui" is a bend in the river, and the speed of water flow slows down. In the past, tourists drifted along the river by boat, and every time they went to a harbor or bend of a river, they stopped to drink and write poems. This festival originated very early, and Emperor Wu of Jin didn't even know its meaning. Zhi Yu answered his question and said that it had existed since the Duke of Zhou. It turns out that the glass is filled with wine, floating in the river. This is the meaning of "Qushui Flowing" in Wang Xizhi's Preface to Lanting Collection. People who read ancient prose for the first time without reading the notes are easily confused by the meaning of Qushui.

Five. Cold food and no fire.

Cold food is served in Tomb-Sweeping Day two days ago and 105 days after winter. Fire is forbidden on this day, and only cold food such as melon and fruit snacks is eaten from top to bottom. Cold food originated from the story of Jin Wengong burning. The story is: Kim's son fled abroad with Jietui. The son of Jin passed Wei, hungry and short of food. His followers untied him and cut off the flesh from his thigh for the duke Wen to eat. After Wen Gong returned to China and proclaimed himself emperor, only Jietui didn't get the position. Zi wrote Song of the Dragon and Snake and lived in seclusion. Jin Wengong went to visit Zitui, but Zitui didn't want to come out, so Wen Gong set fire to push the trees around the secluded mountain, hoping to force Zitui to push it out, and Zitui hugged the withered willow and let it burn to death. Jin Wengong mourned him and ordered the people not to make a fire on May 5th. Later, May 5th was changed to the time written in the Han Dynasty. This story is not recorded in Zuo Zhuan and Historical Records, but it is specifically researched in Hong Mai's Rongzhai Essays in the Southern Song Dynasty. Bird Yang Hao's song Zhong Lu. And Yao folk songs. On the road of cold food, cold food seems to come from the legend of Tang Yao.

I wonder if the commemoration of the Cold Food Festival still exists in rural Shanxi today?

Six. Qingming shangfen

Tomb-Sweeping Day's offering sacrifices to ancestors and deceased relatives only rose after the Northern and Southern Dynasties, because it was not recorded in the Chronicle of Jingchu written by Zonggu in the Southern Dynasty. In the Northern Song Dynasty, every household was required to put willow branches at the door.

The official will hold a ceremony of "drilling wood to make a fire", that is, using elm wood to drill wood to make a fire, and hold a dragon boat race, which is very lively, not just a grave-sweeping activity. The so-called "rainy season, pedestrians on the road want to break their souls" is so sad.

Qingming activities remain up and down.

Seven. April Buddha's birthday

April 8 is the Buddha's birthday, just like Christmas in the west, which is a national religious festival after the spread of Buddhism to the east. This festival didn't appear until about the Tang Dynasty. On this day, there are Buddhist bathing and fasting meetings in temples of all sizes. Monks offer sweet medicine syrup to pilgrims, while folks eat spring fruit with soju as a souvenir. At present, most young people who celebrate Christmas in China do not know that China also commemorates the birthday of a western god.

Eight. Dragon Boat Festival

May 5th is the annual Dragon Boat Festival, which is very lively. People should spontaneously organize dragon boat races, eat zongzi, drink realgar wine and hang wormwood in the yard. According to legend, this festival is to commemorate the story of Chu doctor Qu Yuan who was concerned about his country and people and threw himself into the river. People wrap glutinous rice in palm leaves and throw it into the river as bait, so that fish and turtles will not eat their respected Dr. Qu. However, according to Han Danchun's "Cao E Bei", "On May 5, Wu Jun greeted the water." This is a custom handed down from the State of Wu. In Wu Zixu, it has nothing to do with Qu Yuan. The Legend of Crossing the Land says that this custom originated from Gou Jian, the King of Yue. The Dragon Boat Festival seems to have originated from the custom in wuyue. The custom of drinking realgar wine, hanging wormwood and picking miscellaneous medicines may have existed since ancient times. Xia: "Store medicine this month to remove poisonous gas." I told you. The celebration of the Dragon Boat Festival is still very enthusiastic in China, but primary and secondary school students can't sit still in class when they go to see the Dragon Boat Festival, just like before the 1960s. Overseas Chinese don't think of zongzi until they see them sold in shops.

Nine. Tanabata Qiao Qi

On the evening of July 7th, the Cowherd and Weaver Girl in the sky will meet across the bridge made by magpies from the separated Milky Way. Of course, this is not true. The distance of the Milky Way is measured in millions of light years. Even by flying at the speed of light, it is absolutely impossible to cross the galaxy overnight.

With Tenuto Central Plains Ghost Festival

Mid-Autumn Festival falls on July 15, commonly known as "Ghost Festival". On this day, it is said that paper money will be burned to pay homage to the dead, and the temple should try its best to make a Dojo to cross over the dead. This festival originated from the Buddhist scripture "Mulian Save Mother", so it was very enthusiastic in the Song Dynasty. A stage was set up in the market to sing the variety "Mulian Save Mother". According to Buddhist scriptures, this story says: Mulian saw her dead mother in the underworld and immediately offered her a bowl of rice. If rice is not imported, it becomes charcoal, and Manglietia's mother can't get food, so Manglietia ran away screaming. Buddha said, "Your mother's sin is too deep for you to bear alone. It takes the strength of ten monks. On July 15th, you should prepare all kinds of delicious food and five fruits for the seven generations of parents who suffered in hell, and put them in pots and pans to offer sacrifices to the top ten monks and virtues. I will warn all monks and wish the seven generations of parents of the donor to enter' meditation' and then accept food. " Mulian did as the Buddha said, and his mother relieved all the pain of the Russian ghost. Manglietia then said to the Buddha, "In the future, Buddhist disciples who are filial to their parents should also set up a bonsai to support the ten monks." Buddha said, "Well said!" So this story is actually a combination of Confucian filial piety and Buddhist classics, which is convenient for the popularization of Buddhism. Therefore, the Mid-Autumn Festival is also called "Orchid Festival". In Strange Tales from a Lonely Studio, there are many references to the Orchid Club. When I was a child, I heard the old man say many times that "ghosts run around in July and a half", but I don't know why. At present, most students studying in the United States only know a "Halloween" (Gregorian calendar1October 3 1 day), but they don't know the China Bonsai Club, which is much more solemn than Halloween. Orchid clubs may have existed in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, but now they are only restored in temples, which is too feudal and superstitious.

Eleven. The Mid Autumn Festival moon

On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival on August 15, the moon was particularly big, and the commemoration of the Mid-Autumn Festival began. Sitting around eating moon cakes in Mid-Autumn Festival, and then going out to enjoy the moon, also means family reunion, which may come from Su Shi's poem "When is the bright moon?" I take my glass from a distance. . . . May people last for a long time, and thousands of miles are beautiful. "This is written by Su Dongpo when he missed his brother Perilla in the field. However, the origin of the Mid-Autumn Festival is not in this sense, but the obvious appreciation of the moon, but comes from the beautiful story of Emperor Tang Ming wandering in the Moon Palace with the help of the famous Taoist Ye Fashan, with a fairy tale "colorful feathers", which I have posted to explain.

As for the custom of eating moon cakes on Mid-Autumn Festival night, there is no record in the notes of the Southern Song Dynasty. According to legend, at the end of the Yuan Dynasty, when the peasant Red Scarf Army revolted, it took the round cake as the number. The Mid-Autumn Festival in Song Dynasty is very lively. According to the legend of Wulin, on the Mid-Autumn Festival night in the Southern Song Dynasty, people set off 100,000 pieces of parchment to drift along the Qiantang River. At night, the Qiantang River is dotted like a star-Korea, which is endless fun.

Twelve. Gordon Chongyang

September 9th is the traditional Double Ninth Festival, which coincides with the crisp autumn air and is a good time for an outing. Wang Wei's "Ascending the Mountain on September 9 to Remember the Shandong Brothers" wrote: "Being in a foreign land, I miss my relatives twice every festive season. I know from a distance where my brother climbed, and there is one person missing from the dogwood. " Show his true feelings for his loved ones. On September 9th, wearing dogwood grass, on a sunny day, climbing uphill and drinking chrysanthemum wine reminded people of the integration of life and nature, so they thought of longevity.

After the liberation of the Double Ninth Festival, there were no more celebrations.

Thirteen. Laba porridge

1February 8th is the day of offering sacrifices to Kitchen God. "Zhou Li" said: "Zhuan Xu's son Li, named Zhu Rong, is worshipped as the kitchen god." Therefore, the origin of offering sacrifices to the kitchen god may be before the Western Zhou Dynasty. In the Eastern Han Dynasty, Serina Liu and others wrote A History of the East View of the Han Dynasty, saying that they would sacrifice the antelope to the Kitchen God. In the Song Dynasty, the so-called "laba rice" appeared in the activities of offering sacrifices to the kitchen god, that is, cooking porridge with various fruit miscellaneous materials. This custom may come from the infiltration and transformation of Buddhism into the activities of China folk witches. On this day, the monks saw that everyone was offering sacrifices to traditional witches, fearing that it would be bad to publicize their teachings, so they took advantage of the excitement and gave alms to the poor and helpless to offset the influence of "cults." Buddhism's resistance to "cults" was very successful, which completely put an end to previous activities such as jumping into the gods. Zhang Heng's Ode to Tokyo in the Eastern Han Dynasty also said: "At the end of each year, a grand Nuo ceremony is held to exorcise all kinds of evil spirits. Fang Shen Xiang is armed, the wizard is holding a broom, and tens of thousands of children are wearing red scarves and black clothes, holding peach bows and barbed arrows, and shooting aimlessly everywhere. " It is also recorded in the story of Jingchu Times, but there is no such joyful celebration scene in Dream of Tokyo.

However, "Laba porridge" has been handed down. Up to now, many families still have this custom, and some modern smart wives have done it with experience.

At the age of fourteen, stay old on New Year's Eve.

New Year's Eve is the last day of the year. On this day, ordinary families get together as much as possible, gather around the fire, drink and eat delicious food to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new year, while the outdoor sound is firecrackers. The family spent the last night of a warm year together, which is still strong in China, but the wonderful programs of the Spring Festival Gala ruined the warm atmosphere.