Folkways and customs of the Chaoshan people during the New Year's Eve

1. The New Year custom of Chaoshan starts from the Lunar New Year. The 24th day of the Lunar New Year is the day when the "Master goes to heaven". The so-called "master" is a long stay in the family, blessing the family peace of the gods, must be in the Lunar New Year 24 to the fourth day of the first month, the heaven "report". On this day, every family will "worship the old man", begging the old man "to say good things in heaven".

2, to the New Year's day or two before, each family will begin to prepare the staple food for the New Year, which is the most important is to make kueh, such as peach kueh, rat shell kueh, sweet kueh, vegetable kueh, and so on, but also to prepare chickens, ducks, geese, fish, pork, and so on. With the development of time, more and more people now choose to buy kueh in the market.

3, to the New Year's Eve, naturally, we have to eat New Year's Eve dinner! Before the New Year's Eve dinner, one must "pay homage to the ancestors" (offer sacrifices to the ancestors) and invite the ancestors to eat first. After that, the family sits around, eat New Year's Eve dinner, ushering in the wonderful moment of family reunion.

After the New Year's Eve dinner, the family gathers to observe the New Year's Eve, commonly known as the "New Year's Eve". Traditionally, it is believed that the New Year's Eve vigil is to pray for the longevity of both parents. At twelve o'clock on the night, firecrackers are set off to celebrate the arrival of the new year.

4, New Year's Eve or the first day of the year, the younger generation to pay homage to the elders, the elders are to hand out the New Year's money, commonly known as "pressure belly waist", meaning that the year from beginning to end, the waist bag will be full of solid, rich and wealthy. Income of the younger generation should also send money to the elders. Some families children before going to bed, parents will be a large-denomination banknotes in the child's belly pocket, wake up after the banknotes will be retrieved.

5. During the Spring Festival, the Chaoshan people also go to the homes of friends and relatives to pay tribute to the New Year. Chaoshan proverb says: "Have a heart to worship the first day of the year, two, no heart to worship the New Year the third and fourth." It says that the earlier you pay your respects, the more sincere you are.

6, the second day of the first month, married daughters should bring their husbands and children back to the bride's home (Shantou called "home after") to pay tribute to the New Year. Daughters and sons-in-law must bring gifts with them.