Preparations for the lunar New Year traditionally
started well in advance of New Year's Day. The seven days before New Year's Eve
were set aside for the annual housecleaning, or the "sweeping of the grounds."
Every corner of the house had to be cleaned for the new year.
Spring couplets, written in black ink on large vertical scrolls of red paper,
were put on the walls or on both sides of gateways. These couplets, short poems
written in classical Chinese, were expressions of good wishes for the family in
the coming year.
In addition, symbolic flowers and fruits were used to decorate the house, and
colorful New
Year pictures were placed on the walls.
In rural areas, after the housecleaning, it was time to bid farewell to the
Kitchen God. The Kitchen God was regarded as the guardian of the family hearth.
By tradition, the Kitchen God left the house on the 23rd day of the last month
to report to heaven on the behavior of the family and would return on the first
day of the New Year. On the evening of the 23rd day, the family would give the
Kitchen God a ritualistic farewell dinner with sweet foods and honey. Some said
this was a bribe, others said it sealed his mouth from saying bad things.
Then the family began to prepare for the upcoming celebrations.
This was also the time to settle accumulated debts.
On the last day of the old year, everyone was busy either preparing food, or
in going to the barbers and getting tidied up for New Year's Day. Tradition
stipulated that all food be prepared in advance so sharp implements, such as
knives and scissors, could be put away to avoid cutting the "luck" of the New
Year. The kitchen and well were not to be disturbed on the first day of the New
Year.
On New Year's Day, the children were given little red envelopes with good
luck money inside. On New Year's Day, people would put on new clothes and their
best behavior. It was considered improper to tell a lie, raise one's voice, use
indecent language, or break anything on the first day of the year.
Editor: Cindy
