春节，是中国人*重要节日，春节，也是中国节俗*丰富的、气氛*火热的节日。春节，也是中国传统文化标识之一。源于原始崇拜和祭祀自然神明的春节，早已世代相承中形成了独具有中国特色的家庭观、亲情观，成为流淌在华夏子孙血脉里的一种文化基因。正是这样的传承与延续，春节才成为人们*为看重的传统节日，成为承载回家团聚这一伟大主题的重要载体。Although times change, the traditional Chinese Lunar New Year is always the most important festival mirroring the deepest feeling and simplest wish- es of all Chinese.Family reunion is the eternal theme of the Spring Festival. No matter where you are, all have to go back home to reunite with their parents and kith and kin. The unique c

Preface 02Chapter I Chinese Spring Festival FervorSection 1 Spring Festival, a Traditional Event 002Section 2 New-Style Spring Festival 009Chapter II Spring Festival, both Ancient and YoungSection 1 The Origin of Spring Festival 018Section 2 Legends of the Spring Festival 026Section 3 A Brief History of the Spring Festival 031Chapter III Bustling Preparations for Chinese New YearSection 1 Laba Rice Porridge, Beginning of the New Year’s Celebration 040Section 2 Offering Sacrifices to Ancestors, a Top Priority of Chinese Lunar New Year 046Section 3 Full Preparation Made for a Satisfying Spring Festival 053Section 4 House Cleaning and Bathing, for a Fresh Start of New Year 070Section 5 Pasting Spring Festival Couplets, Fu Characters and Auspicious Pat- terns for Good Luck 075Section 6 New Year Painting—Festival in Folk Arts 092Chapter IV New Year CelebrationSection 1 Chinese New Year’s Eve—Family Reunion, Time to Ring out the Old and Ring in the New Year 108Section 2 Paying a New Year Call 123Section 3 Dragon and Lion Dances 136Section 4 The Temple Fair, Chinese New Year Carnival 143Section 5 Shehuo, a Show Staged in the Field 148Section 6 Spring Festival, Conventions and Rules 155Section 7 Spring Festival Travel Season, Going Home for the New Year 168Section 8 During the Weeklong Holiday for Spring Festival, How to Thoroughly Enjoy Oneself 175Section 9 Lantern Festival, Climax Ending the Spring Festival 178Chapter V The Feast of Spring FestivalSection 1 New Year’s Eve Dinner, Family Reunion 186Section 2 Different Recipes for the Spring Festival 191Chapter VI Spring Festival Celebrated Across the WorldSection 1 Spring Festival and Christmas 208Section 2 Chinese Lunar New Year and Japanese ‘Old First Month’ 212Section 3 Chinatown, a Thriving Sign of Chinese Culture 215Section 4 Chinese Lunar Stamps, Popular in the World 219