CHINESE FESTIVALS

THE CHINESE SPRING FESTIVAL IS THE MOST IMPORTANT SPRING FESTIVAL OF THE CHINESE.  ALL FAMILY MEMBERS GET TOGETHER.  MANY BUSES, AIRPORTS AND TRAINS ARE CROWDED WITH PEOPLE. RETURNING.  IT FALLS ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE LUNAR MONTH, OFTEN ONE MONTH LATER THAN THEIR GREGORIAN  CALENDAR.  THIS FEST STARTED IN 1600 B,C, IN THE 12TH  LUNAR MONTH AND THEY START EVERY YEAR AT THE SAME TIME.  THE CHINESE  HAVE 7 DAYS OFF FROM WORK FOR THE LUNAR MONTH.  SOME CUSTOMS ARE: MAKE PORRIDGE MADE FROM RICE, MILLETS AND SEEDS AND BEANS.

ON THE 23RD DAY PEOPLE OFFER SACRIFICE TO THE KITCHEN GOD.  THEY MAKE DELICIOUS FOOD TO ENJOY.  THEN THEY PREPARE FOR THE COMING NEW YEAR.  STORES ARE BUSY AND GATHER MATERIALS FOR EDIBLE OIL RICE, FLOUR, CHICKEN, DUCK, FISH, MEAT.THE FAMILIES BUY NEW CLOTHES FOR THEIR CHILDREN.  THEY BUY GIFTS AND SHOES FOR THE ELDERLY BEFORE THE NEW YEAR.  THEY CLEAN THE INDOORS AND OUTDOORS OF THEIR HOMES AND CLOTHES  AND UTENSILS.  THEY PUT CHINESE CALLIGRAPHY WITH BLACK CHARACTERS ON RED PAPER.  THEY PUT CHINESE CALLIGRAPHY WITH BLACK CHARACTERS ON SEA PAPER.  THE CONTENT VARIES FROM HOUSE OWNERS WISHES FOR A BRIGHT FUTURE AND GOOD LUCK. THEY PUT PICTURES OF THEIR GODS ON DOORS AND WEALTH  ON FRONT DOORS TO WARD OFF EVIL SPIRITS.

THE CHINESE CHARACTER "FU" MEANS HAPPINESS AN UPSIDE DOWN POSTER.  THEY PUT 2 LARGE RED LANTERNS ON THE SIDES OF THE FRONT DOOR.  PEOPLE ATTACH GREAT IMPORTANCE TO THE SPRING  FESTIVAL.

ALL FAMILY MEMBERS EAT TOGETHER AND IT IS MORE LUXURIOUS THAN USUAL.  AFTERWARDS THE ENTIRE FAMILY SITS TOGETHER AND CHAT.  THEY WILL STAY UP TO SEETHE NEW YEAR IN.

AS THEY WAKE UP ON NEW YEAR EVERYONE DRESSES AND SHARES GIFTS THEY MAKE CAKES AND VARIOUS SPECIAL FOODS FOR A GOOD TIME.  THEY ONCE  BURNED FIREWORKS AS THE MOST TYPICAL CUSTOM HOWEVER IT CAUSES TOO MUCH  POLLUTION NOW.  SOME KIDS BREAK BALLOONS AND A LIVELY ATMOSPHERE PERMEATES THE AREAS.  THEY DANCE AND HAVE LANTERN FESTIVALS.

CHINA HAS 56 ETHNIC GROUPS.  FOR THEIR MID AUTUMN FESTIVAL.  IT HAS A LONG HISTORY IN ANCIENT CHINA.  IT FALLS ON THE 15TH DAY OF OCTOBER.  EMPERORS IN THE OLD DAYS GAVE SACRIFICES TO THE SUN IN TE SPRING. AND TO THE MOON IN AUTUMN.  HISTORICAL BOOKS EXPRESSED HOW TO DO THIS FESTIVAL.  THEY ENJOYED THE BRIGHT MOON ON THAT DAY.

BY MID AUTUMN IT GREW TO BE A MAJOR FESTIVAL.  THEY ENJOYED THE FULL BRIGHT MOON ON THAT DAY.  THEY WORSHIPPED IT AND LITERARY FIGURES EXPANDED THE CEREMONY TO COMMON FOLKS.  BY 1900'S  IT GREW TO BE A MAJOR FESTIVAL.
 
ACCORDING TO MYTH THERE WERE 10 SUNS RISING AND THEY SCORCHED THE EARTH AND CROPS AND HAD A DIRE POVERTY. A HERO CLIMBED TO THE TOP OF A MOUNTAIN AND DIRECTED  HIS SUPERHUMAN STRENGTH AND TO FULL EXTENT.  HE DREW HIS BOW DOWN AND SHOT DOWN 9 SUNS ONE AFTER ANOTHER.  HE THEN ORDERED THE LAST SUN TO RISE ACCORDING TO TIME.  HE WAS RESPECTED AND LOVED BY THE PEOPLE.

THEY HAD A PARCEL OF ELIXIR WHICH BY TAKING IT ONE WOULD IMMEDIATELY GO TO HEAVEN.  HE HID THE ELIXIR IN HIS WIFE'S DRESSING TABLE TO TREASURE IT. ONE DAY WHEN YI WENT HUNTING WITH HIM, THE HUNTER ASKED HIS WIFE FOR THE ELIXIR.  SHE ADE A DECISION TO SWALLOW IT AND HER BODY FLOATED OFF THE GROUND UP TO HEAVEN.  YI WAS OVERCOME WITH GRIEF.  DURING THE NIGHT HE LOOKED UP INTO THE NIGHT AND CALLED OUT THE NAME OF HIS WIFE, AND AS A SURPRISE WHEN HE LOOKED AT THE FULL MOON HE SAW WHAT WAS HIS WIFE'S SHADOW!

PEOPLE SELECTED AUGUST 15TH TO CELEBRATE BECAUSE IT'S A SEASON WHEN CROPS AND FRUITS ARE RIPE.  PEOPLE PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE AND LOOK UP AT THE SKY WHILE TALKING!

DURING WINTER SOLSTICE AS EARLY AS 2500 YEARS AGO THE WINTER SOLSTICE WAS OBSERVED BY MOVEMENTS OF THE SUN  IT IS THE EARLIEST OF THE 214 SEASONAL POINTS.  THE TIME IS DECEMBER 2 OR 22ND..

THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE EXPERIENCES THE SHORTEST DAYTIME AND LONGEST NIGH TIME.  AFTER THE WINTER SOLSTICE, DAYS WILL BE  LONGER AND LONGER.  AS ANCIENT CHINESE THOUGHT, THE GANG HAVE MORE POSITIVE AWARENESS AFTER THIS DAY.  THE HAN PEOPLE REGARD THE WINTER SOLSTICE AS A WINTER FESTIVAL.  SO IT IS ALSO A RESTFULL  DAY  RELATIVES AND FRIENDS PRESENTED DELICIOUS FOOD.

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