In the old days,on each first day of the year,incense would be burned to meet the spirits,who apparently descend to earth around about this time.Fire crackers are set off to show their respect for the earthbound spirits,as well as to ward off the evil spirits,whether it was welcoming or warding - the government made it illegal to set them off in downtown areas of the big cities because of fire damage and other hazards – though every year this seems to be ignored in my neighborhood!
After the initial greetings of the spirits – it was and is traditional practice for everyone to do the rounds of their relatives and friends and give gifts of fruit,cake,alcohol,candy,and in the old days,fish.If you're lucky enough to be a child,you get some cash and new clothes too.
There are a wide range of beliefs behind the tradition of jiaozi for Spring Festival.Some say it was a China-wide tradition born from the shortages of wheat that China once suffered.So,people would save their yearly ration of wheat for Chinese New Year,to make dumplings – Jiaozi.Others believe its because Jiaozi was a god that helped rid China of evil – so at Chinese New Year they honor the god,Jiaozi,by making dumplings.Others tell us that the shape of jiaozi is similar to the gold ingots of Ancient China and so people eat them,wishing for money and treasure.Whatever the reason,its a good excuse for eating jiaozi.
Spring Festival is also a time for temple fairs,lantern festivals,lion dancing and dragon lantern dancing,which go on for days.If you have never experienced these they are well worth it.It is also a time for those of us without family in China to get together with our friends and colleagues to rest and relax in a country that is full of new surprises and old traditions,or,you can always take a vacation to Thailand.
