Spring Festival Salvo
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The Nian is no longer alone when it comes to fearing the firecracker. More than a few tourists will cover their ears and run for cover when the various salvos are ignited.
As they scurry into the partial sanctity of indoors, they will see a blur of traditional paper-cuts adorning the windows, red and yellow couplet banners festooned around doorways, and the red lanterns and hairy Gods that stand guard at the home's entrance.
Once inside, away from the bangs and flashes, they may begin to experience what the Festival has come to symbolize for many people. If they are lucky enough to be staying with a host family, they will see the sense of togetherness that the Festival inspires. For this New Year isn't a time for copious amounts of alcohol and wild individual revelry, instead its focus is very much on family reunion. As the old year departs, it is important that the new one is greeted as a united family.
This link between past and present also takes on a distinctly human form. Deceased relatives are remembered and venerated whilst the children can look forward to receiving red envelopes filled with Renminbi.
The provinces have their own particular favorites when it comes to picking food for the event, but if you're a visitor to the country why limit yourself to just one? At least try the dumplings that are eaten to symbolize reunion in the north and follow it up with the sticky rice cakes that are linked with a sweet life and favored by the southern regions.
With all that food around, it should be easy to fortify yourself and step back outside to witness the celebrations in full swing.
So have a great Festival, enjoy the next two weeks full of traditional lion dances, markets and fairs, but just remember to take your ear plugs with you for when those firework barrages reach concussion levels.
The author is a communications professional, film maker and published writer with a keen interest in life.
Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn
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