Spring Festival celebrations, Lunar New Year events, etc...

[ahojunk]

In pics: Ways to celebrate Lantern Festival in China
2017-02-12 10:08 | Xinhua | Editor: Huang Mingrui

Folk artists perform stilt walking to celebrate the Lantern Festival in Dingzhou, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 11, 2017. (Xinhua/Zhu Xudong)

A dragon dance parade to celebrate the Lantern Festival is held in Tongliang District of Chongqing, southwest China, Feb. 11, 2017. (Xinhua/Chen Cheng)

People watch a dragon dance performance during a parade to celebrate the Lantern Festival in Tongliang District of Chongqing, southwest China, Feb. 11, 2017. (Xinhua/Chen Cheng)

People solve lantern riddles to celebrate the Lantern Festival at the Ancestral Temple in Foshan, south China's Guangdong Province, Feb. 11, 2017. (Xinhua/Zhou Ke)

Actors perform shehuo to celebrate the Lantern Festival in Longde County of Guyuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Feb. 11, 2017. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

Actors perform dragon dance during a parade to celebrate the Lantern Festival in Tongliang District of Chongqing, southwest China, Feb. 11, 2017. (Xinhua/Chen Cheng)

A man cooks Yuanxiao, glutinous rice flour dumpling with sweetened stuffing, at the Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Expo park in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 11, 2017, to celebrate the Lantern Festival. (Xinhua/Wang Kai)

People play drum to celebrate the Lantern Festival during a temple fair at Qianfoshan National Park in Jinan, east China's Shandong Province, Feb. 11, 2017. (Xinhua/Guo Xulei)

 

[ahojunk]

Rose lights illuminate sunflower park in Guangzhou
2017-02-07 13:50 | Xinhua | Editor: Mo Hong'e

Light decorations of a hotel and rose lights circled by heart-shaped bridge illuminate the sunflower park in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, Feb. 6, 2017. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)

Light decorations of a hotel and rose lights circled by heart-shaped bridge illuminate the sunflower park in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, Feb. 6, 2017. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)

Light decorations of a hotel and rose lights circled by heart-shaped bridge illuminate the sunflower park in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, Feb. 6, 2017. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)

Rose lights illuminate the sunflower park in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, Feb. 6, 2017. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)

Rose lights illuminate the sunflower park in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, Feb. 6, 2017. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)

 

[TaiShang]

Fire jump activity held in SE China
Xinhua, February 13, 2017


Villagers push a cart carrying a sedan chair during a fire jump activity in Wuzi Village of Wutang Township in Putian, southeast China's Fujian Province, Feb. 12, 2017. Dozens of young men in Wuzi Village rounded or jumped over fire during the traditional activity to pray for happiness and harvest. (Xinhua/Zhang Guojun)


Villagers push a cart carrying a sedan chair during a fire jump activity in Wuzi Village of Wutang Township in Putian, southeast China's Fujian Province, Feb. 12, 2017. Dozens of young men in Wuzi Village rounded or jumped over fire during the traditional activity to pray for happiness and harvest. (Xinhua/Zhang Guojun)


Villagers carry a sedan chair during a fire jump activity in Wuzi Village of Wutang Township in Putian, southeast China's Fujian Province, Feb. 12, 2017. Dozens of young men in Wuzi Village rounded or jumped over fire during the traditional activity to pray for happiness and harvest. (Xinhua/Zhang Guojun)


Villagers push a cart carrying a sedan chair during a fire jump activity in Wuzi Village of Wutang Township in Putian, southeast China's Fujian Province, Feb. 12, 2017. Dozens of young men in Wuzi Village rounded or jumped over fire during the traditional activity to pray for happiness and harvest. (Xinhua/Zhang Guojun)

 

[TaiShang]

Compatriots from Greater China (Mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau as well as overseas Chinese) do share here any news and images on the (upcoming) Spring Festival.

***

People prepare traditional preserved meat for Spring Festival in S China

Source: Xinhua Published: 2018/1/13

People prepare traditional preserved meat for Spring Festival in S China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Jan. 11, 2018. Local people started to prepare the traditional preserved meat for the upcoming Spring Festival, which falls on Feb. 16 this year. (Xinhua/Wu Lianxun)

Tourists select preserved meat in Danzhou Village of Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Jan. 11, 2018. Local people started to prepare the traditional preserved meat for the upcoming Spring Festival, which falls on Feb. 16 this year. (Xinhua/Wu Lianxun)

A villager settles preserved sausages in Danzhou Village of Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Jan. 11, 2018. Local people started to prepare the traditional preserved meat for the upcoming Spring Festival, which falls on Feb. 16 this year. (Xinhua/Wu Lianxun)

http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1084629.shtml

@AndrewJin , @long_ , @Chinese-Dragon , @Jlaw , @+4vsgorillas-Apebane , @Martian2 et al.

 

[TaiShang]

***

Sheep Club .

***

Sheep fighting tournament organized in Jiangsu to welcome Chinese New Year

2018-01-15, CGTN

A previous, smaller tournament took place on Dec. 26, 2017. /VCG Photo

Over 300 sheep were gathered at Peixian County in Xuzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, for a fighting tournament on Sunday. /VCG Photo

Sheep owners from three provinces - Jiangsu, Anhui, and Shandong - organized the tournament to celebrate next month’s Spring Festival. /VCG Photo

Sheep fighting is a traditional form of Chinese entertainment, said to have originated in the area now known as Shandong Province during the Three Kingdoms era. /VCG Photo

A previous, smaller tournament took place on Dec. 26, 2017. /VCG Photo

Over 300 sheep were gathered at Peixian County in Xuzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, for a fighting tournament on Sunday. /VCG Photo

https://news.cgtn.com/news/79556a4e78677a6333566d54/share_p.html

 

[Place Of Space]

I once fought against a sheep on the way to my pupil.. I lost, the sheep chased me and bumped my butt...

 

[TaiShang]

I once fought against a sheep on the way to my pupil.. I lost, the sheep chased me and bumped my butt...

LOL, they indeed like to chase after people. In fact, cows and sheep are friendlier (at times, almost pet like) than many of us who have seen them only as slaughtered in the form of dead meat or on the TV screen.

***

Don't drink and drive.

***

7,000 tonnes of Moutai liquor to hit market before Spring Festival
Xinhua, January 14, 2018

Liquor producer Kweichow Moutai Group will put at least 7,000 tonnes of its famous Moutai liquor on the market before Spring Festival, China's lunar new year, to meet demand.

Spring Festival falls on Feb. 16 this year.

Moutai is a sorghum-based spirit produced by Kweichow Moutai Co. Ltd. and is China's top brand of baijiu (white alcohol). The liquor, often served on official occasions and at state banquets, is considered a luxury item that has long been a popular gift.

Kweichow Moutai has raised the retail price of a 500 ml bottle of 53-degree Feitian Moutai, its flagship product, to 1,499 yuan (232 U.S. dollars) this year from 1,299 yuan last year.

The group hopes to generate revenue of at least 90 billion yuan in 2018.

http://www.china.org.cn/business/2018-01/14/content_50224498.htm

 

[TaiShang]

How did the ancient royal court celebrate Spring Festival?

By Bi Nan | Chinaculture.org | Updated: 2018-01-25

The Chinese New Year is drawing near, and many people are already busy preparing for the biggest festival in China. Usually, for common families, there is a list of traditions to follow during the Spring Festival, such as wearing new clothes, eating dumplings, hanging spring couplets and visiting relatives. Do you know how the ancient emperors celebrated Spring Festival in the royal court? Let's investigate.

A dragon robe from the Qing Dynasty. [Photo/Official Weibo account of the Palace Museum]
Special clothes and dinners

Like common people, the ancient emperors would wear special clothes and arrange a special dinner for the big occasion.

On the Chinese New Year's Eve, the 30th day of the 12th month in the Lunar Calendar, the emperor would solemnly wear a bright yellow dragon robe stitched with gold and colored thread, and embroidered with dragon patterns and 12 ornaments. The emperor would also wear a fur coat, a crown on the head and court beads on chest. The whole garment in bright colors symbolizes auspiciousness and a prosperous nation.

The first dinner in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) royal court was dumplings, just like common families, while there were still ceremonies to obey. During the early Qing Dynasty, the emperor would eat dumplings with vegetable filling in Zhaoren Hall after the worship ceremony on New Year's Eve.

A delicate flower-patterned plate set from the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. [Photo/Official Weibo account of the Palace Museum]
Until the late Qing Dynasty, the Guangxu Emperor changed the dumpling eating location to the Hall of Mental Cultivation (Yangxin Dian) and the stuffing became various kinds of meat. The Empress Dowager Cixi would invite wives of royal families and princesses to the royal court to make dumplings together on New Year's Eve and sit together for a dumpling feast on the early morning of the New Year's Day.

In addition, family feasts were also indispensable. The emperor would host family feasts with the queen, concubines and princes respectively. The feasts were held strictly in accordance with etiquette, such as the number of dishes, the color and quality of the tableware as well as the order of seats. Though called a family feast, the form and etiquette are more important than appetite.

The royal court also obeyed the traditional custom of staying up all night on New Year's Eve, so a midnight snack would be prepared for the emperor, which always included fresh and dried fruit displayed in auspicious patterns.

The Dongnuan Pavilion in the Yangxin Dian of the Forbidden City. [Photo/Official Weibo account of the Palace Museum]
Entertainment during the Spring Festival

At the end of the New Year's Eve, also the start of the Chinese New Year, the emperor would wear formal dress and walk to the Dongnuan Pavilion in the Yangxin Dian, lighting a jade candle, pouring wine into the Cup of Solid Gold and then write auspicious words for the new year such as "Peace reigns over the country" or "Propitious weather for the crops". Then the emperor would drink Tusu wine, specially made for the Spring Festival, meant to get rid of plague and strengthen the body for the new year.

The Cup of Solid Gold from the Qing Dynasty (L); A writing brush used by ancient emperors from the Qing Dynasty. [Photo/Official Weibo account of the Palace Museum]
From the second day of the first lunar month to the 10th day, an auspicious day would be chosen to hold a tea party, in which the emperor would invite dukes and ministers to create poetry under his rule and well-performed officials would be rewarded.

A helmet (L) and a garment used in opera performance from the Qing Dynasty.[Photo/Official Weibo account of the Palace Museum]
During the ancient times when there was no television, a major recreation in the royal court was watching Chinese operas, which had to be lively and auspicious. Several emperors in the Qing Dynasty would act in operas themselves, such as the Qianlong Emperor, Daoguang Emperor and Tongzhi Emperor. The Guangxu Emperor could even beat drums.

Regular script of the Chinese character fu (blessing) from the Qing Dynasty (L); Spring couplets from the Qing Dynasty. [Photo/Official Weibo account of the Palace Museum]

Hanging spring couplets and door gods

Hanging spring couplets and pasting door gods is a major custom during the Spring Festival. But in the Forbidden City, with its many palaces and doors, that would require a great deal of labor.

The spring couplets in the royal court were mainly written by members of the Imperial Academy who were scholars of calligraphy. However, as there were many taboos in writing spring couplets, they could not showcase their talents entirely.

Door gods from the Qing Dynasty. [Photo/Official Weibo account of the Palace Museum]
The Ministry of Works and the Imperial Household Department were in charge of making the spring couplets and door gods in the royal palace, which would usually be expensive.

Unlike folk families, the spring couplets in the royal palace were written on white silk using ink, then framed and hung on the bright red pillars of the palaces. Thus the color contrast was enhanced to make the spring couplets more clear.

The couplets in the royal palaces were quite numerous and were mostly themed on eulogizing peaceful and flourishing eras, the emperor's merits and virtues, or blessings for a prosperous country and contented people.

[Photo/Official Weibo account of the Palace Museum]
No matter the superior emperor or common people, whether the ancient royal palace or modern families, the joyous mood and blessing for a better year during the Spring Festival has never changed.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201801/25/WS5a690fcea3106e7dcc136616_9.html

 

[yantong1980]

Poor little Place of Space in the past, I still didn't get why they always get annoying by anything that moving in front of them, bumping they head to people, by/motorcycle, car, etc. By the way, now I know China have tradition for sheep-fighting, well known sheep-fighting in Indonesia come from Garut, West Java. They treat sheep-fighter like a king: massage plus herbal-drink mix with raw egg, winner sheep tag with skyhigh price.

 

[TaiShang]

People make red lanterns for Chinese Lunar New Year

Xinhua | Updated: 2018-01-26

Workers make lanterns at a factory in Luyang district of Hefei city, East China's Anhui province, Jan 24, 2018. People here work hard to make red lanterns for Chinese Lunar New Year. [Photo/Xinhua]

Workers make lanterns at a factory in Luyang district of Hefei city, East China's Anhui province, Jan 24, 2018. People here work hard to make red lanterns for Chinese Lunar New Year. [Photo/Xinhua]

A worker arranges lanterns at a factory in Luyang district of Hefei city, East China's Anhui province, Jan 24, 2018. People here work hard to make red lanterns for Chinese Lunar New Year. [Photo/Xinhua]

Workers make lanterns at a factory in Luyang district of Hefei city, East China's Anhui province, Jan 24, 2018. People here work hard to make red lanterns for Chinese Lunar New Year. [Photo/Xinhua]

A worker arranges lanterns at a factory in Luyang district of Hefei city, East China's Anhui province, Jan 24, 2018. People here work hard to make red lanterns for Chinese Lunar New Year. [Photo/Xinhua]

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201801/26/WS5a6a7023a3106e7dcc136b34_9.html

 

[onebyone]

The Chinese New Year Lantern Lighting Ceremony was held Jan 25 in the Kunming Expo Park in Kunming city, Yunnan province, where 100 lighting sets created a festive holiday atmosphere.[Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

The Chinese New Year Lantern Lighting Ceremony was held Jan 25 in the Kunming Expo Park in Kunming city, Yunnan province, where 100 lighting sets created a festive holiday atmosphere.

These artistically arranged pavilions and lanterns light up the evening in a variety of colors. According to its introduction, the Lantern Festival will continue to welcome visitors until March 25.

The Chinese New Year Lantern Lighting Ceremony was held Jan 25 in the Kunming Expo Park in Kunming city, Yunnan province, where 100 lighting sets created a festive holiday atmosphere.[Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

The Chinese New Year Lantern Lighting Ceremony was held Jan 25 in the Kunming Expo Park in Kunming city, Yunnan province, where 100 lighting sets created a festive holiday atmosphere.[Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

The Chinese New Year Lantern Lighting Ceremony was held Jan 25 in the Kunming Expo Park in Kunming city, Yunnan province, where 100 lighting sets created a festive holiday atmosphere.[Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

The Chinese New Year Lantern Lighting Ceremony was held Jan 25 in the Kunming Expo Park in Kunming city, Yunnan province, where 100 lighting sets created a festive holiday atmosphere.[Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

The Chinese New Year Lantern Lighting Ceremony was held Jan 25 in the Kunming Expo Park in Kunming city, Yunnan province, where 100 lighting sets created a festive holiday atmosphere.[Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

The Chinese New Year Lantern Lighting Ceremony was held Jan 25 in the Kunming Expo Park in Kunming city, Yunnan province, where 100 lighting sets created a festive holiday atmosphere.[Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

 

[onebyone]

The Chinese New Year Lantern Lighting Ceremony was held Jan 25 in the Kunming Expo Park in Kunming city, Yunnan province, where 100 lighting sets created a festive holiday atmosphere.[Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

The Chinese New Year Lantern Lighting Ceremony was held Jan 25 in the Kunming Expo Park in Kunming city, Yunnan province, where 100 lighting sets created a festive holiday atmosphere.[Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

The Chinese New Year Lantern Lighting Ceremony was held Jan 25 in the Kunming Expo Park in Kunming city, Yunnan province, where 100 lighting sets created a festive holiday atmosphere.[Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]


http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201801/27/WS5a6bd8cea3106e7dcc1371b9_1.html

 

[kuge]

春之城
good to see kunming again,
miss her.

 

[TaiShang]

Beijing's Temple of Earth Park decorated for Spring Festival

(Xinhua) 08:18, January 29, 2018


Visitors walk in the corridor of lanterns in Ditan Park, also known as the Temple of Earth Park, in Beijing, capital of China, Jan 27, 2018. The Temple of Earth Park was decorated with red lanterns so as to celebrate the upcoming Spring Festival or Chinese Lunar New Year. [Photo/Xinhua]


Visitors hang out in Ditan Park, also known as the Temple of Earth Park, in Beijing, capital of China, Jan 27, 2018. [Photo/Xinhua]


A child reaches for a lantern at the south gate of Ditan Park, also known as the Temple of Earth Park, in Beijing, capital of China, Jan 27, 2018. [Photo/Xinhua]

 

[onebyone]

Chinese Minister of Culture Luo Shugang (R) shakes hands with Spanish Minister of Education, Culture and Sport Inigo Mendez de Vigo after signing an agreement over bilateral cultural cooperation in the years between 2018 and 2021, in Madrid, Spain, Jan. 29, 2018. (Xinhua/Guo Qiuda)

MADRID, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Ministry of Culture will cooperate with local partners to hold a series of events -- including galas, exhibitions and temple fairs -- in more than 400 cities of 129 countries and regions to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, which falls on Feb. 16.

The program, introduced by the Ministry of Culture, is called Happy Spring Festival and is aimed at engaging international audiences in the festivities and the Chinese culture.

Minister of Culture Luo Shugang, who is visiting Spain from Sunday to Wednesday, said Happy Spring Festival activities had been welcome by people worldwide over the years, hoping that more overseas audience could understand the festival's core values of joy and harmony.

Luo made the remarks when addressing the inauguration ceremony of this year's Happy Spring Festival, held at the Chinese Cultural Center in this Spanish capital, which was also attended by Spanish Minister of Education, Culture and Sport Inigo Mendez de Vigo.

An arts and cultural exhibition focusing on central China's Hunan Province was opened at the same time at the Chinese Cultural Center.

Also on Monday, the two ministers held talks and signed an agreement over bilateral cultural cooperation in the years between 2018 and 2021.

The agreement covers in fields such as visual arts, cinema, animation and videogames, as well as editorial cooperation, the exchange of cultural exhibitions and measures to safeguard copyright.

Luo said China was ready to have more cultural cooperation with Spain in the frame of the Belt and Road Initiative, and such cooperation was set to lay a solid cultural foundation for the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations.

Mendez de Vigo highlighted the "growing interest of the Chinese public, not just for genuinely Spanish cultural activities, such as flamenco, our architecture or gastronomy, but also for more specific initiatives, such as the incorporation of the Teatro Real de Madrid into the Silk Road International Theater Union".

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-01/31/c_136937143.htm