廣東過年風俗

廣東過年風俗

1.Worshipping Lord Emperor Wenchang on the 4th of the Chinese Lunar New Year

正月初四求文昌

Students are advised to bring to the Wenchang Temple scallions, celery, and garlic, which symbolise brilliance, diligence and excellence in maths skills.When worshipping Wenchang Dijun, or Lord Emperor Wenchang, a Taoist deity who holds authority over education and culture.

2.Fairs opening on the 5th of the Chinese Lunar New Year

正月初五出年界

The tradition of burning paper door curtains as observed by the Hakka people means the end of the New Year celebration.This day, country fairs across the region will open for the fi rst time in the new year.Villagers will go to the nearest market in a festive mood, and dragon and lion dances make the day all the more lively and exciting.

3.Deities Parade on the 9th of the Chinese Lunar New Year

正月初九營老爺

The Deities Parade is a grand temple fair-style event widely held across the Chaoshan region in the east of Guangdong.The parade is usually led by the venerable elders of local villages and sees guardian deities carried on the shoulders of young men.The parade, escorted by a band of drum and gong players, will go along a very delicately designed route through entire villages.

4.Jumping over the fire on the 11th of the Chinese Lunar New Year

正月十一跳火堆

One of the must-have and fi nal activities of the Deities Parade in townships like Xichang and Xinheng in the Chaoshan region is fi re jumping on the eleventh day of the Chinese Lunar New Year.This day, villagers will build and burn

tower-shaped haystacks so that when the deities-carrying men pass by, they must jump over the fl ames to pray for a smooth and lucky new year.

5.Lighting up lanterns on the 12th of the Chinese Lunar New Year

正月十二上花燈

In the Hakka-speaking region, a special custom is observed by villagers on the twelfth day of the Chinese Lunar New Year: if a family has a baby boy born in the previous year, a large lantern will be hung and lit.

（Note: The timing and forms of rituals vary from place to place; they may not be held on the same day and in the same way.

注：不同地區舉行儀式的時間、方式均有出入，非均在同一天以同種方式進行。）