《中国民族传统节日风情》

The Traditional Festivals of China's Han Nationality1

Introduction1

1.The Spring Festival5

The Origin and Legend of“年”(nian)5

Exploding Firecrackers See the Year off6

The Interesting Breakfast of the Spring Festival7

Extending New Year Greetings8

Varied Entertainments during the Spring Festival9

2.Yuanxiao13

The Origin of the Yuanxiao Festival13

The Constant Changes of the Lantern Festival15

The History and Legends of Yuanxiao18

3.Pure Brightness20

The Origin of the Unlit Stove and Cold Food Festival20

Sweeping the Grave on the Pure Brightness Festival22

Happy Stroll on Greens during the Pure Brightness Festival23

4.The Duanwu Festival27

The Origin of the Duanwu Festival27

The Dragon-Boat Race of Thousands of Years29

Eating Zongzi and Drinking Realgar Wine30

Sticking Calamus,Wearing Vanilla Bags and Putting up Zhong Kui31

5.The Seventh Night of the Seventh Lunar Month33

The Origin of the Festival33

How to Pray to the Weaving-Girl for Dexterity36

6.The Mid-Autumn Festival38

The Origin of the Mid-Autumn Festival38

Enjoying and Offering Sacrifices to the Moon on the Mid-Autumn Festival39

The Legends of Eating Moon Cakes41

7.The Double Yang Festival43

The Origin of the Double Yang Festival43

Dogwood,Mountaineering and Festive Cakes44

"Time and again Tourists among Chrysanthemum Shrubs Linger"46

Pouring out One's Heart through Poems on the Double Yang Festival48

8.The Winter Solstice49

The Origin of the Winter Solstice49

A Festival Second to the New Year50

Jiaozi and"Effect a Miraculous Cure"51

"Winter Solstice Yuanzi"53

"Nine Nine-Day Periods"and"Cold-Dispelling Game"54

9.The Eighth Day of the Twelfth Lunar Month57

"Become-Buddha Festival"and"Laba Porridge"57

The Legends of Laba Porridge60

10.The Minor New Year's Eve62

The Legends of the Lord of Kitchen Range62

Sacrifice of Sugar Melon and the Drunken Lord64

Transition into the New Year and Thorough Cleaning65

11.The New Year's Eve68

Seeing the Year off with Boundless Joy68

Watching in the New Year71

The Traditional Festivals of China's Minorities73

Introduction73

1.Joyful New Year Celebrations75

2.Production and Harvest Festivals89

3.Joyful Youth Festivals105

4.Respectful Memorial Days114

5.Colorful Festivals of Customs124

6.Traditional Religious Festivals133