Although China's ancient folk already have the custom of New Year, but was not called the Spring Festival. When talking about the Spring Festival, referring to the 24 solar terms in the "beginning of spring." Northern and Southern Chinese New Year used to put the entire spring. It is said that the Lunar New Year officially named as the Spring Festival, is a matter for after the Revolution. As the time to switch to the solar calendar, in order to distinguish between agriculture, Yang 2, so only the first lunar month, the first will be renamed the "Spring Festival."
On the 15th annual Lunar New Year, Chinese New Year has just passed, and ushered in is the traditional Chinese Lantern Festival ---. Lantern
Festival of Lights, also known as early as the Western Han Dynasty more than 2000 years ago there. Lanternthe main attraction at the Eastern Han period, Buddhistadvocate, I heard that on the 15th day of Buddhist monks have Buddha relic concept, lightingpractice, on the order of the day night at the Imperial Palace and templeslight a lamp, so that the common people Gentry are linked to light. After this Buddhist ritual folk festivals gradually formed a grand holiday.
Civil Lantern has been the custom to eat rice balls, a symbol of the whole family round the round, harmonious well-being hinges on the future of all of us desire. Over time, more and more the activities of the Lantern Festival, many local festivals played an increase of the dragon, playing the Lions, zonedplaying drums and other traditional folk Taiping performances.
我国古代民间虽然早已有过年的风俗，但那时并不叫做春节。因为那时所说的春节，指的是二十四节气中的“立春”。南北朝则把春节泛指为整个春季。据说，把农历新年正式定名为春节，是辛亥革命后的事。由于那时要改用阳历，为了区分农、阳两节，所以只好将农历正月初一改名为“春节”。
每年农历的正月十五日，春节刚过，迎来的就是中国的传统节日———元宵节。元宵
节也称灯节，早在2000多年前的西汉就有了。元宵赏灯始于东汉明帝时期，明帝提倡佛教，听说佛教有正月十五日僧人观佛舍利，点灯敬佛的做法，就命令这一天夜晚在皇宫和寺庙里点灯敬佛，令士族庶民都挂灯。以后这种佛教礼仪节日逐渐形成民间盛大的节日。
民间过元宵节有吃汤圆的习俗，象征全家人团团圆圆，和睦幸福，寄托了对未来生活的美好愿望。随着时间的推移，元宵节的活动越来越多，不少地方节庆时增加了耍龙灯、耍狮子、踩高跷、划旱船扭秧歌、打太平鼓等传统民俗表演。