In our culture, the Spring Festival is the most symbolic holiday; it is not just a time for family reunions but also carries countless traditional customs and unique folk cultures. Every Spring Festival, families welcome a series of customs that symbolize good fortune and blessings, and the one that impresses me the most is the tradition of "posting couplets."
I remember when I was young, every year on the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, the adults in the family would start busying themselves with preparations for the New Year. One of the most important tasks was to paste couplets on the doors and windows. At that time, I would excitedly watch my father skillfully cut and paste the red paper, with each couplet featuring the character "福" (fu) and various phrases wishing for happiness and health. Especially that pair of couplets saying "Welcoming Spring and Receiving Blessings," which would bring a strong festive atmosphere to the home every year.
This habit has continued to this day. Even though I have been away from my hometown for a long time, I always buy a pair of couplets every year and paste them at my door myself, as if the red paper and golden characters could bring the warmth and blessings of my hometown to my side. This year during the Spring Festival, I intentionally took a quiet evening to relive this strong sense of the New Year.
That night, my friends and I sat together, discussing bits and pieces of our childhood New Year celebrations. Everyone talked about the customs of the New Year, discussing couplets, New Year's Eve dinners, and paying New Year visits, and I also brought up a memorable story—about my first experience of pasting couplets when I was a child.
That year, I had just learned to write, and my father specially prepared a blank couplet for me, encouraging me to write the character "福" on it. I remember carefully picking up the brush, filled with respect for tradition, and feeling nervous about whether my writing would be beautiful. Although the "福" I wrote ended up crooked and some strokes were irregular, my father still said with satisfaction, "It's okay; the most important thing is that you wrote it with your heart. The meaning of the couplets lies not in the neatness of the characters but in the blessings you bring."
These words have stayed with me to this day. On that simple night, the couplets in our home seemed more beautiful than ever; they not only represented the blessings of the New Year but also carried the love and expectations of family.
As time passed, I gradually grew up, left my hometown, and entered the outside world. Those warm memories of the Spring Festival often linger in my heart. Although I am in a foreign land and cannot spend every Spring Festival with my family, at this time every year, a special emotion wells up in my heart. It is the taste of my hometown, the sound of couplets, New Year's Eve dinners, and fireworks, the dumplings my parents made for me, and the joyful moments spent with friends and family.
This year during the Spring Festival, I saw many posts about the festival on social media, with many people sharing the traditional customs of their hometowns and posting pictures of their couplets. Although I am no longer that child pasting couplets with my parents at home, seeing these familiar moments fills my heart with warmth. Each couplet carries beautiful wishes for the new year; it seems they are not just words on paper but the most sincere blessings from family to each other.
On social media, there are not only discussions about couplets but also various shares of folk culture related to the Spring Festival. Whether it's the preparation of New Year's Eve dinners, folk stories during the Spring Festival, or traditional rituals from different places, they make me feel as if I have returned to my hometown despite being in a foreign land. Although I am without family by my side, through these warm words and images, I can still feel the rich flavor of the Spring Festival and the affection of family.
Every year during the Spring Festival, families are busy preparing their own New Year goods, and the red lanterns at the entrance are always the first to be hung, while couplets are an indispensable presence in every household. They are not just simple pieces of paper but carry everyone's hopes and wishes for the future. For me, the significance of couplets is no longer just for decoration; it is a transmission of emotions, allowing every person far from home to feel the warm concern of family.
This Spring Festival, although I did not return to my hometown, social media allowed me to experience that warmth of home again. I shared the Spring Festival stories and traditional customs I saw with my friends, and everyone exchanged their own New Year memories in the discussions, bringing our hearts closer together through this shared culture.
This Spring Festival, no matter where I am, the deep affection and blessings brought by couplets will always warm my heart. No matter which corner of the world you are in, you can always find a connection to your hometown and loved ones through this unique culture. This cultural heritage, passed down for thousands of years, still occupies a place in our hearts today.
The meaning of the Spring Festival may lie in this: it is not only a celebration of reunion with family but also a transmission of hearts, a continuation of culture and emotions. And for those friends who are far from home, having a platform to re-experience these traditions is indeed a rare happiness.
I hope that everyone far from home can find their own sense of belonging and joy this Spring Festival through small customs and warm sharing.