Spring Festival: all you need to know about China’s most important new year festival (2)

衣(yi)-新衣 (Spring Festival New Clothing)

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Wearing new clothes is a historical tradition for Spring Festival. According to 东京梦华录 (Dreams of Splendor of the Eastern Capital), a memoir featuring authoritative pictures of affluent Chinese culture written by Meng Yuanlao (c. 1090-1150), Chinese people would wear new clothes on the first day of Spring Festival, as the tradition was considered to bring a fresh new start and good luck for the new year.

In the old days, noble families would wear silk dresses and robes, while poor families would use homespun fabric to make new clothes. Most of the clothes were red, as people believed this color could expel evil spirits and protect them. For children, tiger-shaped decorations on hats and shoes were also used to protect their spirit, allowing them to grow up stronger and healthier.

Wearing new clothes for the Spring Festival used to be a very important festival ritual. In ancient times, impoverished Chinese people didn’t have enough money to regularly buy new clothes like we do today. Spring Festival gave them a chance to enjoy themselves and fulfil their wish to pursue beauty. Although people in modern times can easily get new clothes whenever they want, wearing new clothes remains an important Spring Festival tradition and represents a new beginning of a happy year.