Yuan Day
Song Dynasty: Wang Anshi
The sound of firecrackers marks the end of the year, and the spring breeze brings warmth to Tusu.
Thousands of households always exchange old talismans for new peaches.
Translation
Amidst the roaring sound of firecrackers, the old year has passed; the warm spring breeze has ushered in the new year, and people happily drank the newly brewed Tusu wine.
The rising sun shines on thousands of households, and they are all busy taking down the old peach charms and replacing them with new ones.
Notes
⑴Yuan Day: the first day of the first lunar month, which is the Spring Festival.
⑵ Firecrackers: The sound made by the bamboos exploding when the ancients burned them. It was used to drive away ghosts and avoid evil spirits, and later evolved into setting off firecrackers. One year apart: One year is over. To eliminate, to pass away.
⑶Tusu: "Refers to Tusu wine. Drinking Tusu wine is also a custom during the ancient New Year. On the first day of the new year, the whole family drinks this wine soaked in Tusu grass to ward off evil spirits and avoid plagues, and to seek good fortune. Longevity.
⑷Thousands of households: Describes numerous households and dense population. 曈曈: The appearance of bright and warm sunrise.
⑸Peach charm, an ancient custom. On the first day of the first lunar month, people write the names of the two gods Shen Tu and Yu Lei on peach boards and hang them by the door to suppress evil spirits and make Spring Festival couplets.