The poem "Snow on New Year's Eve" describes the scene that the poet saw on New Year's Eve. Both this poem and Yuanri describe the customs of the Spring Festival.
Heavy Snow
Lu You [Song Dynasty]
The north wind blows snow at the beginning of the fourth watch, Jiarui Tianjiao and the New Year's Eve.
Half of the lamp has been used to slaughter Su, and peach symbols are written on the grass in front of the lamp.
Translation
At the beginning of the fourth watch, the north wind brings a heavy snow; this auspicious snow given to us by God arrives just on New Year's Eve, which heralds a good harvest in the coming year. .
Before the half-filled glass of Tusu wine could be raised to celebrate the New Year, I wrote the peach symbols welcoming the Spring Festival in cursive script under the light.
Notes
Jia: OK.
Rui: refers to Ruixue.
Tianjiao: God-given.
Susui: New Year’s Eve.
Yuan Day
Wang Anshi [Song Dynasty]
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
The old year has passed with the sound of firecrackers, and we happily drink Tusu wine in the warm spring breeze.
The rising sun shines on thousands of households, and they all take down the old peach charms and replace them with new ones.
Notes
Yuan Day: The first day of the first lunar month, which is the Spring Festival.
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 (yí) means division of the year: one year has passed, and when the character "一" is used in front of the character with the fourth tone (going tone), the tone of "一" changes and the second tone (yangping) is pronounced. To eliminate, to pass away.
Tusu: refers to Tusu wine. Drinking Tusu wine is also an ancient custom during the Chinese 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, avoid plague, and seek longevity.
Thousands of households: describes numerous households and dense population.
曈曈: The bright and warm look at sunrise.
Peach: Peach charm is 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. Also used as Spring Festival couplets.