Old poems about festival customs include "Yuan Ri", "Heavy Night Snow", "Shengchazi·Yuan Xi", "The Sapphire Case", "Cold Food", "Qingming", etc.
1. Yuan Day
Wang Anshi of the 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: Amidst the roaring sound of firecrackers, the old year has passed; the warm spring breeze brings the new year, and people happily drink 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.
2. Heavy snowfall at night
Lu You of the 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: When the fourth watch arrives at the beginning of the day, the north wind brings a heavy snow; this auspicious snow given to us by God arrives just on New Year's Eve, which indicates a good harvest in the coming year. Before the half-filled glass of Tusu wine could be raised to celebrate the New Year, I used the light to write the peach symbols welcoming the Spring Festival with grass.
3. Shengchazi·Yuan Xiu
Ouyang Xiu of the Song Dynasty
On the night of Yuan Dynasty last year, the lights in the flower market were as bright as day.
On the top of the willow tree in the moonlight, people meet after dusk.
On the Lantern Festival this year, the moon and lights are still the same.
I can’t see the person from last year, and the sleeves of my spring shirt are wet with tears.
Translation: During the Lantern Festival last year, the flower market was illuminated like daylight. Make an appointment with the beautiful woman after dusk, when the moon is above the willow branches, and talk about your heart. During this year’s Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month, the moonlight and lights are still the same as last year. I can no longer see my old friend from last year, and the sleeves of my spring shirt are wet with tears of lovesickness.
4. The Sapphire Case
Xin Qiji of the Song Dynasty
Thousands of flowers blossomed on the east wind night. More blowing down, the stars are like rain. BMW's carved cars fill the road with fragrance. The phoenix flute sounded, the jade pot turned light, and fish and dragons danced all night.
Moth snow willow golden strands. The laughter is full of fragrance. People searched for him thousands of times. Suddenly looking back, that person was there, in a dimly lit place.
Translation: The fireworks are like thousands of flowers blown away by the east wind, and they fall one after another like stars falling like rain. Luxurious carriages fill the road with fragrance. The melodious sound of the phoenix flute echoed everywhere, the bright moon like a jade pot gradually set in the west, the fish lanterns and dragon lanterns danced non-stop all night long, and the laughter was noisy. The beauties all wore gorgeous ornaments on their heads and walked with the crowd with smiles and smiles. Only the fragrance of their clothes was still floating in the darkness. I searched for her thousands of times in the crowd, turned around suddenly, and inadvertently found her in the scattered lights.
5. Cold food
Meng Yunqing of the Tang Dynasty
In February, the branches in the south of the Yangtze River are full of flowers, and the cold food in a foreign country is far from sad.
Poor people often have no fireworks, not only in the Ming Dynasty.
Translation: In February, the branches of Jiangnan flowers are in full bloom. It is sad enough to spend the Cold Food Festival in a foreign country. People who live in poverty usually don’t have a fire to cook, and they don’t just eat cold food like Zitui tomorrow.