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| Ancient Chinese New Year Customs |
Putting
up the Spring Scrolls 
In the lunar New Year, it is a custom to post
couplets written on red paper on doors This
is practiced in all parts of China. It originated
from the custom of writing charms on peach wood.
Spring scrolls were originally called Tao-fU.
Commencing with lunar December some scholars
began to write these scrolls under the eaves
of the market stalls to earn some extra money.
New scrolls were gradually posted, after the
ceremonial sacrifices to the Kitchen God, on
doors, house after house, giving the neighborhood
a fresh look.
In ancient times, during the Spring Festival,
people hung up two peach wood plaques on their
doors. On the peach wood were either a pair
of portraits of the Door God or a couplet, they
were called Tao fu. Both were intended to drive
away evil spirits. After the Ming Dynasty the
spells were written on sheets of paper which
were called spring scrolls |
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