Chapter 3938: Changing Spring Festival

The Spring Festival is the most important festival for Chinese people. The Chinese people have celebrated the Spring Festival for more than 4,000 years. There are many theories about the origin of the Spring Festival, but the generally accepted theory is that the Spring Festival started during the period of Yu and Shun. Shun was the emperor and led his subordinates to worship heaven and earth. From then on, People regard this day as the beginning of the year. This is the origin of the Lunar New Year, which was later called the Spring Festival. In the past, the Spring Festival was also called New Year's Day, and the month in which the Spring Festival is located was called January.

However, the dates of the Spring Festival in China are not consistent in the past dynasties: the Xia Dynasty used the first month of Mengchun as the first month, the Shang Dynasty used the twelfth lunar month (twelfth month) as the first month, Qin Shihuang stipulated that October be the first month after unifying the six countries, and the early Han Dynasty followed the Qin calendar . In 104 BC, astronomers Luo Xiahong and Deng Ping formulated the "Taichu Calendar", which changed the original October calendar to the first month of Mengchun. Later generations basically gradually improved it into the calendar we use today. According to the lunar calendar (i.e. the lunar calendar), Luo Xiahong is also known as the "Spring Festival Old Man". Since then, China has continued to use the Xia calendar (lunar calendar, also known as the lunar calendar) until the end of the Qing Dynasty.

However, this changed again in the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China. During the Beiyang Government of the Republic of China, Yuan Shikai defined New Year's Day as January 1 of the Western calendar and Spring Festival as the first day of the first lunar month. What was the situation at that time? Ever since he became president, Yuan Shikai has been bent on doing something. After all, he was an old official of the Qing Dynasty, but he was also exposed to foreign culture. Therefore, in his heart, he always had the feeling that you, an old bitch like Cixi, could listen to politics from behind the curtain for decades. Why couldn't he, Yuan Shikai, be the emperor?

Of course, this has to be said, why did Yuan Shikai resent Cixi, but why was Yuan Shikai so obedient when Cixi was still alive? The reason is simple, because Cixi is clever. And in the last few years, Zhang Zhidong and Zaifeng were promoted to contain Yi Kuang and Yuan Shikai, and there was a decree to guard against Yuan Shikai. If this person had other ideas, he would be killed. certainly. This topic has gone too far.

In short, Yuan Shikai had the ambition to be the emperor, but he was not so courageous just as he had just become the president of the Republic of China. But he wants to be the one again, what should he do? The Ministry of Internal Affairs below was asked to draft a document to amend the lunar calendar. Test out the nation's reaction. How was this document written?

Section 1 of the Civil Affairs Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs reports to the President. Reason: The petition stipulates that the four sections shall be signed by General Director Zhu Qiqian (seal) on January 21st of the third year of the Republic of China as the petition. It was stolen from Xinbang to create the Gregorian era. Therefore, it is appropriate to facilitate the international traffic and determine the accounting year. Hang down your armor to show that you are here. However, when issuing orders according to the times, they should be based on the universal unity of the world, be popular and suitable for the people, and follow the habits of society. Therefore, since the Japanese Restoration, the calendar has been corrected and implemented gradually, which is related to folk customs. All the reasons have not changed yet. In the good days of spring and autumn, the whole country is having fun, repairing evil spirits, or reporting feasts. The scenery of the year still shows the style of the Tang Dynasty. It is good to draw stories and embellish peace, not only to promote economic integrity. And it can help the spirit to be lively. It is an old custom in our country that during the four seasons, people travel around to visit and pray, and they follow the same wind from home to home, which is a normal routine. It’s also about people’s livelihood. Proposal: New Year's Day of the lunar calendar is designated as the Spring Festival, Dragon Boat Festival is the Summer Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival is the Autumn Festival, and Winter Solstice is the Winter Festival. All citizens of our country are allowed to rest, and public servants are also allowed to take a day off. Is this the right thing for this department to comply with public opinion? Reasonable petition to the President for review and implementation. To the President. Chief of the Interior, January 21st.

President Yuan Da said: "As it has been submitted, it should be approved immediately.

This batch".

Originally, Yuan Shikai wanted to change the Spring Festival, but the staff below said that the change was too big and he was afraid that the people and intellectuals would not accept it, so he decided to change the New Year first and then the Spring Festival later. This allowed Yuan Shikai to calm down for a while.

Through such documents, the Chinese New Year's Day became the first day of the Gregorian calendar, and the Chinese Spring Festival still fell on January 1 of the lunar calendar. This reform of the law has certainly made many people a little unaccustomed to it. It is obvious that one holiday must be turned into two. However, it catered to the welcome of many intellectuals at the time, who believed that this would help China become stronger. At that time, Yuan Shikai was praised for his courage and foresight in Japan's democratic reform. Regardless of whether these remarks were made by Yuan Shikai's cronies or the consensus of the intellectuals at the time, in short, this change of China's thousands-year-old Spring Festival calendar made Yuan Shikai's ambitions expand, which later led to his decision to ascend the throne. He also led himself to destruction. By then, Yuan Shikai's biggest regret was that he had not changed during the Spring Festival. Otherwise, Yuan Shikai would be famous throughout the ages.

After Yuan Shikai left, the Spring Festival still hasn't stopped. This changed again in the Republic of China.

On May 7, 1928, the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of China submitted a request to the Nationalist Government to “implement the abolition of the old calendar and the universal use of the national calendar.” The reason is: "Considering the daily social conditions, for more than ten years, we still use the old calendar without knowing how to correct it...". "Eight measures have been drafted in the hope of fundamental and thorough reform." The second article is to strictly prohibit the private sale of old calendars and old and new calendar comparison tables; the third article is to strictly order all agencies, schools, and groups inside and outside Beijing to conduct all activities, except those stipulated by the national calendar. In addition, for the Lunar New Year festivals, no holidays are allowed according to the customs. Article 4 is to order all provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities to formulate regulations and announce to the public that all entertainment and competitions during the Lunar New Year festivals will be guided and improved, and held according to the national calendar dates. .

In 1930, the government reiterated: "The holidays and various ceremonial decorations and entertainments during the abolished New Year should be moved to the National New Year: (1) All localities should move the number of holidays during the abolished New Year and various ceremonial decorations used before and after the abolished New Year, such as New Year greetings, family visits, ancestor worship, spring banquets, viewing lanterns, making colorful decorations, and pasting Spring Festival couplets, to be held around the National New Year; (2) Party and government agencies should actively implement it and notify the people in advance to follow it. No holidays are allowed during the abolished New Year, nor are holidays allowed under other names."

According to some people's records, during the Spring Festival, the police were sent to closed shops to force them to open for business, and the Yuanbao tea and fruits for worship were destroyed. Some were fined, and even the vendors selling calendars in the countryside were arrested and detained. For a time, people were panicked, and a joyous New Year was turned into a mess.

Why did the Republic of China do this? Obviously, this was somewhat influenced by Yuan Shikai's inheritance and the domestic environment at that time. He wanted to change the customs of the people and make them stop worshipping a certain party. As a result, it backfired.

In the end, it still came true as Li Shimin said - the king is like a boat, and the people are like water. Water can carry a boat but can also overturn it. The Kuomintang was eventually completely destroyed and fled to Taiwan in disgrace.

Of course, after the founding of New China, the idea of ​​Spring Festival and New Year's Day was a bit difficult. After all, at that time, the people were very confused about how to celebrate New Year's Day and Spring Festival. Some still celebrated New Year's Day and Spring Festival together, according to the lunar calendar. Some celebrated New Year's Day and Spring Festival separately. This made the whole country a bit like the 54 states in the United States. Later, the central government finally ruled that New Year's Day should follow the Gregorian calendar and Spring Festival should follow the lunar calendar.

In other words, it was finally copied from Yuan Shikai. However, through the country's rigid regulations, people all over the country finally got used to celebrating New Year's Day according to the Gregorian calendar and Spring Festival according to the lunar calendar. It has been like this for decades. However, in the past thousands of years, no matter how the Spring Festival changes, the most important thing in the hearts of the people is still the three days of the Lunar New Year. Why is this so? Perhaps the people are still missing the era of sages like Emperor Shun.

"Today is the 30th day of the twelfth lunar month, New Year's Eve!" Lin Feng looked at his watch and sighed.

"Well, today is February 17th in the Western calendar, the 30th day of the twelfth lunar month, New Year's Eve, and tomorrow is the first day of the first lunar month!" Lin Chiling nodded.

"It's good, this year has passed so quickly." Lin Feng sighed, "By the way, Chiling, how about you, are you going home this year?"

Lin Chiling is Taiwanese, and her parents are in Taiwan. Naturally, the family reunion is for the Spring Festival. After all, she has been running around around her all year round, and it is rare to see her family. Only when she occasionally goes to Taiwan will she take the time to meet her parents. For this, Lin Feng is moved and distressed.

"Well, I won't go back this year. I will go back after the Spring Festival." Lin Chiling thought for a while and said.

"Why not go back? It's nothing! I'll send you back on a private plane, you stay with your parents for a few days, and then I'll pick you up on a private plane. It'll be quick." Lin Feng shrugged.

"Ah, I won't go back. My family will be annoyed if I go back, and there's nothing to do except eating and playing cards. So, I won't go back." Lin Chiling shook her head, "It's like this every year, it's annoying."

"Annoyed? What's wrong? Is there anything I can help with?" Lin Feng asked curiously. Lin Chiling is his secretary, and there seems to be very few things that can annoy her. If she is annoyed, then I will help.

"Uh, it's okay, they are just some small things, boss, you don't have to worry about me. Besides, after the reunion dinner tonight, there will be a entrepreneurship discussion meeting, and I will naturally be by your side." Lin Chiling said.

"It doesn't matter. It's just a gathering of successful people who have made their own fortunes. Everyone sits together and discusses. That's all. It's just a tea party. There's nothing to worry about. Besides, aren't Natalie and Melissa still here? They don't celebrate the Spring Festival either. It's okay." Lin Feng waved his hand and said.

But Lin Chiling just shook her head and didn't say much when asked the reason. Lin Feng was helpless about this. He is not the kind of person with obsessive-compulsive disorder, nor is he the kind of person who must have his way as a boss. So, if Lin Chiling doesn't say it, he won't ask.

"In that case, get ready later and go home early for dinner. Let's all go back together. At home, Youyou has prepared a big meal tonight!" Lin Feng ordered, turned around and walked out, preparing to say goodbye to his employees before the New Year.

"Stupid!" Natalie shook her head.

"Yes, even I, a Frenchman, know why. He is such a big idiot!" Melissa also shook her head.

Lin Chiling shrugged helplessly. Although there was a little disappointment on her face, she was relieved soon. My boss is sometimes very smart, but sometimes he is very stupid. But I love him this way! To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets on Qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please go to m. to read.

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