A Very Hainan Spring Festival: CNY Greetings & Village Galas

Editor's note:

The wheel of time turns, and years come and pass. When the end of the lunar year draws near, the clock deep in the cultural heart of the Chinese people begins to tick louder and louder. They rush out to Spring Festival markets, buy new clothes, clean the house, and write Spring Festival couplets on strips of red paper to hang around the door. Everyone knows just what to do and how to do it, and soon the city streets and country lanes are filled with a cheerful new year's atmosphere. Let's take a look at what old and new Spring Festival traditions are followed here in Hainan.

At the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, the new year officially begins. After getting up in the morning, family members pass new year's greetings back and forth, and the older generation hands out red envelopes stuffed with cash to the younger members of the family. When they go out, they trade new year's greetings with the neighbors as well.

Red envelopes.

In Hainan, especially in Haikou, it's customary to enjoy a meal of healthy vegetable stew on the first day of the lunar new year. In Lingshui, the tradition is to hand out betel nuts along with new year's greetings as a sign of affection and respect.

During the Spring Festival period, Qiong (Hainan) Opera and Hainan Puppet Show performances are an important part of the celebrations. The theater troop mounts the stage and begins banging the gongs and warming up. Village residents carry their own benches and claim their spots, and visitors from the surrounding area also join the audience, adding to the lively, festive atmosphere.

Danzhou Diaosheng.

In many parts of Hainan, singing is also a popular way to enjoy the holiday. In Lingao, the traditional fishing ballad Lilimei is sung, and in Dongfang they sing folk songs in the local language. In Changjiang, there's a different way to celebrate - they build wooden frames that spin like a water wheel, and hang logs to sit and swing on as the wheel spins. Swinging and spinning is usually practiced on the twelfth day of the first lunar month. The swingers sing as they spin, and even do some advanced moves when the mood strikes them.

Lantern Festival falls on the last day of Spring Festival, making it the last hurrah of the holiday. On the night of Lantern Festival, Haikou's Fucheng area is filled with twinkling lights and a vast sea of people who come out to exchange flowers and well wishes with strangers in the street. Locally, this night is also known and the Flower Exchanging Festival.

Colorful lanterns light up the streets in the Fucheng area of Qiongshan District, Haikou. (Photo by Feng Shuo, Hainan Daily)

New traditions for the New Year: Volleyball and Village Galas

As times change, annual customs are also updated. Village galas, volleyball matches, and vacationing are now becoming part of the Spring Festival celebrations in Hainan.

On Jan. 27, Ji Changchao, secretary of the Party branch of Le'an Village, Sanjia Town, Dongfang, was busy making preparations for the village's Spring Festival Gala. "We have selected 23 programs, including songs, dances, skits, fashion shows, and more." This is the sixth time for Le'an to hold a "Village Gala" since the tradition began in 2014.

On Jan. 26, the 2024 'Springtime 9 on 9 Cup' Hainan (Wenchang) Village and Town Volleyball Spring Tournament was held in Yuyang Park, Wencheng Town, Wenchang City. A bustling new year’s market was held in tandem with the tournament. (Photo by Wu Yuewen, Hinews)

Around 2,000 spectators watch the Le'an Village Gala annually, which roughly amounts to the entire population of the village. The "Village Gala" isn't just a party, it's also a way to build love for the countryside and support the village. The event is a fundraiser that has already awarded a total of 230,000 yuan in scholarships and grants to 73 outstanding local students.

In Wenchang, volleyball has already become deeply entwined in local Spring Festival celebrations. Every local village and town holds 9-player volleyball matches during the holiday. On Jan. 12, the 2024 '9 on 9 Cup' Hainan (Wenchang) Village and Town Volleyball Spring Tournament kicked off with quite a bit of fanfare. In addition to volleyball, there are also all kinds of local performances and fun activities at the tournament venue, including songs, dances, skits, opera performances, palm tree climbing competitions, coconut bowling, coconut tug of war... Liu Ying from Harbin, Heilongjiang is a big fan of village volleyball. "The New Year's celebrations of exciting and lively, and the banging of the gongs and drums fills the air. It's so much fun to watch!"

No matter if you prefer traditional or modern Spring Festival celebrations, as long as you are having fun and making the most of every moment, it's the right way to celebrate the new year.(By Nicki Johnson)

Photos: Sanya Tourism Promotion Bureau Wechat account.