Chinese New Year’s Eve: Reunion, Fireworks in Southern Hubei Mountains
The Warmth of the Reunion Meal and the Taste of Home in the Fine Rain Introduction The twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month marks Chinese New Year's Eve, signaling the close of the 2025 Lunar Year. In the Southern Hubei mountains, a fine, chilling rain fell, making the sky appear somewhat gloomy. I woke up earlier than usual to help my father carefully paste the bright red Spring Couplets onto the doorframes using a homemade paste. As soon as the couplets were up, the entire mountain village began to exude a rich, thick New Year atmosphere. According to local custom, the New Year's Eve dinner is typically enjoyed around noon. Consequently, my parents spent the entire morning busying themselves for this grand feast. Local specialty dishes like yugao (fish cake) and egg rolls are Chinese New Year exclusives, and the table would never lack a whole fish, symbolizing the beautiful wish for "nian nian you yu" (surplus year after year). The moment for the New Year...
