Celebrating Spring the Keystone Way
Chinese Thread
Going Red :
Celebrating Spring the Keystone Way
Red is a color of significance for many cultures around the world . It is often associated with the Western tradition of Valentine ’ s Day . Dressing in red is considered lucky in some ; even Santa Claus is almost always depicted
dressed in red . Or red chillies are used to ward off the evil eye in countries such as India . Some countries use red ceremoniously , while others symbolically . It is clearly a color that reflects cultural meanings , collective conscience , and a sense of belonging to a community .
We Went Red Too In China , red is the color of Chinese New Year . As folklore has it , it is the color that helps families transition to a new year without falling prey to the monstrous Nian . So one must wear red . For the Chinese , it is not only about immersing in cultural traditions , but also about celebrating as a family . “ Being with one ’ s family and celebrating the New Year together is the core of the Spring Festival tradition ,” noted Primary School Chinese teacher , Shi Mei , adding , “ When my students from grades 4 and 5 created a 15-meter scroll depicting the many Chinese New Year traditions , the centrality of the family stands out .”
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