“Firecrackers announce the arrival of the New Year. Spring wakes up everything.” With the coming of the Spring Festival, the land of China is full of joy and laughter. From January 25 to March 4, 2018, Wuzhen, a town with a history of more than 1,300 years, is waiting for every visitor. This year, Wuzhen West Scenic Spot and Wu village will jointly hold the Chinese New Year. You will be invited to look for “New Year” atmosphere together in the rural environment of Wuzhen.

Wuzhen Water Lantern Festival

From Preliminary Eve to Lantern Festival

As the New Year approaches, the auspicious colored lanterns in Wuzhen are lit in lakes and fields of the ancient building groups. On February 8, 9 groups of large water lanterns will be displayed on Wuzhen west, and the activity will continue to the Lantern Festival.

There are many lantern parties in China during the New Year, but Wuzhen's party is the most characteristic. Wuzhen Water Lantern Festival is very large and rich in content and color. The large lights standing on the water and starlight are very beautiful. People can enjoy the light view in the bridges or boats, and be addicted to the beautiful lights.

It has always been a folk custom in Wuzhen to watch the lanterns in the New Year. This year, the Water Lantern Festival is divided into two sections: Water Lantern Festival and Land Lantern Festival. The former is in Yuanbao Lack and Emerald Lake, the latter is in Dragon-shaped Farmland and Wangwu Road. The water and land lamps stretching 1.8 kilometers will make the New Year atmosphere in Wuzhen very stronger.

Traditional Custom

Lion dance, glutinous rice cakes and sacrifice to New Year‘ s god

With the development of The Times, the atmosphere of Spring Festival is no longer strong. But the ancient town of Wuzhen still keeps the tradition. Why not come here for the Spring Festival? During the Spring Festival, dragon and lion dances are indispensable—at the entrance of West Scenic Spot. The dragons and lions will start the good fortune of the new year. And you can experience the activity of beating rice cakes in Wu village. New Year’s rice cake is the way that can bless close friends and relatives because it means “gradually develop” in Chinese characters. With various flavors, rice cake has become a must-have food for each family. Tourists can also eat rice cakes for good luck.

From New Year Eve to the 5th day of the Chinese Lunar New Year, glutinous rice cakes,  greetings of the five-way gods, eintopf, Lion Dance...will be launched in Wu Village or West Spot in a certain period of time. On the afternoon of the New Year's Eve, a ritual ceremony will be held at the Volunteers' Home in East Xizha Street, which conveyed the most traditional blessings of Wuzhen people to tourists. In addition, from January 25th to March 4th, you can also follow the Wucun CCO to cut the window grilles, make up Chinese knot; or write the blessings to hang the blessing cards; or make aunt cakes and sweet green rice balls with the most delicious atmosphere of the New Year.

Hu sheep

Enjoy a full meal

Hu sheep is a kind of sheep raised in Zhejiang Province. The Huyang Festival has a long history according to historical records. It is said that “every household raises sheep, and each has three to five”. Wuzhen is an important origin of it, which gradually formed a tradition of eating mutton in winter. As we all know, mutton can nourish vigour, and has the effect of keeping warm. So mutton is the best healthy food material in winter.

January 25—March 4, the Lake Sheep Food Festival begins. Wuzhen West Scenic Spot launches eight restaurants, each restaurant launching a specialty. In the old days, the people in Wuzhen usually boiled a whole sheep with the old mulberry wood fire to cooking, thus making the mutton taste delicious and smell good.

In addition, three large iron cookers will be set up in Wu village barbecue area on the 3rd and 4th day of the lunar New Year. With the help of the guidance of CCO, you can learn to cook authentic Wuzhen mutton and bacon rice. I think it will become a rare experience during the Spring Festival.

The Long Street Feast

Reunion year after year

During the Spring Festival, it is necessary to visit friends and relatives. Wuzhen also provides a way for families to communicate with each other.

The Long Street Feast is a famous event in Wuzhen. In ancient times, the small town of Jiangnan took "100 households as a Fang, 10,000 households as a cities" and "fang" was the residential unit of Wuzhen. During the Spring Festival, wealthy families always held feast in the neighborhoods, inviting friends and passers-by to attend. The neighborhoods also set up tables and chairs along the street. When the wooden tables were connected, a long street feast was formed. The local people also called it "Fang Feast".

The Long Street Feast during the Spring Festival was the most lively and traditional activity. Near Xizha Tea Art Street, long square tables were lined up, and strangers sat next to each other. They had a cup of Sanbai Wine and had a bite of local specialties. They talked with the guests at the same table and were very lively.