Traditions are at the heart of Spring Festival

Wang Chenyang, Party secretary of the museum and the exhibition's chief planner, says the exhibition covers the whole process of preparing for and celebrating the traditional New Year, bringing an immersive experience.

The first day of the solar term dongzhi, or the Winter Solstice, is the longest night of the year with the shortest daytime.

There's an old saying that dongzhi is more significant than the New Year. After that day, the days start to become longer and the nights shorter, and anticipation for the New Year and spring grows stronger.

"The opening date of the exhibition on Dec 21 (the past dongzhi) added spice to the festive mood," Wang says.

The exhibition features various national intangible cultural heritage items that reflect unique festive customs from region to region. For example, a black pagoda-like installation is meant to replicate the custom of a coal pile fire prevailing from Huairen city, Shanxi province, known for its rich coal reserves. There, people make a pile of big coal bricks and create a bonfire while making wishes for a thriving new year.

Wang says that besides community-based celebrations, the exhibition also highlights the rituals and activities held in homes to strengthen family ties. "In a time when people migrate and travel outside their hometowns, returning home for Spring Festival is important to many," he adds.

At the exhibition, an altar table has been re-created to show how people in Gaomi, Shandong province, prepare for worship.

On the table are articles of offerings, such as colored Gaomi steamed buns that have intricate relief patterns. Above the altar table, classical Chinese ancestor paintings are hung on the wall.

Dining together is another important ritual for New Year celebrations.

A copper hot pot rests in the center of a large round dining table at the exhibition — a culinary tradition at family reunions during Spring Festival — accentuating a feeling of warmth and excitement for family gatherings.

Digital images of different dishes from across the country are projected on the table to show its gastronomic diversity.

"Paying tribute to our ancestors, sharing details of our lives and work with parents, and preparing food for ancestor worship and the family reunion feast are activities that evoke the best memories of New Year celebrations," Wang says.

"It is personal experiences that make us feel touched and remembered. We want to carry on these traditions."