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German man鈥檚 first Spring Festival in a China village
This is Sebastian Hahn鈥檚 ninth Spring Festival in south China鈥檚 island province of Hainan, but it鈥檚 the first time that he spent the Chinese Lunar New year in a village.
Hahn, from Berlin, Germany, graduated from Hainan University in 2020 and opened a cafe with his Chinese girlfriend Tina last year in Haikou, capital of Hainan.
During this year鈥檚 Spring Festival, Hahn visited Tina鈥檚 hometown, a village in Danzhou City.
鈥淚 used to spend Spring Festival in Haikou, which was almost empty during the festival. Restaurants and shops were closed because people who work here went to their hometowns elsewhere,鈥 he said, adding that he could see people everywhere in the village.
In the village, Hahn experienced a totally different Spring Festival, including going to street fairs, making rice dumplings and playing with fireworks and firecrackers.
鈥淭he market is full of people, full of every kind of smell from fresh fruits to fireworks, and I think it is the atmosphere of the Chinese Lunar New Year,鈥 he said, noting that it鈥檚 so traditional and lively that he never knew before.
On the second day of the Chinese Lunar New Year, Hahn learned how to make rice dumplings from his girlfriend鈥檚 mom.
鈥淯se sticky rice flour together with water to make little balls, and then boil them in water. It鈥檚 interesting,鈥 he said. 鈥淭he rice dumplings go well with sugar and taste delicious.鈥
Hahn鈥檚 favorite thing was to play fireworks.
鈥淲hen I play fireworks, it reminds me of my childhood, because in Germany, we also have fireworks for the new year,鈥 said Hahn.
He also visited the Dongpo Academy, a famous tourist scenic spot in Danzhou.
鈥淪u Dongpo was a famous poet who lived in China鈥檚 Song Dynasty (960-1279), and he was very popular with Chinese people,鈥 said Hahn.
鈥淵ou can see his name quite often in Hainan. For example, at Hainan University, there鈥檚 a big lake named Dongpo Lake, and there鈥檚 also a big statue of him.鈥
Hahn noticed that besides some general customs and traditions like putting up spring couplets and playing firecrackers, Hainan also has its special local tradition.
鈥淚n Hainan, people eat a lot of chicken. We ate chicken yesterday and today, and will eat again tomorrow. On the market, chickens are found everywhere, and everybody buys fresh chicken and even live chickens,鈥 he said.
Hahn had prepared hongbao, traditional red envelopes of cash gifts given during the holiday, specially for Tina and her family.
鈥淚 think when you spend so much time in China, you need to adapt to local customs,鈥 he said.
In Hahn鈥檚 eyes, the Spring Festival is similar to Christmas in Germany.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the most important festival for Chinese people, and all the family members come together to reunite, the same like Christmas,鈥 he said.
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