If you were to observe a traditional Xia Qingzi - Chinese New Year Thanksgiving Festival, here is what you would see, step by step:
Thanksgiving and Chinese New Year share a core DNA: Reunion. Xia Qingzi - Chinese New Year Thanksgiving Fest...
In the West, Thanksgiving is about pausing to give thanks for the harvest and the company of loved ones. In Chinese culture, the Spring Festival is the ultimate Tuan Yuan (团圆 - reunion). It is the time when no matter how far one has traveled, they must return to the table. If you were to observe a traditional Xia
The Xia Qingzi Approach: Don't treat these as two separate, stressful events. View them as a continuum. Use the downtime between the holidays to prepare ingredients that speak both languages. A meal doesn't have to be strictly turkey or strictly dumplings—it can be a conversation between the two. A special tea called “Xia Qing Cha” is
At sunrise, the eldest family member lights three incense sticks:
A special tea called “Xia Qing Cha” is brewed – a blend of chrysanthemum, goji berries, and ginger. Each family member drinks a cup in silence, reflecting on their personal blessings.
Unlike the massive New Year’s Eve dinner, the Xia Qingzi feast is smaller, more intimate, and silent at the start. The meal begins with a Jing Cha (敬茶) – a tea offering. Then, the head of the household kneels before the altar. Notably, the dogs and cats of the house are also fed first on this day, as a traditional proverb states: "Thank the creatures of the house before you fill your own mouth."