Chapter I. Introduction

Zodiac culture and traditional festivals are important parts of Chinese culture, and they carry rich historical and cultural connotations and national spirit. The Chinese zodiac, as an ancient Chinese folk cultural symbol, is symbolized by twelve animals, reflecting the ancient people's observation and understanding of the natural world. Traditional festivals, on the other hand, are the long-term accumulation of the history and culture of the Chinese nation, and each of them contains deep cultural connotations and rich folk activities behind. Studying the connection between the two will not only help us understand Chinese traditional culture more deeply, but also provide useful inspiration for the cultural inheritance and development of modern society .

The close connection between the culture of the Chinese zodiac and traditional festivals is reflected in the celebrations and customs of many traditional festivals. For example, during the Spring Festival, people make all kinds of lucky objects and decorations according to the year's zodiac sign in order to pray for good luck and happiness in the New Year. This custom not only adds to the festive atmosphere of the festival, but also reflects people's desire and pursuit of a better life. In addition, in the Lantern Festival, Qingming Festival, Dragon Boat Festival and other traditional festivals, there are also folk activities related to the Chinese zodiac, which not only enriches the cultural connotation of the festival, but also strengthens the cohesion and sense of identity of the nation . Therefore, the association of postgraduate students with the Chinese zodiac and traditional festivals is not only a respect for and inheritance of traditional culture, but also a way to promote and develop the national spirit .

Chapter 2 The Association between the Two Chinese Zodiac Signs and the Chinese New Year

2.1 Chinese Zodiac Practices in the Spring Festival

During the Spring Festival, the culture of the Chinese zodiac permeates various traditional customs, adding rich cultural connotations and a festive atmosphere to the festival. Among them, two customs closely related to the Chinese zodiac are the posting of New Year drawings and the dragon and lion dances.

Putting up New Year's paintings is an important activity during the Spring Festival, which not only decorates the house, but also sends people's good wishes for the new year. The images of the Chinese zodiac, such as rats, oxen, tigers and rabbits, which often appear in New Year's paintings, are endowed with auspicious and happy symbols. For example, in the Year of the Monkey, monkeys in New Year's Paintings often represent wit, flexibility and longevity, while themes such as "Monkeys presenting longevity" and "Marquis at once" express people's quest for good luck and prosperity . Similarly, in the Year of the Pig, the image of a fat pig arching over a doorway in the New Year's paintings signifies wealth and good fortune . These Chinese Zodiac New Year paintings not only show the charm of folk art, but also inherit the Chinese Zodiac culture.

The Dragon and Lion Dance is another traditional custom associated with the Chinese zodiac during the Spring Festival. Dragons and lions are both symbols of auspiciousness in Chinese culture, and the Dragon and Lion Dance during the Chinese New Year is meant to ward off evil spirits and welcome good fortune. Although dragons and lions do not directly correspond to one of the twelve Chinese zodiac signs, they are closely related to the Chinese zodiac culture as important elements of traditional Chinese culture. In the performance of dragon and lion dances, people can feel the power and good meaning of the Chinese zodiac culture.

There are many other customs related to the Chinese zodiac during the Spring Festival, such as riddles and firecrackers. All these customs are closely related to the Chinese zodiac culture, and together they form a colorful cultural landscape during the Spring Festival. Through these customs, people can not only feel the festive atmosphere of the festival, but also have a deeper understanding and inheritance of the Chinese zodiac culture.

The dissemination and promotion of Chinese zodiac culture during the Spring Festival is also supported by museums and other cultural institutions. For example, the Capital Museum of China has organized exhibitions focusing on the Chinese New Year and the Chinese zodiac . Such exhibitions not only demonstrate the unique charm of Chinese zodiac culture, but also provide a platform for the public to understand and appreciate Chinese zodiac culture.

Traditional customs related to the Chinese zodiac during the Spring Festival are colorful, which not only add to the festive atmosphere, but also inherit and promote the Chinese zodiac culture. Through activities such as New Year's paintings, dragon and lion dances, people can feel the good meaning and unique charm of Chinese zodiac culture. At the same time, museums and other cultural institutions have also made positive contributions to the dissemination and promotion of Chinese zodiac culture.

2.2 The Use of Chinese Zodiac in Festival Decoration

As China's most important traditional festival, its festive decorations incorporate many elements of the Chinese zodiac, which not only add to the festive atmosphere, but also reflect people's good wishes for the new year.

During the Chinese New Year, various festive decorations such as lanterns and window decorations are skillfully incorporated with elements of the Chinese zodiac. For example, the shapes and patterns of lanterns, an important decoration during the Spring Festival, are often related to the year's Chinese zodiac. In the Year of the Dragon, people can see all kinds of dragon-shaped lanterns hanging high, signifying good luck and power; while in the Year of the Rabbit, there will be all kinds of cute rabbit lanterns dotting the streets and alleys, adding a warmth and childishness .

Window flowers are also an integral part of Chinese New Year decorations, which are usually in the form of paper cuttings. During the Spring Festival, people will put paper cutouts representing the year's Chinese zodiac on their windows. These window flowers are beautifully designed with smooth lines and bright colors, which not only beautify the home environment, but also send people's expectations and blessings for the New Year. For example, in the Spring Festival of the Year of the Sheep, people can put up sheep-shaped window clippings, which symbolize meekness, peace and happiness .

Zodiac elements are also widely used in other Chinese New Year decorations. For example, at the Lantern Festival, people can see giant colored lanterns with the theme of Chinese zodiac, which combine the image of Chinese zodiac with lighting art to present a unique visual feast. Meanwhile, there are also some small Chinese zodiac ornaments and pendants, such as Chinese zodiac pendants and Chinese zodiac dolls, which have become one of the gifts people give to each other during the Chinese New Year as a way to express their blessings and thoughts .

The use of Chinese zodiac in festival decorations not only reflects people's inheritance and development of traditional culture, but also highlights people's desire and pursuit of a better life. Through these decorations, people can feel the strong festive atmosphere and warm home feelings. At the same time, the Chinese zodiac elements also become a link between people's emotions, so that people in the celebration of the festival at the same time more cherish family and friendship.

The use of Chinese zodiac elements in festival decorations also has a certain educational significance. Through making and appreciating these decorations, people can have a deeper understanding of Chinese traditional culture and folk customs. For children, this is not only a cultivation of beauty and artistic enlightenment, but also an important opportunity to understand and experience traditional culture .

The use of Chinese zodiac in festival decoration is an important part of the Spring Festival culture. It not only adds a festive and peaceful atmosphere to the festival, but also carries people's expectations and blessings for a better life. In the future development, we should continue to inherit and carry forward this traditional cultural element, so that more people can understand and feel the profoundness of Chinese culture.

Chapter Three: The Connection Between the Two Chinese Zodiac Signs and the Lantern Festival

3.1 Chinese Zodiac Elements in Lantern Riddles of the Lantern Festival

The Lantern Festival, also known as the "Festival of Lights", is one of China's traditional festivals. During this festival, riddles are a very interesting and culturally rich activity. Lantern riddles are usually written in simple and clear language with deep meanings, which makes them fascinating. The incorporation of Chinese zodiac elements into the creation of lantern riddles adds a lot of fun to this traditional activity.

In Lantern Riddles for the Lantern Festival, the elements of the Chinese Zodiac are used in a variety of ways, reflecting the ingenuity of the creators as well as demonstrating the great depth of Chinese culture. Some lantern riddles depict the characteristics or habits of the animals in the Chinese zodiac as metaphors or hints. For example, "Playing together in the daytime, sleeping together at night. They will not be separated in their old age, a good marriage on earth." This riddle cleverly depicts the habits of mandarin ducks, which is an auspicious bird in traditional Chinese culture, symbolizing a good marriage and love.

In addition to creating riddles by depicting the animal features of the Chinese zodiac, there are also riddles that directly incorporate the name of the Chinese zodiac or related words into the riddle. For example, the riddle "Zi jiu yin mao comes in succession, the rat, ox, tiger and rabbit have a big reunion." (playing a Chinese zodiac sign) This riddle takes the order of the twelve Chinese zodiac signs as a clue to guide people to guess the answer. This way of integrating the elements of the Chinese zodiac directly into the riddle not only increases the fun of the riddle, but also makes people more aware of and familiar with the cultural connotations of the twelve zodiac signs.

There are also some lantern riddles created by combining the Chinese zodiac with holiday customs. For example, "After the Lantern Festival, the willow spits out buds." (playing an idiom) This riddle combines the natural scene after the Lantern Festival with the Chinese zodiac sign "rabbit", and through clever language expression, leads people to think of the meaning of "a village with bright flowers in the darkness", thus guessing the answer to the riddle as "A branch grows out of the festival". A new branch emerges out of the festival". This kind of riddle combines the Chinese zodiac with festival customs and natural scenery, which is not only poetic but also more challenging.

The use of Chinese zodiac elements in lantern riddles for the Lantern Festival not only enriches the content and form of lantern riddles, but also provides people with more opportunities to understand and feel the charm of traditional Chinese culture. Through riddle-guessing activities, people can feel the profoundness and unique charm of Chinese culture in a joyful atmosphere. At the same time, the inheritance and promotion of this traditional culture also helps to enhance national pride and cultural self-confidence.

Overall, the Chinese zodiac element in Lantern Festival riddles epitomizes the combination of traditional culture and modern life. It demonstrates the unique charm and vitality of traditional Chinese culture in the new era. By skillfully integrating the elements of Chinese zodiac into the creation of lantern riddles, it not only increases the fun of the festival, but also lets people feel the deep heritage of traditional Chinese culture in joy. This kind of cultural inheritance not only has educational significance, but also inspires people's love and respect for traditional culture, which further promotes the inheritance and development of Chinese traditional culture. At the same time, these lantern riddles with Chinese zodiac elements have also become a cultural bridge connecting the past and present, tradition and modernity, allowing people to experience cultural continuity and innovation in the process of guessing lantern riddles.

3.2 Chinese Zodiac Display in Lantern Festival

In the Lantern Festival, a traditional festive event, the design and display of zodiac-themed lamps undoubtedly add rich cultural connotation and visual enjoyment to the festival. These lamps not only attract people's attention with their unique shapes and brilliant colors, but also convey far-reaching historical significance and national emotions through the cultural symbol of Chinese zodiac.

Zodiac displays in Lantern Festival often fuse traditional craftsmanship with modern technology to present colorful artistic effects. Designers use a variety of materials and techniques to skillfully incorporate the images of the Chinese zodiac into the design of the lamps. Some use the animals of the Chinese zodiac as prototypes to produce lifelike lamp shapes, such as soaring dragons and sturdy horses, showing the vitality and strength of the Chinese zodiac. Some combine the elements of the Chinese zodiac with lighting art through abstraction, creating a visual effect full of modernity.

These zodiac theme lamps in the light of the illumination, more bright and beautiful. People strolling in the lantern fair, as if in a dreamy world of Chinese zodiac, feel the unique charm of Chinese zodiac culture. This charm is not only reflected in the external form of the lamps and lanterns, but also lies in the cultural connotation and national emotions. Each zodiac sign represents a specific quality and symbol, such as the wit of the rat, the diligence of the ox, the bravery of the tiger, etc. These qualities and symbols have been fully embodied and inherited in the design of the lamps.

In addition to the display of Chinese zodiac lamps and lanterns, the Lantern Festival often organizes various cultural activities related to the Chinese zodiac, such as lectures on the culture of the Chinese zodiac and Chinese zodiac-themed photography competitions, which further deepen people's understanding and awareness of the culture of the Chinese zodiac. These activities not only enrich the content of the festival, but also provide a good platform for people to feel and learn the culture of Chinese zodiac.

In general, the display of Chinese zodiac in Lantern Festival is a perfect combination of traditional culture and modern art, which not only adds a strong cultural atmosphere to the festival, but also lets people deeply feel the unique charm and far-reaching significance of Chinese zodiac culture while enjoying the beautiful scenery. This charm and significance is not only reflected in the Lantern Festival as a specific festival occasion, but also throughout people's daily life, which has become an important part of the traditional culture of the Chinese nation.

Chapter 4 Chinese Zodiac Elements in Other Traditional Festivals

Zodiac culture is omnipresent in traditional Chinese festivals, not just limited to the Spring Festival and Lantern Festival. The Dragon Boat Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival, two popular festivals, are also rich in Chinese zodiac elements.

During the Dragon Boat Festival, although the main customs are eating zongzi and racing dragon boats, the culture of the Chinese zodiac also makes a quiet appearance during this festival. In some regions, the shape and decoration of the zongzi will skillfully incorporate elements of the Chinese zodiac. For example, the zongzi may be wrapped into the shape of twelve Chinese zodiac signs, or printed on the outer packaging of the zongzi with Chinese zodiac patterns, which not only increases the ornamental properties of the zongzi, but also allows people to enjoy the food while feeling the charm of the Chinese zodiac culture.

Mid-Autumn Festival is a festival of reunion, where families get together to enjoy the moon and eat mooncakes. The Chinese zodiac culture is also reflected in this festival. Mooncakes, as the representative food of the Mid-Autumn Festival, are often made and decorated with elements of the Chinese zodiac. For example, mooncakes may be engraved or printed with patterns of the twelve Chinese zodiac signs, giving the traditional mooncakes a new artistic flavor. In addition, during the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations in some regions, there are also performances and games with Chinese zodiac themes, such as Chinese zodiac plays and Chinese zodiac storytelling, which allow people to experience the profound heritage of Chinese zodiac culture in laughter.

In general, Chinese zodiac culture has been deeply integrated into Chinese traditional festivals, and the elements of Chinese zodiac can be seen in both the production and decoration of food and the celebration of festivals. This integration not only enriches the cultural connotation of the festivals, but also makes people feel more deeply the unique charm of traditional Chinese culture while celebrating the festivals.

Chapter V. Conclusion

After an in-depth discussion of the close connection between the twelve Chinese zodiac signs and traditional festivals, we can clearly see how the culture of the Chinese zodiac has deeply penetrated into the traditional Chinese festivals. The Chinese zodiac is not just a simple sign or symbol, it carries rich cultural connotations and reflects the wisdom and emotions of the Chinese nation. In every festival, whether it is the Spring Festival, Lantern Festival, or other important traditional festivals, the elements of the Chinese zodiac are involved in their own unique way, bringing joy and blessings to people.

The association between the Chinese zodiac and the Spring Festival is particularly significant. From the posting of New Year's paintings, dragon and lion dances, to the various elements of the Chinese zodiac in festival decorations, they all reflect the indispensable position of the Chinese zodiac in the Spring Festival. They not only add a strong cultural atmosphere to the festivities, but also let people feel the depth of traditional culture in the celebration.

In the Lantern Festival, the Chinese zodiac elements also shine. The Chinese zodiac elements in the lantern riddles not only increase the fun of the festival, but also let people feel the charm of the Chinese zodiac culture more deeply in the process of solving the riddles. The zodiac-themed lamps in the Lantern Festival also show the uniqueness of the zodiac culture to the fullest.

Of course, apart from the Spring Festival and the Lantern Festival, other traditional festivals such as the Dragon Boat Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival are also inseparable from the embellishment of zodiac culture. They appear either in the form of symbols, images or stories, adding endless flavors to the festivals.

To summarize, the close association between Chinese zodiac and traditional festivals not only enriches the cultural connotation of the festivals, but also enables the traditional culture to be better inherited and developed. This association not only reflects the deep emotion of the Chinese nation towards the Chinese zodiac, but also highlights the unique charm and vitality of traditional culture. Therefore, we have reason to believe that Chinese zodiac culture will continue to play an important role in future traditional festivals, bringing more joy and blessings to people. At the same time, this close association also emphasizes the importance and value of cultural inheritance, making us cherish and respect this valuable cultural heritage even more.