What is the "taste" of Spring Festival?
年味是什麼？
For most Chinese, it means red lanterns at the doors, lucky characters on the walls and paper-cuts on the panes.
對於大多數中國人來說，「年味」是家門口掛起來的紅燈籠、牆上紅紅的福字和窗戶上貼的窗花。
For people in Yu County, Hebei Province, their special paper-cuts are an indispensable tradition during the Chinese New Year.
對於河北省張家口市蔚縣的人來說，貼上特有的蔚縣剪紙窗花，是他們新年習俗。
Zhang Haiquan, 56, is the fifth-generation leader of the northern school for Yu County paper-cutting. He has been crafting his designs for over 40 years.
今年56歲的張海全，是蔚縣北派剪紙的第五代傳承人，他已經從事剪紙行業40多年了。
Zhang's childhood memories are filled with paper-cuts.
"My friends and I would make the paper-cuts and sell them to buy firecrackers."
張海全對於新年的兒時記憶，就與剪紙有著千絲萬縷的聯繫。「我和小夥伴們一起到上街賣做好的紙雕，用賺來的錢買鞭炮一起放。」
Now, he is happy to share his artwork with families and friends, sending his best wishes for the Spring Festival.
而現在，他也會在春節來臨之際，將自己的剪紙作品送給家人朋友，也送出新年的美好願望。
Dating back to the 6th century, the art form is a traditional handicraft that involves cutting elaborate designs into paper. It plays an important role in Chinese festivals and ethnic activities. The cultural connotations have made it one of the richest Chinese folk arts.
中國剪紙藝術起源於公元6世紀，用剪刀或刻刀在紙上剪刻花紋，用於裝點生活或配合其他民俗活動，是中國民間文化內涵最為豐富的藝術形態之一。
Opera characters, historical tales, flora and fauna, landscape scenery, lucky patterns and activities from our daily lives all become the subjects of paper-cuts that grace window panes across China during the Spring Festival. It enhances the festive atmosphere, and conveys good wishes for the next year.
窗花的內容題材非常廣博，戲劇人物、歷史傳說、花鳥魚蟲、山水風景、現實生活及吉祥圖案都是窗花的表現內容。農曆正月初一，貼窗花裝飾居室環境成為中國春節喜慶活動的一個重要內容，既可以美化生活環境，又寄託了中國人辭舊迎新、接福納祥的樸素願望。
Paper-cuts in Yu County, which are actually more of a carving, date back to the Ming Dynasty (A.D. 1368-1644).
河北蔚縣剪紙起源於明代，這種剪紙不是「剪」，而是「刻」。
"The Yu style paper-cut demands that 'the knife go with your imagination, and the hand with your heart.' It reflects the spirit and essence of the figures," Zhang says.
張海全說：「蔚縣剪紙的特點講究『刀隨其意，手隨其心』，神、韻、氣、精盡在其中。」
"Another feature of Yu County paper-cuts is detailed dyeing. A certain proportion of alcohol creates a better contrast."
他說：「我們蔚縣剪紙另一大特色就是點染上色，兌上一定比例的酒精，比普通的顏色調劑清晰度高很多。」
Learning from colored drawings, local craftsmen use sharp knives to carve on rice paper, before dyeing it with bright colors. With the rich compositions and vivid patterns, Yu County has developed its own style.
蔚縣剪紙借鑑了民間彩繪，以宣紙為原料，用小巧銳利的手工刀刻制，點染明快絢麗的色彩，構圖樸實飽滿，造型生動優美，製作工藝在全國眾多剪紙中獨樹一幟。
"Paper-cuts are for the festivals. I'd like to give some of my works to the lovely neighbors. It is endowed with the expectations for a better year. We should share the happy feelings with our family and friends."
「應節氣，貼窗花。現在我做完剪紙也會送給街坊鄰居一起沾沾喜氣。因為紙雕這種東西就是把對新的一年美好的期待融入進去，傳遞給親人、朋友。」
"Spring Festival is the time for family reunion. We hang the lanterns and paste the paper-cuts for window decoration. Our children are coming back for it. People are more than willing to be back home before New Year's Eve. I'm so happy when everybody is there for the reunion dinner."
過年就是舉家團圓的日子，掛上燈籠，一貼窗花，孩子們就要回來了，年就來了。不管在哪裡，多遠上班，大年三十一定都會趕回來，大家吃這個團圓飯。這個過程，我覺得太幸福了。」
"When the Spring Festival came, people used to paste paper-cuts for window decoration, but that is now changing. The carving technique is making it more detailed and sophisticated. People would like to frame them to keep the festival feelings in the house."
「每年過年的時候，家家戶戶都會貼窗花。但是蔚縣剪紙換了一種形式，用雕刻的方式把剪紙呈現得更細緻。把剪紙作品裝裱在框裡，就像把過年的味道一直留住。」
The "taste" of Spring Festival is a vague concept. Chinese linguist Ji Xianlin once said that "Spring Festival is like a wisp of smoke, or the mist in the mountains. It cannot be touched, nor be seen. But when it lays a finger on your heart, you will know that it is coming."
「年味」其實是一個很模糊的概念。季羨林先生說：「年，像淡煙，又像遠山的晴嵐。我們握不著，也看不到，但當它走來的時候，只在我們的心頭輕輕地一拂，我們就知道：年來了。
For Zhang, the paper-cut is just the "taste" of Spring Festival. It's his duty to preserve the tradition. That's what has kept him cutting for 40 years.
但對於張海全來說，窗花已經成為了「年味」的代名詞，留住剪紙，就是留住「年味」。這使得他在民間剪紙藝術這個行業上，堅持了40年。
"From Chinese characters like 'xi (happiness),' animals and plants, to many complicated historical events, craftsmen are able to put almost everything in a single paper-cut."
「從簡單的喜字、單個的動植物，到複雜的歷史事件，在一張張簡單的剪紙上都能體現。」
"I think the paper carving is not only for the Spring Festival. It carries and conveys the hope for a better life, which is also the charm of this folk art."
「我覺得紙雕不單單是過年。它表達的是人們對生活的寄託，通過剪紙傳達給了別人。這一點也是民間剪紙的魅力所在。」
Chinese paper-cutting is like the evergreen. It has become a wonderful symbol of Spring Festival for Chinese people because of its popularity, practicality and aesthetics.
中國民間剪紙藝術，猶如一株常春藤。它的普及性、實用性、審美性成為了中國人心中，對於新春的吉祥象徵。
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Cameraman: Lv Jiabo, Zu Guangning
Film editor: Lv Jiabo
Story written by: Nie Yaqi
English editor: Matthew Arrington Watson
— END —
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