Poem: "Chinese New Year's Day" by Wang Anshi

Even the ugliest doors get new banners; pop-up banner sellers make a killing.

I found this poem online, where it was attributed to the Song Dynasty poet Wang Anshi (1021-1086). I don't know who the translator was. It's filled with images of New Year (see "Notes" below).

The old year is blown away by firecrackers,
the spring breeze lends warmth to herbal wine.
While the rising sun shines over each and every household,
people replace old peach wood charms with the new.

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Notes:

• firecrackers: The noise of firecrackers is meant to scare away evil influences. Many non-Buddhist temples I visited in China had a big concrete "box" (like, 10 x 20 feet) where people could light firecrackers for good luck. And, it's fun!
• the spring breeze: Remember, this was considered the start of the spring season, so a warm wind would be auspicious.
• herbal wine: In the original, the word is tusu, a kind of medicinal wine. But really, the point is just to drink.
• the rising sun: When I lived in Japan, people would gather with family and friends in scenic places--on beaches or mountaintops, but sometimes just rooftops--to watch the first sunrise of the new year. It's a significant moment.
• peach wood charms: Peaches are a symbol of longevity, so slabs of peach wood were hung next to doors, sometimes with poems written on them. In modern times, red paper has replaced the wood; at New Year's people change the banners and other décor around their doors for the coming year.