Children are expected to stay up as late as they can on New Year's Eve in order to accumulate longevity for their parents. It is not easy to sleep on this night since the New Year is ushered in with the thunderous roar of exploding firecrackers and whistling rockets calculated to frighten the fiercest of evil spirits and venerate the gods. This continues sporadically until after dawn on New Year's Day. With the coming of daylight, homes again become a buzz of activity as ceremonial candles are lit, incense and paper money are burned, and the cacophony of firecrackers begins anew. Spring poems or couplets, consisting of lucky phrases written in black or gold ink on red paper are pasted on or around every family door.
Breakfast is followed by a round of visits.
The first stop, traditionally, is made to a local temple, where respects are paid to the gods. Next come visits to relatives and friends. In the towns and villages, roving bands of musicians parade through the streets stopping at every door they pass to announce, in somewhat raucous strains, the arrival of spring. Certain precautionary measures are taken to insure that the New Year will be a good one. Every house gets a thorough cleaning before New Year's Day so that the coming New Year will commence fresh and clean.