Chinese Spring Festival

焦述影

New Year's Eve, the most enchanting night in the Chinese lunar calendar, is a time - honored occasion brimming with profound meaning. It serves as a poignant bridge between the departing year and the incoming one, embodying the essence of bidding farewell to the old and embracing the new.

除夕，中国农历最迷人、吉祥且充满文化底蕴的夜晚，是一个历史悠久且意义深远的时刻。如一座意味深长的桥梁，连去年与将新年衔接，辞旧迎新的精髓所在。

The Spring Festival, also called the Chinese New Year, is the most important festival that falls on the first day of the first lunar month each year in China. On this particular occasion, family members across China gather together to celebrate.

春节，也称中国新年，中国重要的节日之一，时间是每年的农历正月初一。在这个特殊的日子里，所有的家庭成员从全国各地团聚在一起庆贺新年。

农历腊月二十四“除尘”

Dust”与“尘”是谐音(尘在汉语中的意思是旧的和过去的)。在春节前扫尘寓意彻底清洁房屋扫除过去闰年的厄运。勤劳勇敢的中国人民相信，只有把旧的坏运气赶走了，才能迎接美好新生活。所有的大扫除必须要在除夕夜之前完成。

Families undertake thorough house cleaning on the 24th day of the 12th month in the Lunar calendar, sweeping out the old in preparation for the coming year.

农历腊月二十四日，各家各户会进行大扫除扫舍去尘，预示着除旧迎新。

According to tradition, ghosts and deities must choose either to return to Heaven or to stay on Earth during the last month of the year. It is believed that to ensure the ghosts and deities' timely departure, people must thoroughly clean both their bodies and their dwellings, down to every last drawer and cupboard.

腊月二十七宰鸡赶集日

腊月二十七是人们动手杀鸡、上市场打年货的日子。

People kill chickens and go to market to buy provisions for the Spring Festival on the 27th day of the 12th month in the Lunar Calendar.

随着新年的临近，中国人通常会为了年夜饭而准备各种食材，鸡肉则是其中不可缺少的一样。

As the New Year is coming nearer, Chinese people are normally preparing all the ingredients and food they need for the feast. Chicken will is a necessary meat dish at this festival season as well。

舞龙舞狮 Dragon and Lion Dances

舞龙舞狮是中国春节期间常见的传统表演。人们手持长龙和狮子舞动，伴随着锣鼓声，以驱逐邪灵、祈求好运。龙被认为是中国的守护神，舞龙能够驱邪避灾、祈求丰收。狮子也被视为吉祥之物，舞狮能够给人们带来好运和幸福。舞龙舞狮是中国春节期间的一大亮点，也是人们迎接新年的重要活动之一。

Dragon and lion dances are common traditional performances during the Chinese Spring Festival. People hold long dragons and lions and dance to the accompaniment of gongs and drums to drive away evil spirits and pray for good luck. The dragon is considered a guardian god in China, and dragon dances can ward off evil and disasters and pray for a good harvest. The lion is also seen as a symbol of auspiciousness, and lion dances can bring good luck and happiness to people. Dragon and lion dances are a major highlight during the Chinese Spring Festival and an important activity for people to welcome the new year.

拜年

在春节的头一天或之后几天，大家都会身着新衣，向亲戚好友拜年，彼此祝愿在新的一年里万事如意、幸福美满。

On the first day of the New Year or shortly thereafter, everybody wears new clothes and brings New Year Greetings to their relatives and friends, wishing each other good luck, happiness during the new year.

　　春联 Spring Couplets

春联是春节期间的传统装饰物，也是中国文化中的重要元素之一。春联通常由对联组成，写有吉祥如意的祝福语，如“福”、“春”、“团圆”等。人们会在春节前后贴上春联，以祈求新的一年平安吉祥。春联的贴在门楣上，是为了驱邪避灾，也是对新一年的美好期许。

Spring couplets are traditional decorations during the Spring Festival and an important element of Chinese culture. They usually consist of a pair of antithetical phrases with auspicious blessings such as "good fortune," "spring," "reunion," etc. People paste spring couplets before and after the Spring Festival to pray for peace and good fortune in the new year. The pasting of spring couplets on the door lintel is to ward off evil and disasters and also to express good wishes for the new year.

放鞭炮 Setting Off Firecrackers

放鞭炮是中国春节期间的传统习俗之一。人们在除夕夜和初一早晨会放鞭炮，以驱赶邪灵、迎接新年。鞭炮声响亮，寓意着驱逐一切不祥，迎接新一年的好运。由于鞭炮对环境和安全造成的影响，近年来一些城市已经禁止放鞭炮，而改为欣赏专业烟花表演。

Setting off firecrackers is a traditional custom during the Chinese Spring Festival. People set off firecrackers on New Year's Eve and the morning of the first day of the lunar new year to drive away evil spirits and welcome the new year. The loud sound of firecrackers symbolizes driving away all the ominous things and welcoming the good luck of the new year. However, due to the environmental and safety impact of firecrackers, some cities have banned the setting off of firecrackers in recent years and have replaced them with professional fireworks displays.

年夜饭 Reunion Dinner on New Year's Eve

年夜饭是春节期间的重要传统习俗之一。家人团聚共进年夜饭，象征着团圆和幸福。通常包括各种传统菜肴，如鱼、饺子、年糕等。吃鱼象征着年年有余，吃饺子象征着团团圆圆，年糕则寓意着步步高升。家人围坐在一起，共同品尝美味佳肴，共度欢乐时光。

The reunion dinner on New Year's Eve is an important traditional custom during the Chinese Spring Festival. Family members gathering for the reunion dinner symbolizes reunion and happiness. The dinner usually includes various traditional dishes such as fish, dumplings, and rice cakes. Eating fish symbolizes surplus every year, eating dumplings symbolizes reunion, and rice cakes symbolize progress step by step. Family members sit together, enjoy delicious food, and spend joyful time together.

迎财神Pray to the God of Wealth

初五是财神的生日，人们会举办盛宴以示庆祝。这天也被称为“破五日”，字面意思是打破数字五。根据习俗，许多新年禁忌过此日皆可破。

The fifth day is the God of Fortune's birthday and people will celebrate this day with a large banquet. This day is also commonly known as the Festival of Po Wu, literally breaking five. According to custom, it is believed that many New Year taboos can be broken on this day.

结语 Conclusion

春节是中国传统文化中最重要的节日之一，也是中国人民最盛大的传统节日。春节期间的各种传统习俗反映了中国人对家庭团聚、祈福祈福的重视，体现了对新年美好生活的向往。通过了解春节的传统习俗和文化意义，我们可以更好地理解中国人的价值观和生活方式，欣赏中国传统文化的魅力。希望本文能够让同学们了解和欣赏中国春节的传统文化，在此祝愿大家新年快乐，阖家幸福！The Spring Festival is one of the most important traditional festivals in Chinese culture and the grandest traditional festival for the Chinese people. The various traditional customs during the Spring Festival reflect the Chinese people's emphasis on family reunions and blessings, as well as their yearning for a better life in the new year. By understanding the traditional customs and cultural significance of the Spring Festival, we can better understand the values and way of life of the Chinese people, and better appreciate the charm of Chinese traditional culture. I hope this article can help more people understand and appreciate the traditional culture of the Chinese Spring Festival, and I wish everyone a happy new year and a happy family!

出品：焦述影(Summer)