中国四大传统节日英文介绍分析

---------------------考试---------------------------学资学习网---------------------押题------------------------------中国四大传统节日：春节，中秋节，端午节，清明节
元宵节
The Lantern Festival (元宵节) is the last day of the Chinese New Year celebration.
This day is for the last moment for setting off fireworks, the last excuse for eating a big feast and the last chance for family getting together before the “年”celebrations are over. (Latern Festival is also a traditional time of celebration for foreigners who live in China).
The Lantern Festival, the 15th of the first month of the lunar calendar, is the
first full moon of the year. Celebrations and traditions on this day date back to the Western Han Dynasty.
Traditions for this festival: as the name indicates, hanging and looking at
lanterns is the main tradition. Lanterns of various shapes and sizes are displayed on trees, or along river banks.
Parents often take their children to Lantern Fairs and sometimes lucky kids
even get a mini toy lantern.
Another tradition is guessing lantern riddles. These are riddles that are hung on lanterns for people to shoot down and solve. The riddles are usually short, wise,
and sometimes humorous. The answer to a riddle can be a Chinese character, a famous person's name, a place name or a proverb. This tradition has become a popular game with serious staying power even as social development changes
other traditions.
Other than that, the most important thing to do today is to eat sweet
dumplings. In northern China, sweet dumplings made of glutinous rice flour are
. Typical sweet while in southern part they are called “汤圆”called “元宵”dumplings are filled with black sesame sauce, sweetened bean paste, or hawthorn.
today is like a game or an activity, so it's seldom done without a Making “元宵”reason and a group of friends or family present to help out.
端午节The Dragon Boat Festival, also called the Duanwu Festival, is celebrated on the fifth day
of the fifth month according to the Chinese calendar. For thousands of years, the festival wrapped to form a pyramid using has been marked by eating zong zi (glutinous rice（糯米）boats. racing or bamboo dragon reed leaves) and
southern in The festival is best known for the its dragon-boat especially races, commemorates the （赛舟会）provinces where there are many rivers and lakes. Thisregattadeath of Qu Yuan , an honest minister who is said to have committed suicide by drowning
himself in a river. Qu was a minister of the State of Chu situated in present-day Hunan and was He （战国时期）Period(475-221BC)Hubei provinces, during theWarring States . upright, loyal and highly esteemed for his wise counsel that brought peace and prosperity
to the state. However, when a dishonest and corrupt prince vilified Qu, he was disgraced
and dismissed from office. Realizing that the country was now in the hands of evil and corrupt officials, Qu grabbed a large stone and leapt into the Miluo River on the fifth day of
to unable him but were rushed over to try and save the fifth month. Nearby fishermen
even recover his body. Thereafter, the state declined and was eventually conquered by
Qin. of the State
The people of Chu who mourned the death of Qu threw rice into the river to feed his
ghost every year on the fifth day of the fifth month. But one year, the spirit of Qu appeared and told the mourners that a hugereptile（爬行动物）in the river had stolen the rice. The spirit then advised them to wrap the rice in silk and bind it with five different-colored
threads before tossing it into the river.
to is eaten During the Duanwu Festival, a glutinous rice pudding called zong zi
莲seeds（the symbolize rice offerings to Qu. Ingredients such as beans,lotus
, pork fat and the golden yolk of a salted duck egg are often added （栗子）子）,chestnutsto the glutinous rice. The pudding is then wrapped with bamboo leaves, bound with a kind
hours. salt water for of raffia and boiled in
Qu's and to rescue The dragon-boat races symbolize the many attempts recover
body. A typical dragon boat ranges from 50-100 feet in length, with a beam of about 5.5 side. by seated side feet, accommodating two paddlers
. A A wooden dragon head is attached at the bow, and a dragon tail at thestern（船尾）banner hoisted on a pole is also fastened at the stern and the hull is decorated with red, green and blue scales edged in gold. In the center of the boat is a canopied shrine behind players are seated to set the （铙钹）which the drummers,gong（铜锣）beaters andcymbalpace for the paddlers. There are also men positioned at the bow to set off firecrackers,
toss rice into the water and pretend to be looking for Qu. All of the noise and pageantry creates an atmosphere of gaiety and excitement for the participants and spectators alike.
The races are held among different clans, villages and organizations, and the winners are awarded medals, banners, jugs of wine and festive meals.
清明节
Qing Ming is a time to remember the dead and the dearly departed. More important, it
is a period to honour and to pay respect to one's deceased ancestors and family members. Because it reinforces the ethic of filial piety, Qing Ming is a major Chinese festival.
Literally meaning clear (Qing) and right (Ming), this Chinese festival falls in early
spring, on the 106th day after the winter solstice. It is a spring festival, and it is an
occasion for the whole family to leave the home and to sweep the graves of their forebears. Chinese being practical people this sweeping of the graves is given an
extended period, that is, 10 days before and after Qing Ming day. Among some dialect groups
a
whole
month
is
allocated.
清明节是一个纪念祖先的节日。

主要的纪念仪式是扫墓，扫墓是慎终追远、郭亲睦邻及行孝的具体表现；基于上述意义，清明节因此成为华人的重要节日。

清明节是在仲春和暮春之交，也就是冬至后的106天。

扫墓活动通常是在清明节的前十天或后十天。

有些地域的人士。

月个一达长动活墓扫的
ORIGIN（起源）
Qing Ming is popularly associated with Jie Zi Zhui, who lived in Shanxi province in 600
B.C. Legend has it that Jie saved his starving lord's life by serving a piece of his own leg. When the lord succeeded in becoming the ruler of a small principality, he invited his
faithful follower to join him. However, Jie declined his invitation, preferring to lead a
hermit's
life
with
his
mother
in
the
mountains.
Believing that he could force Jie out by burning the mountain, the lord ordered his men to
set the forest on fire. To his consternation, Jie chose to remain where he was and was
burnt to death. To commemorate Jie, the lord ordered all fires in every home to be put out
on the anniversary of Jie's death. Thus began the cold food feast, a day when no food
could
be
cooked
since
no
fire
could
be
lit.
The cold food festival occurs on the eve of Qing Ming and is often considered as part of
the Qing Ming festival. As time passes, the Qing Ming festival replaced the cold food festival. Whatever practice is observed，the basic observation of Qing Ming is to
remember one's elders by making a special effort to visit their graves, ashes or ancestral tablets. To make the visit even more meaningful, some time should be spent to remind the younger members of the family of the lives and contributions of their ancestors, and the
story
of
Jie
Zi
Zhui
who
choose
death
over
capitulation.
谈到清明节，有点历史知识的人，都会联想到历史人物介子椎。

据历史记载，在两千多年以前的
春秋时代，晋国公子重耳逃亡在外，生活艰苦，跟随他的介子椎不惜从自己的腿上割下一块肉让他充饥。

后来，重耳回到晋国，作了国君（即晋文公，春秋五霸之一），大事封赏所有跟随他流亡在外的随从，惟独介子椎拒绝接受封赏，他带了母亲隐居绵山。

晋文公无计可施，只好放火烧山，他想，介子椎孝顺母亲，一定会带着老母出来。

谁知这场大火却把介子椎母子烧死了。

为了纪念介子椎，晋文公下令每年的这一天，禁止生火，家家户户只能吃生冷的食物，这就是寒食节的来源。

寒食节是在清明节的前一天，古人常把寒食节的活动延续到清明，久而久之，清明取代了寒食节。

拜介子椎的习俗也变成了清明扫墓的习俗了。

无论以何种形式纪念，为了使纪念祖先的仪式更有意义，我们应该让年轻一代的家庭成员了解先人过去的奋斗历史，当然，还要学习介子椎宁死不屈的气节。

风节明、2清俗扫墓1）
清明时节祭扫祖坟（俗称上坟）。

无锡的传统民俗较有代表性。

扫墓时要挑些新士壅坟茔，而且凡新坟一定要在清明前祭扫，旧坟可以过清明．但不能过立夏。

新媳妇一定要去祭扫祖时至今。

扫墓时用荤、素菜肴和酒、饭等祭奠。

后用干果糕点等替代。

上花坟坟，俗称．
悼念自己的先祖在祭炎黄二祖、日，在烈士陵园缅怀革命先烈成为清明节里很重要的内容，的教育意义。

有了更重要活的丰功伟绩，使今天的清明动具缅的同时，怀先烈2）踏青
清明时节，气候温暖和煦，大地皆春，处处鲜花嫩草，一片生机盎然，人们纷纷外出踏青。

在无锡，踏青的最好场所莫过于惠山。

不上惠山的，上城墙绕城而走，叫登高踏青。

东门东林庵一带，为士女聚集处，故有东林庵里看桃花的说法。

这天，也是东乡胶山和北乡斗山的节场，附近还有赛会，故斗山别名清明山。

人们都上山踏青，赶节场，观看赛会。

从元宵节至清明节，大人孩子，三五成群，到野外放凤筝，别有情趣。

3）门旁插柳和戴柳枝帽
清明节那天，有家家门口插柳条的风俗。

在一些地区，还流行小孩带柳枝帽的风俗。

门旁插柳和戴柳枝帽习俗的来源也是根据介子椎的传说。

据说，介子椎是死在柳树下面的。

介子椎死后的第二年晋文公率领群臣到绵山致祭，一行人先在山下寒食一日，第二天才上山。

那棵柳树，已经长出了翠绿的嫩条。

晋文公看了，心中忽有所感，便走上前去，掐了一丝，编成一个圈儿带在头上。

随从的臣下看了,也纷纷仿效他折柳插头。

晋文公便把这棵柳树赐名。

节明清为定天一这把，柳明清为
气节与明清、3。

节，气日气节清明即是节又是节。

从节上来说它是24气之一节气综合了天文学和气象学等方面我国200024多年前的秦汉时期已基本形成了24节气。

的春雨惊春清谷天，夏满芒夏暑相连。

秋处露秋寒霜降，冬雪雪冬小大寒的知识，编排了个。

节气五的法历是。

五的歌排明中。

歌谣其清被在谣第位也农历中第此时，天气转暖，大地回春，万物复苏，一片生机盎然，家家门口插柳条，祭扫坟墓和郊外的说法。

作为以花信为标志的花信风。

清明的花期为一侯桐踏青。

农谚中也有清明忙种粟万物生长花，二侯麦花，三侯柳花，充分点明了清明节气的花期和花种。

《岁时百问》说。

此时，皆清洁而明净，故谓之清明
中秋节
The Midautumn Festival is the traditional festival in China.In this day,people ,espically
family members will have a happy get-together.So Chinese people vaule this festival for
its important meaning of
eunion.And the mooncake is the symbolic food.It represents
the
eunion just like the full moon.
中秋节是中国四Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the four major traditional festivals. 大
传统节日之一。

There are evening meal, people who work outside the home have to come back happy.
After dinner, people lit lanterns, usually red lanterns round. The children will happily play
their toy lanterns.
一般是红色的人们点亮灯笼，晚上有一顿美餐，离家在外工作的人也要回来团圆。

晚饭后，圆
灯笼。

孩子们会高高兴兴地玩他们的玩具灯笼。

You Yuanyou the moon in the evening, people eating at the same time to celebrate the
Mid-Autumn Festival special foods - cakes. People with the past, look to the future. It is
said that there are dragon in the sky, it is necessary to swallow the moon. In order to
protect the moon, the children have to come up with a large ring of the dragons away.
人们在一起回顾过晚上月亮又圆又大，人们在赏月的同时吃着中秋节特别的食品——月饼。

去，展望未来。

据说天上有一条龙，它要把月亮吞下去。

为了保护月亮，孩子们要弄出很大的响动
把龙吓跑。

lunar new year 春节
Spring Festival is the most important festival in China .In the evening before the Spring Festival ,families get together and have a big meal .In many places people like to set off firecrackers .Dumplings are the most traditional food .Children like the festival very
much ,because they can have delicious food and wear new clothes .They can also get
some money from their parents. This money is given to children for good luck . People put
New Year scrolls on the wall for good fortune .
介绍中国传统春节年俗的英语文章
Spring Festival is the most important holiday for Chinese people. Excitement and happiness are palpable this time of the year， and they reach the peak on lunar new year?s eve.
春节对于中国人来说是最重要的节日。

在每年的春节都让人兴高采烈，尤其是大年三十那晚，更
是达到了高潮。

Though the 15-day period， which starts with the first day of the
lunar new year and ends on the 15th day （known as Lantern Festival），
is relatively long， it is the busiest time of the year for Chinese people. The arrangements they have to make for family reunions， buying necessities and preparing food keeps them busy throughout the holiday. drinks.
and dinner over friends meet and home back travel them of Many
The celebrations include decorating the house and setting off fireworks.
春节历时15天，也就从大年初一开始，到元月十五元宵节结束。

这段比较长的时间是中国人最
忙的时候。

他们为家庭聚会作安排，采购年货，准备丰盛的食物，以至于整个春节假期都忙忙碌
碌的。

许多人在春季期间都要回老家过年，跟朋友碰碰头，聚个餐。

庆祝春节也包括大扫除和放
烟火。

But we are talking about a tradition that seems to be fading.
但是我们现在要谈的是越来越淡的年味。

Spring Festival， as it is celebrated today， has undergone many changes， thanks to the country?s economic development and globalization.
现在的春节已经因为我国经济的发展和全球化的影响而改变了很多。

Yet no Spring Festival is complete without food. People could not
get good food whenever they desired in earlier times， something that does not apply to society today. More often than not， people faced the risk of famine. The best time for people to celebrate was when food was available in plenty， and that was possible in spring， or
the beginning of the lunar new year. That was the main reason why Spring Festival acquired such great importance among Chinese people.
但是没有哪个春节是完全离得开“吃”的。

从前，不论人们提前多久想要买年货，总是不能如愿，
而现在早已今非昔比。

过去常常还要闹饥荒。

人们最好的庆祝时间就是他们能得到食物丰盛的时候，也就是春天或是元月初的那段时间。

那也是为什么春节对于中国人如此重要的主要原因。

But three decades of economic growth has ensured that people in China， except for those who are still poor， can enjoy a good meal whenever they want. Such has been the change in people?s fortune that some have to be treated for obesity and other health problems associated with excessive eating.
但是三十年来的经济发展已经让中国人，除了那些仍然穷苦的人以外，随时都能享受美食。

这得
益于人民财富的增长，但是后者也导致一些人吃得太多而受到肥胖威胁和健康问题。

In the past， celebrations were limited to events like
song-and-dance duets in North China， dragon/lion dances in South China and fireworks， which required the joint efforts of the entire community. But economic development and urbanization seems to have weakened the social links among people. Many， especially those living in cities， are not interested in celebrating the festival with people they hardly know.
在过去，庆祝春节还只停留在北方的二人转和南方的舞龙舞狮等形式。

那些庆祝活动往往需要许
多人合力才能办得起来。

但是经济的发展和国际化程度的提升似乎已经将这种社会联系弱化了。

许多人，特别是城市居民，不太愿意与不相识的人一起共度春节。

Many customs associated with Spring Festival have changed， too.
In the past， people used to visit relatives and friends with gifts and lots of good wishes. Today， many people， especially the youth，
use their cell phones or the Internet to send their good wishes and even gifts to their relatives and friends. Some may say this a sign that people have become less caring about their near and dear ones，
but we should see this development as a time- and energy-saving exercise granted by the information age.
与春节相关的许多习俗也被改变了。

在过去，人们常常会带着礼物走亲访友，互道祝福。

今天许
多人，特别是年轻人，用手机或是网络向亲朋好友发去“礼物”和祝福。

有些人或许会说，这说
明人们已经没有那么关心至爱亲朋了，但是我们应该把这种变化看作信息化时代省钱省力的好办法。

In recent times， many people have started praying for a career promotion or more money instead of invoking God or the Buddha for a healthy and long life and the welfare of their family. But the number of such people is decreasing now， which shows that people are becoming more reasonable.
最近几年，许多人开始祈祷事业高升，财源滚滚，而不是求神拜佛，他们身体健康，长命百岁，家庭美满。

但是这样的人数现在正在减少，说明人们开始变得更加理性。

春节习俗英文简介Customs of the Spring Festival
The Spring Festival is a traditional Chinese festival and also the most important one of the whole year. Through the evolvement of thousands of years， a series of customs are spreading far and wide.
扫尘 Sweeping the Dust
“Dust” is homophonic with chen”（尘）in Chinese， which means old
and past. In this way， sweeping the dust” before the Spring Festival means a thorough cleaning of houses to sweep away bad luck in the past year. This custom shows a good wish of putting away old things to welcome a new life. In a word， just before the Spring Festival comes，every household will give a thorough cleaning to bid farewell to the old year and usher in the new.
贴春联 Pasting Spring Couplets
“The Spring Couplet”， also called couplet” and a pair of
antithetical phrases”， is a special form of literature in China. The Spring Couplet is composed of two antithetical sentences on both sides of the door and a horizontal scroll bearing an inscription， usually an auspicious phrase， above the gate. The sentence pasting on the right side of the door is called the first line of the couplet and the one on the left the second line. On the eve of the Spring Festival， every household will paste on doors a spring couplet written on red paper
to give a happy and prosperous atmosphere of the Festival. In the past，the Chinese usually wrote their own spring couplet with a brush or asked others to do for them， while nowadays， it is common for people to buy the printed spring couplet in the market.
sided Fu” Pasting Paper-cuts and Up-字”福“贴窗花和
Paper-cuts， usually with auspicious patterns， give a happy and prosperous atmosphere of the Festival and express the good wishes of Chinese people looking forward to a good life. In addition to pasting paper-cuts on windows， it is common for Chinese to paste the character
u（福）”， big and small， on walls， doors and doorposts around the houses. Fu（福）” shows people?s yearning toward a good life. Some people even invert the character
u（福）” to signify that blessing
has arrived because inverted” is a homonym for arrive” in Chinese. Now many kinds of paper-cuts and
u（福）” can be seen in the market
before the Festival.
守岁 Staying Up Late on New Year?s Eve
The tradition of staying up late to see New Year in originated from an interesting folk tale. In ancient China there lived a monster named Year， who was very ferocious. Year always went out from its burrow
on New Year?s Eve to devour people. Therefore， on every New Year?s Eve， every household would have supper together. After dinner， no one dared go to sleep and all the family members would sit together，chatting and emboldening each other. Gradually the habit of staying up late on New Year?s Eve is formed. Thus in China， celebrating the Spring Festival” is also called passing over the year （guo nian）”。

However， now there are less and less people in cities who will stay up late to see New Year in.
贴年画 Pasting New Year Prints
The custom of pasting New Year Prints originated from the tradition
of placing Door Gods on the external doors of houses. With the creation of board carvings， New Year paintings cover a wide range of subjects. The most famous ones are Door Gods， Surplus Year after Year， Three Gods of Blessing， Salary and Longevity， An Abundant Harvest of Crops，Thriving Domestic Animals and Celebrating Spring. Four producing
areas of New Year Print are Tɑohuɑwu of Suzhou， Yɑngliuqing of Tianjin，pasting
of tradition the Now Shangdong. of Weifang and Hebei of ɑng Wuqi
while it is seldom New Year paintings is still kept in rural China，followed in cities.
吃饺子 Having Jiaozijiaozi make to will sit together Year?s Eve， the whole family On New
and celebrate the Spring Festival. The shape of jiaozi is like gold ingot from ancient China. So people eat them and wish for money and the during is very important treasure. The tradition of having jiaozi Spring Festival. You cannot have a complete Spring Festival without
）（See page 82 for more information about jiaozi”having jiaozi.
The CCTV New Year?s Gala看春节联欢晚会
The New Year?s Gala is a variety show held by China Central
turn the then at 1983. For every year since since Television （CCTV） the program begins at 8:00PM and lasts five ，of the Lunar New Yearmany creates people，laughter to billions of It or six hours. brings
popular words and produces lots of TV phenomena meriting attention. gone far beyond has a variety show. its For over twenty years，value It is essential entertainment for the Chinese both at home and abroad. Many Chinese would like to watch the gala while having the dinner on New Year?s Eve.
放鞭炮 Setting off Firecrackers
The firecracker is a unique product in China. In ancient China，
the sound of burning bamboo tubes was used to scare away wild animals and evil spirits. With the invention of the gunpowder，
irecracker”
is also called 鞭炮biānpào”（“炮” in Chinese means gun） and used to foster a joyful atmosphere. The first thing every Chinese household does is to set off firecrackers and fireworks， which are meant to bid farewell to the old year and usher in the new. In the past few years，such an activity was completely or partially forbidden in big cities burning
by caused casualty personal and fire to due Beijing including firecrackers. However， some Chinese thought that a Spring Festival without firecrackers was not lively enough and they burned
firecrackers by stealth. So in recent years， the ban was canceled again. This shows that burning firecrackers is a very important activity during the Spring Festival.
拜年和压岁钱 New Year?s Visit and Gift Money
On the first day of the Chinese lunar year， everybody puts on their best clothes and pays ceremonial calls on their relatives and friends，wishing them all the luck in the coming year. Juniors will greet seniors， wishing them health and longevity， while seniors will give juniors some gift money as a wish for their safety in the coming year. When friends meet， they will wish each other happiness and prosperity with a big smile. With the development of the new technology， there
is a change on the way of giving New Years greetings. In recent year，it is common to send New Years greetings by such modern means of communication as telephones， emails and text messages.
逛庙会 Temple Fair
Temple fair， usually held outside temples， is a kind of folk custom in China. During the Spring Festival， temple fair is one of the most important activities， in which there are such performances as acrobatics and Wushu， numerous kinds of local snacks and many kinds of things for everyday life. In recent years， the temple fair has become a place for people to appreciate the traditional art and experience the traditional life.
Festival Greetings
Traditional Festival Greetings:
恭贺新禧 | Happy New Year
| Everything Goes Well
吉祥如意
恭喜发财 | Wishing You Prosperity
年年有余 | Surplus Year after Year
岁岁平安 | Peace All Year Round
新春大吉 | Good Luck in the New Year
In the past two years， it has become a vogue for relatives and
friends to send short messages to greet each other during the Spring Festival. With best wishes， the warm greetings of text messages give
a happy and joyful atmosphere of the Festival.
Festival Greetings via Text Message
①送你一件外套，前面是平安，后面是幸福，领子是吉祥，袖子是如意，扣子是快乐，口袋里
满是温暖，穿上吧，让它伴你每一天！新春快乐！
I will give you a coat as a present. The front is safety， the back happiness， the collar auspiciousness， the sleeves satisfaction， the buttons enjoyment and the pockets warmness. Wear every day. Wish you
a happy New Year.
②新年到了，不打算送给你太多，只给你五千万：千万要快乐！千万要健康！千万要平安！千
万要知足！千万不要忘记我！
As the New Year comes， I will only give you five do?s” as a present. Do be merry！ Do be healthy！ Do be safe！ Do be satisfied！ Do remember me！
介绍中国新年除夕习俗的英语文章
Before New Year?s Eve
The celebration actually starts on New Year?s Eve with the
you should have
，family reunion dinner. By New Year?s Eve
done the following:
Clean the entire home to get rid of all the things that are
associated with the old year.
Put away all brooms and brushes.
Pay all your debts.
Resolve differences with family members， friends， neighbors and business associates.
Buy the following:
Red money envelopes，
Oranges and/or tangerines，
Fill a Cheun hup（a circular red tray separated in eight compartments） with melon seedslotuschocolate coinsnuts etc.
Flowers （especially plum blossoms， peach blossoms， water lilies），
A new set of clothes and shoes for children， preferably something
red or orange.
Get new dollar bills from the bank. Insert the new dollar bills
into the red envelopes. Now the red envelope is called a lai see or lucky money envelope.
On New Year?s Eve
Get together with close family members （not including married
for the
eunion” dinner. ）daughters and their families
Pay respect to ancestors and household gods. Acknowledge the
presence of ancestors because they are responsible for the fortunes
of future generations.
Open every door and window in your home at midnight to let go of
the old year.
On New Year?s Day
Decorate your home with symbols of good fortune. Here are some suggestions:
Colors: Bright red （happiness）； gold/orange （wealth &；
happiness）。

Fruits: Oranges and tangerines （good health &； long life）；
tangerines with leaves intact （long lasting relationships； being fruitful and multiply）； persimmons （happiness and wealth）。

“Chuen Hup” circular candy tray （candy for sweet and circular for togetherness and continuity）。

Flowers: If flowers bloom on New Year?s Day， it will be a prosperous year.
Red banners or couplets with New Year wishes and symbols of good fortune in gold.
中国传统节日中英对照：春节
春节，是农历正月初一，又叫阴历年，俗称“过年”。

这是我国民间最隆重、最热闹的一个传统节日。

春节的历史很悠久，它起源于殷商时期年头岁尾的祭神祭祖活动。

按照我国农历，正月初一古称元日、元辰、元正、元朔、元旦等，俗称年初一，到了民国时期，改用公历，公历的一月一日称为元旦，把农历的一月一日叫春节。

春节到了，意味着春天将要来临，万象复苏草木更新，新一轮播种和收获季节又要开始。

当新春到来之际，早就盼望着春暖花开的日子，人们刚刚度过冰天雪地草木凋零的漫漫寒冬，
自然要充满喜悦载歌载舞地迎接这个节日。

千百年来，人们使年俗庆祝活动变得异常丰富多彩，每年从农历腊月二十三日起到年三十，民间把这段时间叫做“迎春日”，也叫“扫尘日”，在春节前扫尘搞卫生，是我国人民素有的传统习惯。

然后就是家家户户准备年货，节前十天左右，人们就开始忙于采购物品，年货包括鸡鸭鱼肉、茶酒油酱、南北炒货、糖饵果品，都要采买充足，还要准备一些过年时走亲访友时赠送的礼品，小孩子要添置新衣新帽，准备过年时穿。

在节前要在住宅的大门上粘贴红纸黄字的新年寄语，也就是用红纸写成的春联。

屋里张贴色彩鲜艳寓意吉祥的年画，心灵手巧的姑娘们剪出美丽的窗花贴在窗户上，门前挂大红灯笼或贴福字及财神、门神像等，福字还可以倒贴，路人一念福倒了，也就是福气到了，所有这些活动都是要为节日增添足够的喜庆气氛。

春节的另一名称叫过年。

在过去的传说中，年是一种为人们带来坏运气的想象中的动物。

年一来。

树木凋蔽，百草不生；年一过，万物生长，鲜花遍地。

年如何才能过去呢？需用鞭炮轰，于是有了燃鞭炮的习俗，这其实也是烘托热闹场面的又一种方式。

春节是个欢乐祥和的节日，也是亲人团聚的日子，离家在外的孩子在过春节时都要回家欢聚。

过年的前一夜，就是旧年的腊月三十夜，也叫除夕，又叫团圆夜，在这新旧交替的时候，守岁是最重要的年俗活动之一，除夕晚上，全家老小都一起熬年守岁，欢聚酣饮，共享天伦之乐，北方地区在除夕有吃饺子的习俗，饺子的作法是先和面，和字就是合；饺子的饺和交谐音，合和交有相聚之意，又取更岁交子之意。

在南方有过年吃年糕的习惯，甜甜的粘粘的年糕，象征新一年生活甜蜜蜜，步步高。

待第一声鸡啼响起，或是新年的钟声敲过，街上鞭炮齐鸣，响声此起彼伏，家家喜气洋洋，新的一年开始了，男女老少都穿着节日盛装，先给家族中的长者拜年祝寿，节中还有给儿童压岁钱，吃团年饭，初二、三就开始走亲戚看朋友，相互拜年，道贺祝福，说些恭贺新喜、恭喜发财、恭喜、过年好等话，祭祖等活动。

节日的热烈气氛不仅洋溢在各家各户，也充满各地的大街小巷，一些地方的街市上还有舞狮子，耍龙灯，演社火，游花市，逛庙会等习俗。

这期间花灯满城，游人满街，热闹非凡，盛况空前，直要闹到正月十五元宵节过后，春节才算真正结束了。

春节是汉族最重要的节日，但是满、蒙古，瑶、壮、白、高山、赫哲、哈尼、达斡尔、侗、黎等
十几个少数民族也有过春节的习俗，只是过节的形式更有自己的民族特色，更蕴味无穷。

Spring Festival
The Spring Festival is the most important festival for the Chinese people and is when all family members get together， just like Christmas in the West. All people living away from home go back， becoming the busiest time for transportation systems of about half a month from
the Spring Festival. Airports， railway stations and long-distance bus stations are crowded with home returnees.
The Spring Festival falls on the 1st day of the 1st lunar month，
often one month later than the Gregorian calendar. It originated in the Shang Dynasty （c. 1600 BC-c. 1100 BC） from the people?s sacrifice to gods and ancestors at the end of an old year and the beginning of a new one.
Strictly speaking， the Spring Festival starts every year in the
early days of the 12th lunar month and will last till the mid 1st lunar month of the next year. Of them， the most important days are Spring Festival Eve and the first three days. The Chinese government now stipulates people have seven days off for the Chinese Lunar New Year. Many customs accompany the Spring Festival. Some are still followed today， but others have weakened.
On the 8th day of the 12th lunar month， many families make laba porridge， a delicious kind of porridge made with glutinous rice，millet， seeds of Job?s tears， jujube berries， lotus seeds， beans，longan and gingko.
The 23rd day of the 12th lunar month is called Preliminary Eve.
At this time， people offer sacrifice to the kitchen god. Now however，most families make delicious food to enjoy themselves.
After the Preliminary Eve， people begin preparing for the coming
New Year. This is called Seeing the New Year in“。

Store owners are busy then as everybody goes out to purchase necessities for the New Year. Materials not only include edible oil，
candies
，fruitalso but ，meatand fish ， duck， chicken， flour，rice
and kinds of nuts. What?s more， various decorations， new clothes and shoes for the children as well as gifts for the elderly， friends and relatives， are all on the list of purchasing.
Before the New Year comes， the people completely clean the indoors and outdoors of their homes as well as their clothes， bedclothes and all their utensils.
Then people begin decorating their clean rooms featuring an。