中国人为何要过两个新年

中国人为何要过两个新年

 一个中国人跟外国人说新年快乐，外国人很迷糊，新年不是都过了吗，为什么还说“新年快乐”呢？原来他说的是春节快乐，中国人过春节已经有几千年的历史了呢。

A: Happy New Year!

A: 新年快乐！

B: Uh...I'm a bit confused¹; New Year's Day was over weeks ago.

B: 嗯……我有点搞迷糊了，新年不是几周前就过去了吗？

A: You must be kidding! It is Chinese New Year, silly!

A: 你在开什么玩笑啊！我是说春节，你这傻瓜！

B: Oh right, it slipped² my mind. Why do you celebrate two New Years?

B: 喔，对了，我都忘了。你们为什么要庆祝两个新年啊？

A: Chinese New Year is according³ to the lunar calendar. Chinese have been celebrating New Years in this fashion for thousands of years.

A: 春节是根据农历而定的。中国人庆祝这个节日的习俗已经延续几千年了。

B: I noticed that our company was very empty the past couple of days.

B: 我发现这几天我们公司里空荡荡的。

A: That is because everyone goes home for Chinese New Year; it is a family holiday, not so much a party holiday. Would you like to come to my house for New Year's Dinner?

A: 因为大家都回家过年啦，这是个家庭团聚的日子，不太属于狂欢的节日。你想要到我家吃年夜饭吗？

B: Of course. Will you set off firecrackers?

B: 当然好啊，你们会放鞭炮吗？

A: Naturally, but the most important thing that we do during New Years is to eat! So make sure to bring your appetite⁴!

A: 会啊，不过过年期间最重要的事情就是吃，所以准备好大吃一顿哦！

【注释】

in this fashion在对话中指的是“用这样的习俗或方式庆祝春节”。

1 confused   

adj.困惑的，烦恼的

参考例句：

• They asked so many questions that they confused me.他们问了许多问题，都把我弄糊涂了。
• A wise man is never confused.智者不惑。

2 slipped   

adj.打滑，打滑的v.滑( slip的过去式和过去分词 )；滑脱；下降；（健康状况等）变差

参考例句：

• She had slipped and badly bruised her face. 她滑了一跤，摔得鼻青脸肿。
• The climber slipped and dropped to his death. 攀登者一失足掉下去摔死了。

3 according   

adj.按照，根据

参考例句：

• According to the Bible we are all the seed of Adam.根据《圣经》所说的，我们都是亚当的后裔。
• We must cut our coat according to our cloth this year.今年我们必须学会量入为出。

4 appetite   

n.食欲，胃口；欲望，性欲；爱好，趣味

参考例句：

• The baby has a good appetite.这个婴儿食欲很好。
• She feels pretty well,but she hasn't much of an appetite.她精神还不错，不过胃口不太好。