用英语介绍传统春节风俗

 　New Year celebrations is a grand event of China. New Year festivities lasts for one month in China. Chinese New Year is also called Spring festival. It begins from the middle of the last month of the year and ends up in the first month of the new year. These last day celebrations in China is called Lantern Festival.

　　History of Chinese New Year 追溯历史：名叫“年”的怪兽

　　Chinese New Year has a very interesting and unique history. According to the Chinese legends, there was a giant beast Nian who used to swallow humans in a single bite. Relief from the horrifying¹ beast came only when people realized that Nian was scared of red color and loud noises. They started bursting crackers² and used red color to scare the beast. Since then, this day was named as GuNian meaning "Pass over the Nian". Chinese considered the day an auspicious³ one as it brought new life for them and celebrated⁴ it as a New Year.

　　Chinese New Year Dates 农历新年，年年不同

　　Chinese New Year falls on a different date every year. Chinese calendar is a combination of solar and lunar calendar. Chinese New Year falls on second new moon after the winter solstice（冬至）. Chinese calendar has a 12 year cycle and each year is named after animal. Chinese believe that every person resembles an animal and this reflects their traits⁵. Year 2006 was the Year of the Dog. People born on this date are said to be very loyal and trustworthy.

　　Chinese New Year Celebrations 新年找乐，日日不同

　　Lot of excitement can be seen in the last 15 days of New Year celebrations. Every day has a special importance to it. Chinese ritualize and celebrate each day in a customary⁶ manner. Given below are the line wise celebrations of the New Year in China:

　　年初一：祭拜天地

　　Day 1: People began their day by offering prayers and welcome the gods of heaven and earth. Most of the people stay away from meat to ensure healthy living.

　　年初二：狗狗过生日

　　Day 2: Successively, prayers are offer to their ancestors and other gods. Chinese are strict care-taker of dogs and feed them well. This is day is considered to be the birthday of all dogs.

　　初三初四：走亲访友，媳妇回娘家　

　　Day 3 and 4: These are very important days for the families to keep up their relations. It calls for every son-in-law to pay respect to their parents-in-law.

　　年初五：“破五”祭财神

　　Day 5: According to the traditions, nobody visits friends and relatives houses as it would bring bad omen⁷. They stay back home to worship the God of wealth. The day is called Po Woo.

　　年初六：百无禁忌，出门活动筋骨

　　Day 6: On this day, people freely meet their near and dear ones and even visit nearby temples to pray for their well being and high spirits.

　　年初七：吃面条，祝长寿

　　Day 7: This is Chinese farmers’ day. They display their backbreaking produce. They also prepare a drink from seven different types of vegetables. On this day, everybody eats noodles which is a symbol of long life and fish representing success.

　　年初八：凌晨拜天公

　　Day 8: It’s an other day to be celebrated with the family and friends. They also offer midnight prayers to Tian Gong, the God of Heaven.

　　年初九：玉皇大帝登场

　　Day 9: Prayers are offered to Jade⁸ Emperor.

　　初十、十一、十二、十三：大吃大喝，最后记得回归清淡

　　Days 10 to 13: From 10 to 12, people celebrate the days by having sumptuous⁹ dinner with the loved ones and the 13th day is left for a very light dinner to cleanse¹⁰ the system.

　　年十四：准备闹元宵

　　Day 14: People start preparing for the celebration of Lantern Festival to be held on next day.

　　年十五：吃元宵看灯火

　　Day 15: Since it is the first night to see full moon, people hang out colorful lanterns, eat glutinous¹¹ rice balls and enjoy the day with their families. 

1 horrifying   

a.令人震惊的，使人毛骨悚然的

参考例句：

• He went to great pains to show how horrifying the war was. 他极力指出战争是多么的恐怖。
• The possibility of war is too horrifying to contemplate. 战争的可能性太可怕了，真不堪细想。

2 crackers   

adj.精神错乱的，癫狂的n.爆竹( cracker的名词复数 )；薄脆饼干；（认为）十分愉快的事；迷人的姑娘

参考例句：

• That noise is driving me crackers. 那噪声闹得我简直要疯了。
• We served some crackers and cheese as an appetiser. 我们上了些饼干和奶酪作为开胃品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 auspicious   

adj.吉利的；幸运的，吉兆的

参考例句：

• The publication of my first book was an auspicious beginning of my career.我的第一本书的出版是我事业吉祥的开始。
• With favorable weather conditions it was an auspicious moment to set sail.风和日丽，正是扬帆出海的黄道吉日。

4 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

5 traits   

n.人的个性，显著的特点，特征( trait的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• We do not know which behavioural traits are inherited and which acquired. 我们不知道哪些行为特征是遗传的，哪些是后天养成的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• His generosity is one of his good traits. 慷慨大方是他的好品质之一。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 customary   

adj.习惯上的，惯常的，合乎习俗的

参考例句：

• He makes his customary visit every week.他每星期都按照惯例造访一次。
• It is customary with me to do so.这样做是我的习惯。

7 omen   

n.征兆，预兆；vt.预示

参考例句：

• The superstitious regard it as a bad omen.迷信的人认为那是一种恶兆。
• Could this at last be a good omen for peace?这是否终于可以视作和平的吉兆了？

8 jade   

n.玉石；碧玉；翡翠

参考例句：

• The statue was carved out of jade.这座塑像是玉雕的。
• He presented us with a couple of jade lions.他送给我们一对玉狮子。

9 sumptuous   

adj.豪华的，奢侈的，华丽的

参考例句：

• The guests turned up dressed in sumptuous evening gowns.客人们身着华丽的夜礼服出现了。
• We were ushered into a sumptuous dining hall.我们被领进一个豪华的餐厅。

10 cleanse   

vt.使清洁，使纯洁，清洗

参考例句：

• Health experts are trying to cleanse the air in cities. 卫生专家们正设法净化城市里的空气。
• Fresh fruit juices can also cleanse your body and reduce dark circles.新鲜果汁同样可以清洁你的身体,并对黑眼圈同样有抑制作用。

11 glutinous   

adj.粘的，胶状的

参考例句：

• The sauce was glutinous and tasted artificial.这种酱有些黏，尝起来不是非常地道。
• The coat covering the soft candies is made from glutinous rice.包裹软糖的江米纸是由糯米做成的。