春节

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.

春节是中国人最重要的节日，是所有家庭成员聚在一起的时候，就像西方的圣诞节一样。所有住在外地的人都会回家，这将成为距离春节半个月左右交通系统最繁忙的时候。机场、火车站和长途汽车站挤满了返乡者。

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.

春节在农历一月一日，通常比公历晚一个月。它起源于商朝（约公元前1600年至公元前1100年），起源于人们在旧年结束和新一年开始时对神灵和祖先的祭祀。

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.

严格来说，每年的春节从农历十二月初开始，一直持续到次年的农历一月中旬。其中，最重要的日子是春节前夕和前三天。中国政府现在规定，中国农历新年有七天假期。

Many customs accompany the Spring Festival. Some are still followed today, but others have weakened.

春节有许多习俗。有些人今天仍在关注，但其他人已经减弱。

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.

在农历十二月初八，许多家庭都会做腊八粥，这是一种美味的粥，由糯米、小米、薏米籽、枣子、莲子、豆类、龙眼和银杏制成。

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.

农历12月23日称为初夜。此时，人们向灶神献祭。然而，现在大多数家庭都制作美味的食物来享受。

After the Preliminary Eve, people begin preparing for the coming New Year. This is called "Seeing the New Year in".

初夜过后，人们开始为即将到来的新年做准备。这就是所谓的“新年快乐”。

Store owners are busy then as everybody goes out to purchase necessities for the New Year. Materials not only include edible oil, rice, flour, chicken, duck, fish and meat, but also fruit, candies 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.

商店老板那时很忙，因为每个人都出去购买新年必需品。材料不仅包括食用油、大米、面粉、鸡、鸭、鱼和肉，还包括水果、糖果和各种坚果。此外，各种装饰品、给孩子的新衣服和鞋子，以及给老人、朋友和亲戚的礼物都在购买清单上。

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.

在新年到来之前，人们会彻底清洁家里的室内外，以及衣服、床上用品和所有用具。

Then people begin decorating their clean rooms featuring an atmosphere of rejoicing and festivity. All the door panels will be pasted with Spring Festival couplets, highlighting Chinese calligraphy with black characters on red paper. The content varies from house owners' wishes for a bright future to good luck for the New Year. Also, pictures of the god of doors and wealth will be posted on front doors to ward off evil spirits and welcome peace and abundance.

然后，人们开始装饰他们干净的房间，营造出欢乐和喜庆的气氛。所有的门板都将贴上春联，用红纸上的黑字突出中国书法。内容从房主对美好未来的祝愿到新年的好运都不尽相同。此外，门神和财神的照片将张贴在前门，以驱邪，迎接和平与富足。

近年来我国的发展世人瞩目，中国的传统文化正越来越受到各国朋友的关注。请根据提示，以“The Spring Festival”为题写一篇短文，向外国朋友介绍我国的春节。

根据所给要点及参考词汇，可适当发挥。

① 春节是中国农历年(the lunar year)的第一天

② 春节前：一个月前开始准备(prepare)食物，打扫卫生，装饰(decorate)房子

③ 除夕(On Chinese New Year's Eve)：家人团圆(get together)，吃年夜饭(big dinner)，守夜(stay up till midnight)，放烟花鞭炮(play fireworks and crackers)

④ 大年初一(the first day)：穿新衣(put on new clothes)，向父母拜年(greet parents)，收压岁钱(get lucky money)

范文：

In China, the Spring festival is the first day of the lunar year. People usually start preparing for the festival one month before it comes. They prepare delicious food, clean and decorate their homes. On Chinese New Year's Eve, the family all get together for a big dinner. They stay up till midnight, and then play fireworks and crackers for good luck. On the first day of the lunar New Year, children put on their new clothes and greet their parents. They are very happy to get lucky money from them.

在中国，春节是农历一年的第一天。人们通常在节日到来前一个月开始为节日做准备。他们准备美味的食物，打扫和装饰他们的家。在中国除夕夜，一家人聚在一起吃大餐。他们熬夜到午夜，然后放烟花爆竹以求好运。在农历新年的第一天，孩子们穿上新衣服，向父母问好。他们很高兴从他们那里得到压岁钱。

I have a great time during the winter holiday, because I enjoy myself as well as focus on my study. As it's known to all, the Spring Festival is the most important in winter holiday that would occupy much time to celebrate it. Therefore, I finished my homework first, so that it won't bother my enjoyment during the festival. I finished my home work in one week and I went shopping with my parents. We bought a lot of things, especially snacks and fruits. Then, it was the Spring Festival. We had a big dinner on the New Year's Eve. My parents prepared the big dinner and I could only act as assistant. The dinner was so delicious that I ate so full. In the next several days, my parents and I visited our relatives and friends or they visited us. Sometimes, we went out for fun together. We children were always the most excited. Now, holiday is coming to the end and I will go to school soon. I am so happy that I have a wonderful winter holiday.

我度过了一个很快乐的寒假，因为我不仅玩得开心，也完成了我的学习任务。众所周知，春节是寒假的重头戏，我们会花很多的时间去庆祝新年。因此，我首先要完成作业，这样才不会让它们影响我过节的快乐心情。我用一个星期完成了寒假作业，期间也和爸爸妈妈一起出去购物，我们买了很多东西，特别是零食和水果。接下来，就是过春节了，我们吃了一顿丰盛的年夜饭。爸爸妈妈制作这顿大餐，而我只能帮忙打下手。年夜饭很好吃，我吃得很饱。接下来的几天，我们和亲人朋友互相串门拜年，有时候也一起出去游玩，我们小孩子是最兴奋的。现在，寒假马上就要结束了，我也要去上学了。度过了一个这么快乐而充实的假期让我很开心。

The Spring Festival, Chinese New Year is the most important festival for all of us. All family members get together on New Year'Eve to have a big meal. At the same time, everyone celebrates to each other. At about 12 o'clock, some parents and children light crackers. The whole sky is lighted brightly. We may watch the fireworks excitedly. How busy it is!

春节，中国的新年是我们所有人最重要的节日。所有的家庭成员都在除夕夜聚在一起吃大餐。同时，每个人都互相庆祝。大约12点，一些家长和孩子点燃了鞭炮。整个天空都亮了起来。我们可以兴奋地观看烟花。多忙啊！

On the first early morning of one year, many senior citizen get up early and they stick the reversed Fu or hang some couplets on the front door. Some house's windows are sticked by red paper cuttings.

一年中的第一个清晨，许多老年人早早起床，在前门贴上颠倒的福或挂上对联。有些房子的窗户上贴着红色的剪纸。

The Chinese New Year lasts fifteen days. So during the fifteen days, we always visit our relatives from door to door. At that time, children are the happiest because they can get many red packets form their parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts and so on. The last day of the Chinese New Year is another festival. It names the Lantern Festival.

中国的新年持续十五天。所以在这十五天里，我们总是挨家挨户地拜访亲戚。在那个时候，孩子们是最快乐的，因为他们可以从父母、祖父母、叔叔、阿姨等那里得到很多红包。中国新年的最后一天是另一个节日。它命名为元宵节。

So the Chinese New Year comes to the end.

所以中国的新年就要结束了。

Christmas arouses increasing attention year by year in China. Christmas cards become popular with students. People hold Christmas parties and exchange Christmas girts. A lot or TV and radio programs about Christmas are on. Meanwhile the Spring Festival is less appealing to youngsters. Thus some people wonder whether Christmas will replace the Spring Festival.

圣诞节在中国引起了越来越多的关注。圣诞卡受到学生的欢迎。人们举行圣诞派对，交换圣诞礼物。很多关于圣诞节的电视和广播节目都在播放。与此同时，春节对年轻人的吸引力降低了。因此，一些人怀疑圣诞节是否会取代春节。

This worry is fairly unnecessary. Why? One reason lies that Christmas only affects Christians, college students and joint-venture workers. Another reason is that Christmas is mostly celebrated in cities. Few people in countryside show extreme interest in this exotic festival. By contrast, the Spring Festival is the most influential traditional festival in every family.

这种担心完全没有必要。为什么？原因之一是圣诞节只影响基督徒、大学生和合资企业工人。另一个原因是圣诞节大多在城市庆祝。农村里很少有人对这个异国情调的节日表现出极大的兴趣。相比之下，春节是每个家庭中最具影响力的传统节日。

I think, it is natural that with increasing exchanges with the West, a lot of Western holidays have been gradually introduced into China. For us Chinese we should never neglect or even discard our own traditional festivals. For centuries Chinese have observed this traditional holiday to welcome the beginning of a new year. And we will treasure the Spring Festival forever.

我认为，随着与西方交流的增加，很多西方节日逐渐被引入中国，这是很自然的。对我们中国人来说，我们不应该忽视甚至抛弃自己的传统节日。几个世纪以来，中国人一直在庆祝这个传统节日，以迎接新的一年开始。我们将永远珍惜春节。