Last Tomb Sweeping Day, I return home to worship my grandfather. Tomb Sweeping Day is a folk Festival. The day before Tomb Sweeping Day is called Cold Food Festival. But Today, Chinese visit their family graves to tend to any underbrush that has grown. Weeds are pulled, and dirt swept away, and the family will set out offerings of food and spirit money. Unlike the sacrifices at a family's home altar, the offerings at the tomb usually consist of dry, bland food. One theory is that since any number of ghosts roam around a grave area, the less appealing food will be consumed by the ancestors, and not be plundered by strangers.

去年清明节，我回家祭拜我的祖父。清明节是一个民间节日。在清明节前一天被称为寒食节。但是今天，中国人会去拜扫祖先的坟墓，清除长出的杂草，扫去灰尘，家人会摆出食物和纸钱作为供品。与在家中祭祀祖先的供品不同，坟墓中的供品通常是干巴巴的食物。有一个理论是，因为许多鬼魂在坟墓周围游荡，不太吸引人的食物会被祖先消耗掉，而不会被陌生人抢走。

With the passing of time, this celebration of life became a day to the honor past ancestors. Following folk religion, the Chinese believed that the spirits of deceased ancestors looked after the family. Sacrifices of food and spirit money could keep them happy, and the family would prosper through good harvests and more children.

随着时间的流逝，这个庆祝生命的日子成为纪念过去祖先的日子。遵循民间宗教，中国人相信先人的灵魂会照顾家庭。牺牲食物和精神财富可以让他们保持幸福，家庭将因丰收和更多的孩子而繁荣。

Dreaming of winter holiday for months, many students can't help to design their vacation journey while some of them have no plan but kill time at home. It is said that male student tend to spend all his time and money playing Internet games while the female students tend to watch episodes without worry and pressure.

许多学生梦想着几个月的寒假，忍不住设计他们的假期旅程，而其中一些人却没有计划，只能在家消磨时间。据说，男学生倾向于把所有的时间和金钱都花在玩网络游戏上，而女学生则倾向于毫无顾虑和压力地观看剧集。

Such cozy life might lead to post-holiday syndrome, a large number of students tend to overindulge themselves in eating, merrymaking and playing around during the holidays, which makes it difficult to adjust to their routine study schedule and life pace on the campus.

这种舒适的生活可能会导致节后综合症，大量学生在假期中会过度放纵自己的饮食、娱乐和玩耍，这使得他们很难适应日常的学习日程和校园生活节奏。

My suggestions to deal with this syndrome are as follows. First, make a specific to-do-list and stick to it. Without a clear purpose, one might easily waste crucial years neglecting one's studies. Second, join one or two volunteering activities and make some friends cause you don't know what surprise will wait for you when you do something new.

我对治疗这种综合征的建议如下。首先，制定一份具体的待办事项清单并坚持下去。如果没有明确的目标，一个人很容易浪费关键的几年时间而忽视自己的学业。第二，参加一两次志愿活动，交一些朋友，因为你不知道当你做一些新的事情时会有什么惊喜等着你。

As the winter vacation is drawing near, I have a plan about my vacation. I'm going to do what I want to do. I'm going to study harder in order to get good grades in the following term. After finishing all my homework, I'm going to enjoy myself in the sea of knowledge. Reading must be a good idea. I'm going to keep fit at the same time. I'll get up early in the morning everyday and play sports. I really love sports. Besides that, Eating a balanced diet is also good for my health. I'm going to help my mom and dad with the housework as well in the vacation. I'll learn to cook. As for travelling, I'm planning to go to Hainan. But whether going there or not will be decided on the weather. During the vacation, I'm going to learn more about history, as I'm really poor on it.

So you see, I'll have a terrific vacation!

随着寒假的临近，我有一个假期计划。我要做我想做的事。我要更加努力学习，以便在下学期取得好成绩。做完所有作业后，我将在知识的海洋中尽情享受。读书一定是个好主意。我要同时保持健康。我每天早上都会早起，做运动。我真的很喜欢运动。除此之外，均衡饮食对我的健康也有好处。我打算在假期里帮助我的父母做家务。我要学做饭。至于旅行，我打算去海南。但是否去那里将取决于天气。在假期里，我将学习更多关于历史的知识，因为我在这方面真的很差。

所以你看，我会有一个很棒的假期！

Winter holiday is coming, many students are looking forward to a wonderful long vacation so that they are busy making a vacation plan. According to a survey, students who go traveling and do social practices during vacations increase greatly while those who stay at home decrease a lot.

寒假即将到来，许多学生都期待着一个美好的长假，因此他们正忙于制定假期计划。根据一项调查，在假期外出旅行和进行社交活动的学生人数大大增加，而呆在家里的学生人数则大大减少。

There are many reasons account for that. Firstly, with the fast development of economy, many people have become rich, which makes it possible for more students to go traveling. Also, modem transportation has made it easier for students to go out to travel. Secondly, the authorities of Chinese university have been encouraging their students to do social practices in the hope that college students would broaden their view to know more about the society and become more adaptable to the future work after they graduate.

原因有很多。首先，随着经济的快速发展，许多人变得富有，这使得更多的学生有可能去旅行。此外，现代交通使学生更容易外出旅行。其次，中国大学当局一直鼓励学生进行社会实践，希望大学生能够开阔视野，了解更多社会知识，并在毕业后更适应未来的工作。

In my opinion, it's good to let more students go out traveling or doing social practices during the vacations for they have become much mature to realize how to spend our vacations meaningfully and practically.

在我看来，让更多的学生在假期外出旅游或进行社交活动是很好的，因为他们已经非常成熟，能够意识到如何有意义地、切实地度过我们的假期。

We are going to have the winter holiday. During the holiday we will have the Spring Festival. So all of the families in China are having a busy time. All of the children in China like Spring Festival very much, because they can eat many delicious food and get many money. But children in China have to do the homework for Winter Holiday. So that the could remember what they have learn the year before. Each of the children likes Winter Holiday.

我们将要放寒假。假期期间我们将过春节。所以中国所有的家庭都很忙。中国所有的孩子都非常喜欢春节，因为他们可以吃很多美味的食物，也可以得到很多压岁钱。但中国的孩子们不得不为寒假做作业。这样他们就能记住前一年学到的东西。每个孩子都喜欢寒假。

I think everybody did a lot of things in the Winter Holiday. But I didn't. Let you to listen to my story of Winter Holiday.

我想每个人在寒假都做了很多事情。但我没有。让你听听我的寒假故事。

I spend a lot of time on the homework. Every day in my Winter Holiday, I always got up late. Then I listened to the tape, it is nine o'clock. Then I ate breakfast and then I did my homework during the daytime! I'm not very slow but the homework was too heavy!

我花了很多时间在家庭作业上。在我的寒假里，我每天都起得很晚。然后我听磁带，一般是九点钟。然后我吃了早餐，然后在白天做了作业！我不是很慢，但作业太重了！

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。

Last year's Spring Festival is special. My uncle and my aunt came back from Shanghai. My family were very happy to keep the Spring Festival with them. And it was the most exciting festival of all the festivals.

去年的春节很特别。我的叔叔和婶婶从上海回来。我的家人很高兴能和他们一起过春节。这是所有节日中最令人兴奋的节日。

On New Year's Eve, my father and my uncle talked about their work together. My mum did some cooking with my aunt Grandparents and I watched the New Year TV programs. At about six o'clock, we had a special family dinner. We all thought the dumplings were delicious.

除夕夜，我父亲和我叔叔一起谈论了他们的工作。我妈妈和我婶婶祖父母一起做饭，我看了新年电视节目。大约六点钟，我们吃了一顿特别的家庭晚餐。我们都觉得饺子很好吃。

On the first day of the New Year, we visited our relatives. In the afternoon, we went shopping in Jiefang Road. My uncle bought some Jay's CDs. He likes Jay's music very much. There were so many people on the road. It was more alive than any other time of a year.

在新年的第一天，我们拜访了我们的亲戚。下午，我们去解放路购物。我叔叔买了一些周杰伦的CD。他非常喜欢周杰伦的音乐。路上有那么多人。比一年中的任何时候都更活跃。

On the second and the third days, we spent a wonderful weekend in the country. There were much bigger trees than in the city. And the animals were more beautiful than in the city. We all enjoyed ourselves.

第二天和第三天，我们在乡下度过了一个美好的周末。那里的树比城里的大得多。这些动物比城里的还要漂亮。我们都玩得很开心。

I had an interesting Spring Festival. How about you?

我过了一个有趣的春节。你呢？

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。

Within China, regional customs and traditions concerning the celebration of the Chinese new year vary widely. People will pour out their money to buy presents, decoration, material, food, and clothing. It is also the tradition that every family thoroughly cleans the house to sweep away any ill-fortune in hopes to make way for good incoming luck. Windows and doors will be decorated with red color paper-cuts and couplets with popular themes of “happiness”, “wealth”, and “longevity”. On the Eve of Chinese New Year, supper is a feast with families. Food will include such items as pigs, ducks, chicken and sweet delicacies. The family will end the night with firecrackers. Early the next morning, children will greet their parents by wishing them a healthy and happy new year, and receive money in red paper envelopes. The Chinese New Year tradition is a great way to reconcile forgetting all grudges, and sincerely wish peace and happiness for everyone.

在中国，有关庆祝中国新年的地区习俗和传统差异很大。人们会倾其所有买礼物、装饰、材料、食物和衣服。这也是一个传统，每个家庭都会彻底打扫房子，扫除所有的霉运，希望为即将到来的好运让路。窗户和门将用红色剪纸和对联装饰，主题是“幸福”、“财富”和“长寿”。在中国除夕夜，晚餐是一场与家人的盛宴。食物包括猪、鸭、鸡和甜食。这家人将以鞭炮结束夜晚。第二天一早，孩子们会向父母问好，祝他们新年健康快乐，并收到红包。中国的新年传统是一种很好的方式，可以消除所有的怨恨，真诚地祝大家平安快乐。

You raise me up. I will be with you in your life. You are an important person in the process of my growth.

你鼓舞了我。我将在你的生命中与你同在。你是我成长过程中的重要人物。

You give me life and take care of me all the time, when I have problems with my study and life, you are always patient enough to help me and encourage me. In order to let me live a pleasant life and receive good education you always work hard from morning to evening every day. You are also a man who has a heart full of love.

你给我生命，一直照顾我，当我在学习和生活中遇到问题时，你总是耐心地帮助我，鼓励我。为了让我过上愉快的生活，接受良好的教育，你每天从早到晚都在努力工作。你也是一个内心充满爱的人。

You are ready to help people in need. It is you who teach me to be a kind person. In the past, I never said “I love you” to you. Today is Father's Day. I want to say it to you loudly. I will study harder to get better results.

你随时准备帮助有需要的人。是你教会我做一个善良的人。过去，我从未对你说过“我爱你”。今天是父亲节。我想大声地对你说。我会更加努力学习以取得更好的成绩。

I hope you will be happy and healthy forever.

我希望你永远快乐健康。