Spring Festival, which falls on the 1st day of the 1st lunar month is the most important festival in China and a time for?family reunion, like Christmas in the West.

中國人最看中的節(jié)日就是春節(jié)（每年農(nóng)歷正月初一）。跟西方的圣誕節(jié)一樣，春節(jié)，是中國人闔家團(tuán)聚的大日子。

Traditionally, Spring Festival starts in the early days of the 12th month of the lunar calendar and lasts until the middle of the 1st lunar month of the following year.?

傳統(tǒng)意義上的春節(jié)，其實(shí)從農(nóng)歷臘月（十二月）初就開始，一直到第二年農(nóng)歷正月（一月）中旬才結(jié)束。

With the modernization of China, some traditional customs are still followed today, but others have?fallen by the way side.

隨著中國現(xiàn)代化，一些春節(jié)傳統(tǒng)習(xí)俗被保留至今，但另一些卻逐漸消失在我們的視野中。

As we are preparing for the most important festival, let's have a review of the traditional customs that celebrate the Spring Festival.

我們忙著為過年準(zhǔn)備的同時(shí)，來回顧下春節(jié)的傳統(tǒng)習(xí)俗吧。

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01

臘月二十三：小年祭灶

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Little New Year,?which falls the 23rd day of the 12th month in the Lunar calendar, is also known as?the Festival of the Kitchen God, the deity who?oversees?the moral character of each household.

農(nóng)歷臘月二十三是小年，又叫做祭灶節(jié)。灶神是中國神話傳說中監(jiān)管一家善惡之神。

People?make sacrifices to?the Kitchen Gold on this day.?

人們?cè)谛∧赀@一天祭拜灶神。

A paper image is burnt?dispatching?the god's spirit to Heaven to report on the family's?conduct?over the past year.?

焚燒灶神的畫像，意味著送灶神上天，稟報(bào)這家人在過去一年的德行。

The Kitchen God is then welcomed back by?pasting?a new paper image of him beside the stove.

接著人們會(huì)在灶旁貼上新的灶神畫像，意味著再把灶神接回來。

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02

臘月二十四：掃舍去塵

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Families?undertake thorough house cleaning?on the 24th day of the 12th month in the Lunar calendar,sweeping out the old in preparation for the coming year.

農(nóng)歷臘月二十四日，各家各戶會(huì)進(jìn)行大掃除掃舍去塵，預(yù)示著除舊迎新。

According to tradition,?ghosts and deities?must choose either to return to Heaven or to stay on Earth during the last month of the year.?

根據(jù)傳統(tǒng)，各路鬼神在農(nóng)歷臘月必須決定自己是返回天庭還是繼續(xù)留在人間。

It is believed that to ensure the ghosts and deities' timely departure, people must?thoroughly?clean both their bodies and their?dwellings, down to every last drawer and cupboard.

據(jù)說為了確保鬼神及時(shí)啟程離開，人們必須徹底地沐浴干凈、清理住處，哪怕是抽屜柜子也不能疏忽。?

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03

臘月二十五：推磨做豆腐

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People?turn the mill and make tofu?on the 25th day of the 12th month in the Lunar calendar, as legend says?the Jade Emperor?will?descend?and taste the soybean curd residue to?experience an austere life.

農(nóng)歷臘月二十五日，人們推磨做豆腐，因?yàn)閭髡f玉帝會(huì)在這一日降臨人間，品嘗豆腐渣，體驗(yàn)人間清貧的生活。

According to Taoist mythology, the Jade Emperor is the Taoist?ruler?of Heaven and all realms of existence below, including that of Man and Hell.?

道家神話里，玉帝是道家統(tǒng)治者，管理著天界及以下各界，包括人間和地獄。

He is one of the most important gods of the Chinese traditional religious pantheon.

玉帝是中國傳統(tǒng)宗教諸神中最重要的神祗之一。

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04

臘月二十六：殺豬割年肉

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The folk saying goes: "butcher a pig and get some meat to prepare for the New Year feast" on the 26th day of the 12th month in the Lunar calendar.

中國有一句俗語：“殺豬割年肉?！?農(nóng)歷臘月二十六正是殺豬割年肉的日子。

In the old days, many people could not?afford?meat and they?saved the best for?the New Year feast.?

舊時(shí)許多人買不起肉，所以就把一年中最好的東西留到新年團(tuán)圓飯吃。

People's livelihoods have improved greatly and meat is now?a very common dish in daily diet, but the Chinese still prefer having meat during festival season.

如今人們的生活質(zhì)量得到了極大的改善，一日三餐里肉食已經(jīng)再常見不過，但春節(jié)期間人們?nèi)匀荤姁廴馐场?/span>

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05

臘月二十七：宰雞趕集

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People kill chickens and go to market to?buy provisions?for the Spring Festival on the 27th day of the 12th month in the Lunar Calendar.?

臘月二十七是人們動(dòng)手殺雞、上市場打年貨的日子。

With the approach of the Lunar New Year, Chinese people?prepare ingredients and food?they need for the New Year feast. Chicken is an?indispensible dish.

農(nóng)歷新年即將到來，中國人開始準(zhǔn)備新年團(tuán)圓飯所需的食材，而雞肉是必不可少的一道菜。

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06

臘月二十八：題寫桃符

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After people have cleaned the house and started preparing food, they begin decorating their homes,?creating an atmosphere of rejoicing and festivity?on the 28th day of the 12th month in the Lunar?Calendar.?

掃舍除塵、采購食材之后，人們開始于臘月二十八日裝飾房舍，營造喜氣洋洋的節(jié)日氛圍。

Decorations include?spring couplets, New Year pictures, posters of door gods and paper-cuts.

各色裝飾品包括春聯(lián)、年畫、門神貼畫和剪紙。

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07

臘月二十九：上供請(qǐng)祖

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On the 29th day of the 12th lunar month people?visit the graves of their ancestors to honor their memory.?

臘月二十九，人們動(dòng)身掃墓，拜祭祖先。

It is said Spring Festival?originated in?the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600 BC-c. 1100 BC) from the people'ssacrifice to gods and ancestors?at the end of an old year and the start of a new one.

據(jù)說春節(jié)始于商朝（公元前1600年至公元前1100年），那時(shí)人們?cè)谵o舊迎新之際祭祀神靈和祖先。

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08

臘月三十：除夕守歲

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Chinese people are supposed to?stay up the whole night?on the 30th day of the 12th month in the Lunar Calendar

臘月三十，人們熬夜守歲。

In Chinese?mythology, a monster called nian would come out to harm people on New Year's Eve, so people get together, staying up and chatting, hoping for a peaceful passage of time.?

中國神話里，一頭叫“年”的妖怪會(huì)在新年的前一夜跑出來傷害人類，因此人們聚在一起，守歲聊天，祈禱能平安度過這一晚。

The custom of staying up (Chinese: shou tai sui)?symbolizes?the?warding off?of all diseases and disasters and wishing good luck in the New Year.

因此，中國人將新年前夕熬夜的習(xí)俗稱為“守太歲”，意味著遠(yuǎn)離疾病災(zāi)禍，祈禱新年好運(yùn)。

Chinese people?attach great importance to?the Spring Festival Eve, when all family members eat dinner together.

中國人十分重視除夕（即新年前一夜），彼時(shí)闔家團(tuán)圓，共享團(tuán)圓年夜飯。

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你們那兒的過年習(xí)俗有哪些不一樣的嗎？留言哦~?

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