Spring-Festival(英文版春节介绍)

1SpringFestival1.TaleofNianWecalltheSpringFestivalNian,butdidyouknowthatNianwasoncethenameofaterrible,scarymonster?Alongtimeago,themonsterNianlivedinthemountains.Itlookedlikeanuglydragon,andgotangryeasily.Nianateanimals.Butinwinter,itcouldnotfindfood.Soitcametomanyvillagesandatepeople.PeopleweresoafraidofNianthattheylockedtheirdoorsbeforeeveningcameduringthewinter.Oneday,anoldmancametoavillage.HetoldpeopletherethatNianwasafraidofthreethings—redcolor,fireandnoise.Hetoldpeopletoplaydrumsandgongs(铜锣),makebigfiresandsetofffireworks(放鞭炮)tomakeNiangoaway.Onamoonless,coldnight,Nianwenttothevillageagain.Assoonasitopeneditsbigmouth,peoplemadeloudnoisesandmadefires.Nianwasreallyafraidandranaway.Wher­everitwent,therewasnoiseandfire.WhenNianwastiredandcouldnotrunanymore,peoplekilledthemonster.Afterthat,onthecoldestdayofwinter,peoplebeatdrumsandgongs,andsetofffire­workstocelebratethedeathofthemonsterofNian.Theyputupredlanterns(灯笼)andhaveabigdinnerwithoutsleepingduringthenight,andgreeteachotherhappilyinthenextmorning.2.BriefIntroductionofSpringFestivalTheSpringFestivalisthemostimportantfestivalfortheChinesepeopleandiswhenallfamilymembersgettogether,justlikeChristmasintheWest.Allpeoplelivingawayfromhomegoback,becomingthebusiesttimefortransportationsystemsofabouthalfamonthfromtheSpringFestival.Airports,railwaystationsandlong-distancebusstationsarecrowdedwithhomereturnees.TheSpringFestivalfallsonthe1stdayofthe1stlunarmonth.Strictlyspeaking,theSpringFestivalstartseveryyearintheearlydaysofthe12thlunarmonthandwilllasttillthemid1stlunarmonthofthenextyear.Ofthem,themostimportantdaysareSpringFestivalEveandthefirstthreedays.TheChinesegovernmentnowstipulatespeoplehavesevendaysofffortheChineseLunarNewYear.3.PreliminaryCustomsManycustomsaccompanytheSpringFestival.Somearestillfollowedtoday,butothershaveweakened.Onthe8thdayofthe12thlunarmonth,manyfamiliesmakelabaporridge,adeliciouskindofporridgemadewithrice，glutinousrice（糯米）,millet（小米）,coixseed（薏仁）,jujubeberries（枣泥）,lotusseeds(莲子),beans,longan（桂圆）andgingko（白果）.The23rddayofthe12thlunarmonthiscalledPreliminaryEve.Atthistime,peopleoffersacrificetothekitchengod.Nowhowever,mostfamiliesmakedeliciousfoodtoenjoythemselves.AfterthePreliminaryEve,peoplebeginpreparingforthecomingNewYear.ThisiscalledSeeingtheNewYearin.Storeownersarebusythenaseverybodygoesouttopurchasenecessitiesforthe2NewYear.Materialsnotonlyincludeedibleoil,rice,flour,chicken,duck,fishandmeat,butalsofruit,candiesandkindsofnuts.What'smore,variousdecorations,newclothesandshoesforthechildrenaswellasgiftsfortheelderly,friendsandrelatives,areallonthelistofpurchasing.BeforetheNewYearcomes,thepeoplecompletelycleantheindoorsandoutdoorsoftheirhomesaswellastheirclothes,bedclothesandalltheirutensils（器具）.Thenpeoplebegindecoratingtheircleanroomsfeaturinganatmosphereofrejoicing（喜悦）andfestivity（欢庆）.AllthedoorpanelswillbepastedwithSpringFestivalcouplets（春联）,highlightingChinesecalligraphywithblackcharactersonredpaper.Thecontentvariesfromhouseowners'wishesforabrightfuturetogoodluckfortheNewYear.Also,picturesofthegodofdoorsandwealthwillbepostedonfrontdoorstowardoffevilspiritsandwelcomepeaceandabundance（富足）.TheChinesecharacterfu(meaningblessingorhappiness)isamust.Thecharacterputonpapercanbepastednormallyorupsidedown,forinChinesethereversedfuishomophonic（谐音）withfucomes.What'smore,twobigredlanternscanberaisedonbothsidesofthefrontdoor.Redpaper-cuttingscanbeseenonwindowglassandbrightlycoloredNewYearpaintingswithauspicious（吉利的）meaningsmaybeputonthewall.PeopleattachgreatimportancetoSpringFestivalEve.Atthattime,allfamilymemberseatdinnertogether.Themealismoreluxuriousthanusual.Dishessuchaschicken,fishandbeancurdcannotbeexcluded,forinChinese,theirpronunciations,respectivelyji,yuanddoufu,meanauspiciousness（吉利）,abundanceandrichness.Afterthedinner,thewholefamilywillsittogether,chattingandwatchingTV.Inrecentyears,theSpringFestivalpartybroadcastonChinaCentralTelevisionStation(CCTV)isessentialentertainmentfortheChinesebothathomeandabroad.Accordingtocustom,eachfamilywillstayuptoseetheNewYearin.4.NewYear’CustomsWakinguponNewYear,everybodydressesup.Firsttheyextendgreetingstotheirparents.TheneachchildwillgetmoneyasaNewYeargift,wrappedupinredpaper.PeopleinnorthernChinawilleatjiaozi,ordumplings,forbreakfast,astheythinkjiaoziinsoundmeansbiddingfarewelltotheoldandushering（迎接）inthenew.Also,theshapeofthedumplingislikegoldingotfromancientChina.Sopeopleeatthemandwishformoneyandtreasure.SouthernChineseeatniangao(NewYearcakemadeofglutinousriceflour)onthisoccasion,becauseasahomophone,niangaomeanshigherandhigher,oneyearafteranother.ThefirstfivedaysaftertheSpringFestivalareagoodtimeforrelatives,friends,andclassmatesaswellascolleaguestoexchangegreetings,giftsandchatleisurely.BurningfireworkswasoncethemosttypicalcustomontheSpringFestival.Peoplethoughtthesplutteringsoundcouldhelpdriveawayevilspirits.However,suchanactivitywascompletelyorpartiallyforbiddeninbigcitiesoncethegovernmenttooksecurity,noiseandpollutionfactorsintoconsideration.Asareplacement,somebuytapeswithfirecrackersoundst