新年英文~Chinese New Year 中國新年 @ G-Beauty 的部落格

Chinese New Year 中國新年金陵輯註 January 24, 2000

The most important holiday in China is the Lunar New Year(農曆年).

Since it is based on the lunar calendar(農曆), it comes about a month later

than the Western New Year. The Chinese New Year season traditionally

lasts about a month . The period has now been reduced to a week or less.

There are some parallels(相似之處) with the Western New Year:

houses are cleaned thoroughly, for instance , and families all get together

for the festivities(慶祝活動). All debts (債務) must be paid off (還清)

so that new year can be started with a fresh beginning.

Feasts (盛宴) are enjoyed with family and friends, and there are

lively dragon and lion dances(舞龍，舞獅) in the streets.

Everywhere there is the sound of fire cracker explosions(放爆竹，鞭炮).

Children receive gifts of little red envelopes(紅包) with money inside them.

Many superstitions(迷信) are related to the celebration of the Chinese New Year.

No sweeping (掃地)must be done in case the family's good fortune

will be swept out the door(掃出門) with the trash(垃圾). One should be

especially careful not to break any dishes, for such an accident is believed to

bring about (造成) serious problems between members of the family

throughout the coming year. Conservative families(保守家庭)

send their kitchen god (灶神)off to make his annual (一年一次的) report in heaven

on New Year's Eve. This god is worshipped (拜神) in the form of

a paper portrait (紙晝)of the god pasted on(貼在) the kitchen wall.

There he keeps an eye on(監看) his human family throughout the year,

and goes back to heaven to report on (就...提出報告) what he has seen.

To send him on his trip, he is taken off the wall and burned,

but not before some sweet paste(甜糊，通常用麥芽糖放在灶口)

and wine are spread over his mouth to make sure that

he gives a good report about the family.

At New Year's time most Chinese families paste signs(貼對聯)

on and around the front doors of their homes. These signs consist of (由...組成)

black or gold Chinese characters (中文字) written on squares(方塊)

or strips(長條) of red paper, because red is a happy color which brings good luck.

The New Year sayings written on them are usually good luck phrases(吉祥語句),

or words related to spring—a symbol or new growth, new hope, new beginnings—

since in China the New Year also marks the beginning of spring.

On New Year's Day(大年初一) people dress in their best clothes to go visiting

relatives (親戚) and friends, wishing everyone they meet a Happy New Year.

Most shops are closed on this day; some stay closed for three days

some up to a week, and then open their doors to the new year with the explosion of

long strings (長串) of fire crackers.