外国人最想和你聊的文化话题：春节

　Realize Spring Festival　认识春节
     1　春节的简介
     The Chinese New Year is now popularly known as the Spring Festival because it starts from the begining of spring (the first of the twenty-four terms in coordination with the changes of Nature). Its origin is too old to be traced. Several explanations are hanging around. All agree, however, that the word Nian, which in modern Chinese solely means "year", was originally the name of a monster beast that started to make troubles to people the night before the beginning of a new year.
     The celebration of New Year is a grand event of China. New Year festivities last for one month in China. Chinese New Year is also called Spring Festival. It begins from the middle of the last month of the year and ends up in the first month of the New Year. The last day celebration in China is called Lantern Festival. It is the busiest time of the year for Chinese people. The arrangements they have to make for family reunions, buying necessities and preparing food keep them busy throughout the holiday. Many of them travel back home and meet friends over dinner and drinks. The celebrations include decorating the house and setting off fireworks.
     Chinese New Year falls on a different date every year. Chinese calendar is a combination of solar and lunar calendar. Chinese New Year falls on second new moon after the winter solstice（冬至）. Chinese calendar has a 12 year cycle and each year is named after animal. Chinese believe that every person resembles an animal and this reflects their traits. Year 2011 was the Year of the Rabbit. People born on this date are said to be very cute and trustworthy.
     2　春节的习俗
     春节的习俗
     The Spring Festival is the most important festival in China. People usually decorate the doors and windows with red paper cuttings. People usually clean house too. Because they want to sweep away bad luck. Children can get some new clothes or presents from their parents and grandparents.
     On New Year's Eve, family always has a big dinner. Everybody is watching TV and talking.
     On New Year's Day, people usually put on their new clothes and visit their family and friends. They usually say："Happy New Year's Day."
     pasting spring couplets 　　　 贴春联
     spring-cleaning 　　　　　　　大扫除
     the dinner on new year's eve 　年夜饭
Part 2　Key words ＆ Sentences　关键词语全知道
     The Spring Festival is the first day of the lunar year, commonly known as the "Chinese New Year".
     春节，是农历正月初一，俗称"过年"。
     The Spring Festival is ceremonious and noisy traditional festival in our country.
     春节是我国民间隆重、热闹的一个传统节日。
     The Spring Festival has a long history, which originated from the activities of offering sacrifices to their ancestors in the period of Yin and Shang dynasty.
     春节的历史很悠久，它起源于殷商时期年头岁尾的祭神祭祖活动。
     During the Spring Festival, The Han nationality and ethnic minorities held various activities to celebrate the festival.
     在春节期间，中国的汉族和很多少数民族都要举行各种活动以示庆祝。
     Spring Festival is arriving, which means spring is coming up, and the rebirth of nature. A new round of sowing and harvest season should begin again.
     春节到了，意味着春天将要来临，万象复苏。新一轮播种和收获季节又要开始。
     It is our traditional habit to do some cleaning before the Spring Festival.
     在春节前扫尘搞卫生，是我国人民素有的传统习惯。
     According to the record, the Chinese people have celebrated the Spring Festival for more than 4,000 years.
     据记载，中国人民过春节已有4000多年的历史。
     During the Spring Festival, celebration is extremely rich, such as lion dance, playing the dragon, caigaoqiao, paohanchuan.
     春节期间的庆祝活动极为丰富多样，有舞狮、耍龙的，也有踩高跷、跑旱船的。
     The custom of the Spring Festival couplet began about a thousand years ago.
     据说贴春联的习俗，大约始于一千多年前。
     After December, 23th of the lunar year, every household will write spring scrolls.
     腊月二十三以后，家家户户都要写春联。
     In the 1980s, because of the popularity of TV, Chinese Spring Festival gala become a cultural "feast of indispensable". There are more than a billion people through TV or Internet watching the Spring Festival gala each year.
     进入80年代后，由于电视的普及，春节联欢晚会成为中国人必不可少的一道文化"盛宴"，每年全球都有超过十亿人通过电视或者互联网收看春晚。
     The night before the Chinese New Year is called the Reunion Night. The families are sitting together to make dumplings.
     过年的前一夜叫团圆夜，家人要围坐在一起包饺子。
     Shou Sui means a custom that people do not sleep at the last night of the year, staying up late to greet the arrival of the New Year. It is also known as New Year's Eve Shousui, the common name "Ao Nian".
     守岁，就是在旧年的最后一天夜里不睡觉，熬夜迎接新一年的到来的习俗，也叫除夕守岁，俗名"熬年"。
     Shou Sui has two meanings：the elderly stay up to say goodbye to the "old year", meaning time is precious; young people stay up to extend the life of their parents.
     守岁有两种含义：年长者守岁为"辞旧岁"，有珍爱光阴的意思；年轻人守岁，是为延长父母寿命。
     During the Spring Festival, shops are closed from the first day until the fifth day.
     春节期间大小店铺从大年初一起关门，而在正月初五开市。
     There are "release" activities on the Eighth day, that is, the family release animals back to nature, such as fishes, birds.
     正月初八有"放生"活动，就是把家里养的一些鱼、鸟拿到外面，放归野外。
     The eleventh day of the New Year is called the "Zixu Day". Fatherin-law will invite their son-in-law to have a meal on that day.
     正月十一"子婿日"，此日是岳父宴请子婿的日子。
     During Chinese New Year people eat rice cakes, hoping to have good fortunes and make great improvements.
     春节吃年糕，寓意万事如意年年高。
     Chinese New Year is a contribution to world civilization and a gift to mankind.
     中国的春节，是对世界文明的一种贡献，是送给全人类的一份厚礼。
     Chinese New Year is time for every family to reunion.
     春节是家家团圆的日子。