English version of Spring Festival introduction (with Chinese meaning)

Chinese: Regarding the origin of the "Spring Festival", there is a legend: In ancient China, there was a beast called "Xi" (also known as "Nian"), which had long tentacles on its head and was extremely ferocious. "Xi" lives deep on the bottom of the sea for many years, and only climbs ashore on a specific day (now called New Year's Eve) to devour livestock and harm human lives. Therefore, every New Year's Eve, people in villages and villages help the elderly and children flee to the mountains to avoid the harm of the "Xi" beast. One New Year's Eve, an old man came begging from outside the village. The villagers were in a hurry and panic. Only an old woman in the east of the village gave the old man some food and advised him to go up the mountain quickly to avoid the "Xi" beast. The old man lifted up his beard and said with a smile: "If my mother-in-law lets me stay at home all night, I will We must drive away the Xi beast." The old woman continued to persuade, but the beggar man smiled and said nothing.

In the middle of the night, the "Xi" beast broke into the village. It found that the atmosphere in the village was different from previous years: at the east end of the village, the old woman lived in her husband's house, with red paper on the door and brightly lit candles in the house. "Xi" beast trembled all over and screamed strangely. When they were near the door, there was a sudden "bang bang bang bang" explosion sound in the courtyard. "Xi" trembled all over and did not dare to move forward. It turns out that "Xi" is most afraid of red, fire and explosions. At this time, the door of my mother-in-law's house opened, and I saw an old man in a red robe laughing in the yard. "Xi" turned pale with fright and ran away in embarrassment.

The next day was also the first day of the first lunar month. The people who had returned from the refuge were very surprised to see that the village was safe and sound. At this time, the old woman suddenly realized and hurriedly told the villagers about the beggar's promise to the old man. This incident quickly spread in the surrounding villages, and people all knew how to drive away the "Xi" beast. From then on, every New Year's Eve, every family puts up red couplets and sets off firecrackers; every household lights up candles and watches the New Year's Eve. Early in the morning on the first day of the Lunar New Year, we also visit relatives and friends to say hello. This custom spreads widely and has become the most solemn traditional festival among Chinese people.

It is said that the "Spring Festival" originated from the activities of worshiping gods and ancestors (December Festival) at the beginning and end of the year during the Yin and Shang Dynasties in China. In the early years of the Western Zhou Dynasty, there was an annual custom of celebrating the harvest and worshiping ancestors at the turn of the old and new years, which can be considered the prototype of the "year". However, the name "Nian" appeared later. The name of Nian began in the Zhou Dynasty (according to "Erya" records, the year was called "Zai" in the Yao and Shun Dynasty, "Sui" in the Xia Dynasty, and "Sui" in the Shang Dynasty). "Sacrifice" was not called "year" until the Zhou Dynasty). When ancient emperors succeeded to the throne, in order to show the authority of the "Emperor", they often established their own calendars (in different dynasties in history, the time of the year was different. In the Xia Dynasty, January was the first month of the year; in the Shang Dynasty, December was the first month of the year. In the Zhou Dynasty, November was the beginning of the year, and in the Qin Dynasty, October was the beginning of the year. In the Western Han Dynasty, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty issued an edict to implement the Taichu calendar, and it was clearly stipulated that the first day of January was the beginning of the year, and it was regarded as the Lunar New Year). The time of year was not officially fixed until the Western Han Dynasty and continues to this day. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty (140 BC to 87 BC) succeeded to the throne and decided to restructure the calendar to unify it. Sima Qian suggested the creation of the Taichu calendar and set the Spring Festival in the first month of Mengchun. The calendar we use today was revised by many dynasties after Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. However, the first day of the first lunar month is "New Year's Day", which is the most solemn festival of the Chinese nation and has been inherited on a fixed date. The Spring Festival customs of the Han people generally include eating rice cakes, dumplings, glutinous rice cakes, glutinous rice balls, poached eggs, large meatballs, whole fish, fine wine, oranges, apples, peanuts, melon seeds, candies, fragrant tea and delicacies; accompanied by dust-dusting, Wash bedding, prepare New Year's goods, put up Spring Festival couplets, put up New Year pictures, put up paper cuttings, put up window grilles, put up blessing characters, light candles, light fires, set off firecrackers, watch the New Year's Eve, give New Year's money, pay New Year greetings, visit relatives, visit ancestral graves, visit the flower market, and have a party Fire and many other activities bring great family happiness. Chinese people also have the habit of hanging Chinese knots during the Spring Festival. Before New Year's Eve, Tianjin people have the custom of going to Qiaoxiang Pavilion on Ancient Culture Street to ask for Chinese knots, which means Qiaoxiang receives blessings; Wenzhou people go to their own religious places to pray sincerely, hoping to be able to get good luck with their families in the new year. happiness. Among them, most are Buddhist.

For thousands of years, people have made New Year celebrations extremely colorful. Every year from the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month to the 30th day of the twelfth lunar month, the folks call this period "Spring Day", also known as "Spring Welcome Day". It is called "Dust Sweeping Day", and it is a traditional habit of our people to sweep dust and maintain hygiene before the Spring Festival.

Then every household prepares New Year’s goods. About ten days before the festival, people start to busy purchasing items. New Year’s goods include chicken, duck, fish, tea, wine, oil sauce, north and south roasted seeds and nuts, candies, bait and fruits. They must buy enough. It is necessary to prepare some gifts for visiting relatives and friends during the New Year. Children should buy new clothes and hats to wear during the New Year.

Before the festival, New Year messages written in red paper and yellow characters, that is, Spring Festival couplets written on red paper, should be pasted on the door of the house. Brightly colored New Year pictures with auspicious meanings are posted in the house. Ingenious girls cut out beautiful window grilles and paste them on the windows. In front of the door, hang red lanterns or paste the word "Fu" and the statues of the God of Wealth and the Door God. The word "Fu" can also be pasted upside down, so that passers-by can say blessing If it falls, it means blessing has arrived. All these activities are to add enough festive atmosphere to the festival.

Another name for the Spring Festival is the New Year. In past legends, Nian is an imaginary animal that brings bad luck to people. The year comes. The trees are withered and the grass is barren; as the year passes, everything grows and flowers are everywhere. How can the year pass? Firecrackers are needed to blast, so there is a custom of burning firecrackers. This is actually another way to heighten the lively scene.

The Spring Festival is a happy and peaceful festival, and it is also a day for family reunions. Children who are away from home have to go home to celebrate the Spring Festival. The night before the New Year is the 30th night of the twelfth lunar month of the old year, also called New Year's Eve, also called Reunion Eve. At this time of transition between the old and the new, staying up late is one of the most important annual activities. On New Year's Eve, the whole family stays up together. Staying up on New Year's Eve, gathering together to drink and enjoy family happiness. In northern areas, there is a custom of eating dumplings on New Year's Eve. The method of making dumplings is to mix the noodles first, and the word "harmony" means "he"; the word "jiaohe" in dumplings is homophonic, and "he" and "jiao" mean "get together". Meaning, also takes the meaning of "Gengsui Jiaozi". In the south, it is customary to eat rice cakes during the New Year. The sweet and sticky rice cakes symbolize the sweetness and prosperity of life in the new year.

When the first rooster crows, or the New Year’s bell rings, firecrackers go off in the streets, and every family is filled with joy. The new year has begun, and men, women, old and young are all dressed in festive costumes. First, we pay New Year's greetings to the elders in the family. During the festival, we also give New Year's money to the children and have a New Year's Eve dinner. On the second and third day of the Lunar New Year, we start visiting relatives and friends, paying New Year greetings to each other, congratulating each other, and saying congratulations on the new happiness. , Congratulations on getting rich, Congratulations, Happy New Year and other activities, ancestor worship and other activities.

The warm atmosphere of the festival not only permeates every household, but also fills the streets and alleys everywhere. In some local markets, there are lion dances, dragon lanterns, fire performances, flower markets, temple fairs, etc. custom. During this period, the city is full of lanterns and the streets are full of tourists. It is very lively and unprecedented. The Spring Festival is not really over until after the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month.

During the Spring Festival, setting off firecrackers, posting calligraphy and paintings on doors and windows to pray for blessings, and decorating homes are the most common customs of this festival.

English: On the "Spring Festival" in origin, there is a legend: The Chinese in ancient times there was a called "evening" of the Beast (also known as "year"), head length antenna , ferocious. "Xi" stayed indoors for many years the sea floor, each to a specific day (talking about New Year's Eve) before climbing cliffs, and devouring livestock lethal. Therefore, every New Year's Eve this day, people young and old stockaded village fled to the mountains to escape the "evening" animal damage. New Year's Eve one year, from the village outside of the one begging for the elderly. The villagers rush to a scene of panic, only the Village Head to the old one old lady some food, and advised him to escape into the mountains soon, "Xi" beast,

The old man pulled up to the mustache smiled: "If her mother let me stay at home one night, I have to put 'Xi' beast away." Continue to persuade the old lady, begging for the elderly just laughed language.

Middle of the night, "Xi" beast broke into the village. It found that the village atmosphere, unlike in previous years: Village head old lady at home, the door paste large red paper, brightly lit candle inside. "Xi" beast whole body Yi Dou, Guaijiao a cry. Close to the door, the hospital suddenly heard "pop pops" and deep-fried sound, "evening" and trembling, and then not forward scrape together. It turned out that "evening" are most afr

aid of red, fire and exploding. At this time, my mother's door opened, I saw one wearing Dahongpao old hospital laughter. "Xi" scaring the daylights out, jump up in panic to escape.

The next day is also the first month started this, people who see the asylum back to the village safe and sound, very surprised. At this time, the old lady double take, and hastened to tell the folks were begging for the elderly promise. This incident soon spread around the village, people are aware of the eviction, "Xi" beast approach. From then on New Year's Eve every year, every household paste red couplets, firecrackers; every household brightly lit candle, put on probation is more to be old . Who started this morning, the pro-string friends Daoxi to go say hello. This widespread custom has become the most solemn of traditional Chinese folk festival.

It is said "Spring Festival" first originated in the Shang period in China drew to a close ritual of ancestor worship activities (December Festival). The Western Zhou Dynasty in the old and new-year-old has been an annual occasion to celebrate the turn of the custom of worshiping their ancestors harvest activities, can be considered "year" in embryonic form. But the "year" has, however, the name of the late Zhou dynasty years, the name is from the beginning (according to "Erya" records, Yao and Shun, said that as the " set" Hsia said that

as the "old," Shang said that as the " worship "until the Zhou Dynasty was known as the " Year "). The ancient emperors to the throne, to show that "the Son of Heaven," the authority of the, often self-reliance calendar (in the history of different dynasties, years not the same.

Xia substituting January for the first year; to December as the Sui Shou Shang, Zhou Dynasty to the Sui Shou in November, with October as the Sui Shou Qin. Western Han Dynasty, the Han Dynasty emperor declared the implementation of Taichu calendar, it is clear that in January started this Suishou to them as traditional Chinese lunar calendar New Year). Years to the Western Han Dynasty officially fixed , has continued to this day. Emperor Wu of Han (140 BC ~ 87 BC) to the throne, decided to rebuild the calendar to make it unified, Sima Qian proposed the creation of the calendar was in the beginning, the Spring Festival set Meng first lunar month. Calendar we use today, is the Han Dynasty after dynasty through a number of revisions, but the first lunar month, who started the "New Year's Day" in the New Year as the

The most solemn festival of the Chinese nation, inherited to a fixed date. Han Chinese New Year custom, generally eat rice cakes, dumplings, Ciba, glutinous rice balls, fried egg, large meatballs, whole fish, wine, Fuk orange, apple, peanuts, melon seeds, candy, tea and and Yao Zhuan-b

ased; and accompanied by Shan dust, Wash bedding, maintenance and stocking, couplets, paste paintings, paste paper-cut, paste bars and paste-fu characters, light candles, point stir, firecrackers, Shou Sui, giving New Year's money, New Year, visit relatives, the graves, visiting the flower market, downtown community Fire and many other activities, doing all their grandchildren. There are hanging over the Chinese New Year Chinese knot

Habits. Before New Year's Eve to the Ancient Culture Street, Tianjin are Joe Xiang-ge invited Chinese knot customs, take Joe Hong Nafo meaning; Wenzhou people have to their own religious prayer and hope in the new year, with his family to be happy. Among them, mostly Buddhist.

For thousands of years, people have to make annual folk celebrations became very rich and varied, from the Chinese lunar calendar every year on the 23rd play a New Year's Eve, civil the time that it called the "Spring Festival Day", also known as "sweep dust Day", in the sweep dust and engage in health before the Spring Festival, is known as habits and traditions of our people.

Then every household is prepared to stocking up, about ten days before the holiday, people began to busy procurement of goods, stocking, including poultry meat, tea wine oil sauce, roasted seeds and nuts north and south, sugar, fruit bait, purchases must be sufficient, but also prepa

re some New Year, take the pro - a free gift with friends, kids clothes have to purchase a new hat, ready to wear the New Year.

To pre-holiday house red paper pasted on the door of the New Year's message to the word yellow, that is, written with red paper couplets. Posted colorful auspicious house allegorical paintings, ingenuity of the girls to cut paper into a beautiful window grilles attached to the windows on the front of the hanging red lanterns or affixed words and blessing the God of Wealth, doors statues and so on, the word can also be subsidizing Fu, passers-by a read-fu collapsed, that is a blessing to all of these activities are sufficient for adding festive holiday atmosphere.

The another name is called the Spring Festival Chinese New Year. In the past legend, is a year to bring bad luck to people's imagination in animals. The one-year. Trees pride had no health Baicao; a year before, all things grow, flowers everywhere. Over the past years, how can it? You need to use whip shelled, so have the custom of burning firecrackers, it is also the boisterous scene contrast another way.

Spring Festival is a joyful and peaceful holiday, but also a reunion day, away from home when the children return home in the New Year gathered. Chinese New Year's night before, that is, the old years of the twelfth lunar month 30 nights, also known as New Year's Eve, also

known as reunion night, in this inter-face time, Shou Sui is the most important activities of the secular year, New Year's Eve, the whole family together with families to support both Ao-year Shou Sui, gathered Han Yin, sharing happiness of family life, the northern regions in the New Year's Eve there is the custom of eating dumplings, dumplings, and the practice is the first face, and word is he; dumplings the dumplings and the cross-homonym, there are gathered together and cross- meaning, Also to obtain cross-year-old son was intended. Chinese New Year in the South have the habit of eating rice cakes,

Sweet sticky rice cakes symbolize the new year of life sweet honey, BBK.

First Sound Jiti to be sounded, or New Year's bell struck, and the streets sing firecrackers, noise come and go, and everyone joyous new year began, men and women were wearing their holiday best, would let the family of the elderly New Year's birthday, there are sections for children Neutralizing, eating regiment Nian Fan, two days, three Gengyin He plans to start the new year a friend came to visit relatives to see each other New Year, congratulations blessing, say hi to congratulate the new, Gong Xi Fa Cai, Congratulations, New Year and good words, ancestor worship and other activities.

Festive and lively atmosphere filled with not only in each household, but also filled the streets aroun

d, some local markets there are still dancing lions, playing the dragon, actors agency fire, visit the flower market, practices such as visiting the temple. Lantern city is during this period, visitors to the streets, crowded extraordinary, unprecedented, direct to was referred to the fifteenth day after the Lantern Festival, the Spring Festival has truly ended.

For the New Year off firecrackers in the windows and doors posted on calligraphy and painting of the village, decorated homes, is the most common practices in this festival.