中国的春节，也被称为农历新年，迄今已有四千多年的历史。对于中国人来说，这是规模最大，最重要的传统节日。就如同西方的圣诞节一样，春节是一家团聚的日子。春节起源于商朝(公元前11-17世纪)，为了庆祝全家团圆和表达对春暖花开的期盼，节日期间会准备丰富多彩的活动。不同地区和不同少数民族人们会用自己独特的方式庆祝这一传统节日。
Chinese Spring Festival, also called Lunar New Year, has more than 4,000 years of history. Being one of the traditional Chinese festivals, it is the grandest and the most important festival for Chinese people. It is also the time for the whole families to get together, which is similar with Christmas Day to the westerners. Originating during the Shang Dynasty (about 17th - 11th century BC)， Spring Festival, which celebrates family reunion, is full of rich and colorful activities, and hopeswith the advent of spring and flowers blossoming. People from different regionsand different ethnic groups celebrate it in their unique ways。
Legends 节日传说
在传统文化中，春节亦被称为“过年”。传说“年”是一种凶猛异常的怪物，每天都会吃一种动物（包括人）。人们非常惧怕他，当“年”夜间出来活动时，人们会找地方躲起来。后来，人们发现“年”非常害怕红色和爆竹，于是，人们用红色和鞭炮来驱赶“年”。久而久之，春节用大红色和放鞭炮的习俗就保留了下来。
In folk culture, celebrating the Lunar New Year is also called “guonian” (literally meaning “passing a year”). It is said that the “nian” (year) was a fierce and cruel monster, and every day, it ate one kind of animal including human beings. Human beings were naturally scared and had to hide on the evening when the “nian” came out. Later, people found that the monster was afraid of the red color and fireworks. So after that, people used the red color and fireworks or firecrackers to drive away “nian”. As a result, the custom has remained to this day.
节日习俗
01贴春联 Paste up/stick spring couplets/scrolls
春联通常是成对张贴，因为双数在中国文化中是好运和吉祥的象征。像所有武功秘籍一样，家家户户过年的基本功——贴春联也有一套口诀：人朝门立，右手为上，左手为下。这句话意思是对联的出句应贴在右手边（即门的左边），对句应贴在左手边（即门的右边）。春联的上下联张贴的位置不应太高或太低，一般应以门楣的高低为准。嗯，这套秘籍你掌握了没？
Chinese characters that are auspicious for the coming year are generally written on two pieces of red paper with ink and a brush, and glued by the sides of the doors.
02贴福字Paste up/stick the character of fu
“福”不仅代表着福气、福运，更代表着福。写在红纸上的“福”字表达了中国人内心对幸福的向往。大家印象中“福”字一般都是倒着贴，谐音意为“福到”了。
The character fu, or “happiness” is usually written on red diamond-shaped posters. They are usually stuck upside down on the doors. This is because the Chinese character dao (upside down) has the same sound as another dao, which means “arrive”. Placing fu upside down symbolizes the arrival of happiness.
03压岁钱/红包Lucky money/ red envelop
一提起“红包”很多人现在想起的都是微信红包。但是红包的鼻祖可是大家喜闻乐见的春节压岁钱啊。为什么钱要放在红包里呢？因为中国人认为红色代表红红火火、生活幸福。红包也包含了长辈对晚辈的祝福和期待。在香港，不止小孩会拿到红包，只要为你服务的人，都可以给TA一个红包，不过人家把这个叫“利是”。
For many young people, Chinese new year is just as much about yasuiqian — money in red envelopes traditionally given to children. On the Chinese mainland, kids get red envelopes at home from their parents and relatives. In Hong Kong, it is also customary to give Lai See (利是), a gift of money, to anyone in your personal service, such as nannies and cleaners.
04年夜饭The Spring Festival’s family reunion dinner
就除夕夜而言，无论身在何处，也不管路途多么遥远，人们都会设法赶回家，所以除夕夜的盛大晚餐也叫做“团圆饭”。每个家庭的团圆饭都是一年中精心准备的最华丽和隆重的家宴。女主人在餐桌上摆满精心准备的食物，全家人围坐一起分享美味佳肴，然后一起乐融融地包饺子。午夜12点，每个家庭都会放鞭炮，辞旧迎新。
On New Year's Eve, people who work far away will manage to come home, regardless of long-distance travel, so the "Grand Dinner on New Year's Eve" is also called "Family Reunion Dinner". Every family will make the dinner the most sumptuous and ceremonious one in the year. Hostesses will fetch out prepared food and all family members will sit together and make dumplings in harmony. At twelve o'clock, every family will shoot off firecrackers to greet new days and send off old ones.
05放烟花/鞭炮 Set off fireworks/ firecrackers
老实交代，你是不是就是，或者曾经是过年时用鞭炮“吓人”的那个熊孩子？不过，鞭炮不是用来吓“人”的。传说中，烟花爆竹最开始是用来驱赶“年”这头怪兽的。而现在放烟花、点鞭炮主要是为了增加节日气氛，让年味更浓。想象一下，除夕夜，四处都被烟花的闪闪光芒映亮，鞭炮声震耳欲聋。一家人熬夜就为这个欢乐的时刻，孩子们一手捂着耳朵，一手兴高采烈地点放着他们在这个特殊节日的快乐。这是属于我们所有人的春节记忆。
Chinese people traditionally set off fireworks during Spring Festival, in the belief that this helps scare off the Nian and brings good fortune at the beginning of the year and good luck throughout the year.
06拜年Pay lunar New Year’s calls/visits; give Spring Festival greetings
除夕过后就是正月初一，人们都会外出拜年。这一天人们忙得不亦乐乎，彼此表达美好的祝福。据说，正月初一这天人们不能扔东西，这样他们就可以把财富留在自个的家里，来年就会福星高照，幸福满满。
Following the New Year's Eve is the first day of the Spring Festival, a day for paying a New Year's vist, during which people will be busy in giving best wishes to one another. It is said that people shouldn't dump things on the first day of the new year, so that they would be able to keep whatever worth of fortune they will be in possession of in the next year.
最后祝大家
吉星高照
may fortune smile upon you
新春快乐
happy Chinese New Year
一帆风顺
wish you every success
二龙腾飞
two dragons soar
三阳开泰
auspicious beginning of the New Year
四季平安
peace and safety all year round
五福临门
the five blessings have descended upon the house
六六大顺
everything goes smoothly
七星高照
seven stars shine brightly
八方来财
fortune comes from all directions
九九同心
the whole universe united in one heart
十全十美
be perfect in every respect
百花齐放 all flowers bloom together
财源广进
may a river of gold flow into your pockets
万事如意
hope everything goes your way
岁岁平安
may you start safe and sound all year round
名列前茅
always come first in examinations
鹏程万里
have a bright future
年年有余
may there be surplus year after year
阖家幸福
wish your entire family happiness
心想事成
may all your wishes come true
步步高升
wish you get a promotion
蒸蒸日上
wish you become more prosperous every day
出入平安
wish you safety wherever you go
笑口常开
wear a smile often
学习进步
make progress in your study
生意兴隆
wish you a booming business
工作顺利
everything goes well with your work
龙凤呈祥
prosperity brought by dragon and phoenix
生龙活虎
full of life and energy
吉祥如意
good fortune
鲤鱼跃龙门
get rapid promotion