Chinese New Year’s Customs and Traditions

◎李姗姗

新年（春节）是中国最重要的传统节日之一。这个节日有着丰富多彩的习俗和传统，让我们一起来了解一下吧！

As Chinese New Year approaches, a series of customs and traditions, rich in cultural heritage, mark this festive season.These customs not only1)deepen the festive atmosphere but also show the strong familial bonds in Chinese culture.

Little New Year: worship of the Kitchen God

The Little New Year, usually a week before the lunar New Year, occurs on the twenty-third or twenty-fourth day of the twelfth lunar month.It is also known as the Festival of the Kitchen God.It is believed that on this day, the Kitchen God comes to Heaven to report on the family’s activities throughout the year.To ensure a favorable report, families prepare sweet foods like sesame sugar pancakes, hoping to sweeten the Kitchen God’s words and bring good fortune for the coming year.

Preparing for the New Year

In the days following, several rituals and preparations take place.On the twentyfourth day, households engage in a thorough cleaning, symbolizing the sweeping away of bad luck to make room for incoming good fortune.This tradition, known as“sweeping the dust”, involves cleaning every corner of the house,washing2)utensils, and clearing away cobwebs, to set the stage for a fresh start.On the twenty-sixth day, families begin buying New Year’s goods and preparing festive meals.The twentyseventh day and twenty-eighth day are marked by3)purchasing and preparing various items needed for the celebration, including making staple foods for the family reunion dinner.

New Year’s Eve: a day of vigilance and celebration

The last day of the twelfth lunar month, either the twenty-ninth or thirtieth day, depending on the lunar calendar, is New Year’s Eve.This day is filled with busy preparations, including a significant activity known as “visiting the graves of ancestors” to pay respects and seek blessings.At night, families stay up late or “keep vigil” to ward off the mythical beast—Nian, symbolizing the warding off of evil spirits.

The first day of the New Year: greetings and red envelopes

On the first day of the New Year, families exchange greetings and blessings.Elders give red envelopes to younger family members as a symbol of good luck.Traditional meals, including dumplings in the north and wontons in the south, are enjoyed,symbolizing prosperity and longevity.

The second day of the New Year: family reunions

The second day, known as the “day of the first outing”,is when daughters who have married return to their parents’ homes with their husbands.This day is significant for newlyweds, as they follow specific customs, such as bringing pairs of gifts to signify harmony.

Subsequent days: various customs and rituals

The following days, up to the fifteenth day, are filled with various customs.For example, the fifth day, is significant for business, marking the day for welcoming the God of Wealth.On the seventh day,people usually make a special dish made of seven types of vegetables, symbolizing the hope for a bountiful harvest.

These customs, steeped in history and tradition, not only mark the4)advent of the New Year but also reinforce the value of family, respect for the past, and hope for a prosperous future.

1) deepenv.加深

2) utensiln.器具

3) purchasev.购买

4) adventn.到来

词组加油站

be filled with 充满……

stay up 熬夜

ward off 阻挡

随着中国新年的临近，一系列充满文化底蕴的习俗和传统标志着这个节日的开始。这些习俗不仅增强了节日气氛，而且体现了中华文化中强烈的家庭纽带。

小年：祭拜灶神

小年通常是农历新年的前一周，即腊月二十三或腊月二十四，也被称为灶神节。人们相信在这一天，灶神升天向天庭报告一年来家庭的活动。为了确保有利的报告，家家户户准备甜食，如芝麻糖饼，希望灶神多说好话，为来年带来好运。

为新年做准备

接下来的几天会进行几项仪式和准备。腊月二十四，家家户户进行大扫除，象征着扫除坏运，为即将到来的好运腾出空间。这一传统，被称为“扫尘”，包括清洁房屋的每一个角落，洗涤器具，清除蜘蛛网，为新的开始打下基础。腊月二十六，家家户户开始购买新年物品并准备节日餐食。腊月二十七和二十八标志着购买和准备庆祝新年活动所需的各种物品，包括制作年夜饭的主食。

除夕：缅怀与庆祝的一天

农历十二月的最后一天，可能是腊月二十九或三十，是除夕。这一天充满了忙碌的准备，包括一项重要的民俗活动——“祭祀先祖”，以寄托哀思和寻求祝福。到了晚上，人们会熬夜或“守岁”，以驱逐神话中的怪兽——年，象征着驱逐邪灵。

新年第一天：问候与红包

在新年的第一天，家庭成员互相问候和祝福。长辈会给晚辈红包，这是一种好运的象征。人们会享用传统的餐食，比如北方吃饺子，南方吃馄饨，这些象征着繁荣和长寿。

新年第二天：家庭团聚

新年的第二天，被称为“初次外出的日子”，是已嫁女儿带着丈夫返回父母家的日子。对于新婚夫妇来说，这一天尤其重要，他们遵循特定的习俗，比如带上成双成对的礼物，以象征和谐。

后续日子：各种习俗和仪式

接下来的日子，一直到正月十五，还有各种习俗。例如，大年初五，对于商家来说是重要的一天，这一天要迎财神，祈求一年财源广进。大年初七，人们会用七种蔬菜煮成七宝羹，祈求大丰收。

这些习俗，浸透了历史和传统，不仅标志着新年的到来，而且强化了家庭的价值、对过去的尊重以及对繁荣未来的希望。