二十四节气

More than 2000 years ago, ancient Chinese people created an overall framework to mark the annual passage of time based on observations of the sun’s motion, called “The 24 Solar Terms”.

在两千多年以前,中国人通过观察太阳的运动轨迹,创立了二十四节气这个古老而科学的时间制度,称为“二十四节气”。

In the international meteorological field, the 24 solar terms are hailed as “the fifth great invention of China”,

在国际气象界,二十四节气被誉为中国“中国第五大发明”。

In 2016, the 24 solar terms were included in the UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

2016年,二十四节气被正式列入联合国教科文组织人类非物质文化遗产代表作名录。

The 24 solar terms are Start of Spring, Rain Water, Insects Awaken, Spring Equinox, Clear and Bright, Grain Rain, Start of Summer, Grain Buds, Grain in Ear, Summer Solstice, Minor Heat, Major Heat, Start of Autumn, The End of Heat, White Dew, Autumn Equinox, Cold Dew, Frost’s Descent, Start of Winter, Minor Snow, Major Snow, Winter Solstice, Minor Cold and Major Cold.

二十四节气具体包括立春、雨水、惊蛰、春分、清明、谷雨、立夏、小满、芒种、夏至、小暑、大暑、立秋、处暑、白露、秋分、寒露、霜降、立冬、小雪、大雪、冬至、小寒、大寒。

Summer Solstice and Winter Solstice are the two days of the year with the longest and shortest amount of daylight respectively, while Spring Equinox and Autumn Equinox are days with the most balanced amount of daytime and nighttime.

它分别以夏至、冬至作为一年之中白昼最长、最短的时间点,以春分、秋分作为昼夜最平衡的点。

Through these four points, a year is divided to four parts: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter.

通过这四个时间点,一年分为四个部分:春夏秋冬。

In ancient times, this system not only guided agricultural production, instructing farmers to expect the changes in temperature, spring planting and autumn harvest but also directed Chinese folk customs.

古时,这套时间制度不仅是农业生产的指南针,指导农民预测冷暖、春种秋收,还是民俗文化的风向标。

For example, Winter Solstice was the first one coined among the 24 solar terms, and later evolved into a festival to worship Heaven and ancestors.

例如,冬至是二十四节气中最早被制订的一个,后来逐渐演变成祭天祭祖的节日。

Every year at Winter Solstice, emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties(1368-1912) would go to the Temple of Heaven to hold a ceremony to worship Heaven, praying for good weather for their crops, and peace and prosperity for the country.

在明清时期(公元1368年—1912年),每逢冬至,皇帝便到天坛举行祭天大典,祈求来年风调雨顺,国泰民安。

Nowadays, the 24 solar terms could not only be applied to farming, but also guide Chinese in everyday life.

现在,二十四节气早已超越传统的农耕生活,深入到中国人的衣食住行。

They remind people to adapt to the changes in the seasons through suitable foods and cultural rituals.

它通过特殊的节令食物和文化仪式,提示人们顺应季节的交替。

Seasonal customs are still the rage, such as eating spring pancakes at Start of Spring, sweeping ancestors’ tombs at Qingming, gaining weight to keep warm at Start of Autumn and eating nutritious food to store energy at Start of Winter. They have actually become indispensable rituals in Chinese life.

节气饮食习俗依然流行,像立春日吃春饼、清明日扫墓踏青、立秋时贴秋膘,立冬补冬等鲜活的节气依然流行,成为了中国人生活中不可缺少的仪式感。

With the deepening of people’s understanding of traditional culture, cultural products inspired by the 24 solar terms have emerged, including creative cuisines and designs.

随着人们对传统文化的认知不断加深,以二十四节气为灵感的美食菜品,创意设计等文化产品层出不穷。

This ancient time system has gained new charm and vitality in the new era.

这个古老的时间制度在新时代焕发出新的魅力和生机。

The 24 solar terms are a common cognitive system among Chinese. It reflects the emotional bond, the wisdom and creativity of the Chinese, who respect and live in harmony with nature.

对中国人来说,二十四节气是一个共同的认知体系,体现的是一种集体认同的情感纽带,体现的是中国人尊重自然,与自然和谐相处的智慧和创造力。

It has a profound impact on the way people think and their codes of conduct.

它深刻影响着中国人的思维方式和行为准则。 作者:读书有三到我先到 https://www.bilibili.com/read/cv21042708/?spm_id_from=333.999.0.0 出处:bilibili… Read the rest

饺子就是家的味道

Chinese people like eating dumplings,jiao zi,for their delicious taste and auspicious meanings.

中国人喜欢吃饺子,因为它美味又有着吉祥的寓意。

Jiao zi are made of meat and vegetable filling,and enclosed in a pastry shaped like a half moon.

饺子是用面皮裹住肉和蔬菜混合的馅料,包裹成半月形。

They are boiled in water and eaten with sauces like vinegar.

用水煮熟,配上醋等调料来吃。

There are hundreds of fillings with different flavors.

中国的饺子有几百种馅料,各具风味。

The shape of jiao zi looks like the ancient currency of China called yuan bao.

因为饺子的形状像中国古代的货币——元宝。

People eat dumplings on the Chinese New Year wishing they will earn more money in coming year.

所以人们在过年的时候吃饺子,象征着这个家庭在新的一年有更多的收入。

There are many steps to make jiao zi.

饺子有很多道制作工序。

People even like to put a coin into one jiao zi and anyone who gets this coin will be lucky in the coming year.

人们还会在某一个饺子中包进一枚硬币,而吃到这个饺子的人在新的一年里会有好运气。

Making jiao zi together with the whole family creates a unique,harmonious atmosphere.

一家人围坐在一起包饺子氛围温馨。

Chinese believe that a hot bowl of jiao zi is full of the family’s love and affection.

在中国北方人心中,那一碗热腾腾的饺子就是家的味道。

作者:读书有三到我先到 https://www.bilibili.com/read/cv19235417/?spm_id_from=333.999.0.0 出处:bilibili… Read the rest

There is a Chinese saying that says, “The whole year’s work depends on a good start in spring.”

中国有一句古话,“一年之计在于春”。

As China has long been an agricultural country, for Chinese people, spring means the beginning of a whole year’s farming.

对于以农业立国的中国人来说,春季意味着一年农耕生活的开始。

There are six solar terms in spring: Start of Spring, Rain Water, Insects Awaken, Spring Equinox, Clear and Bright, and Grain Rain.

春季共包含立春、雨水、惊蛰、春分、清明,谷雨。

With these solar terms arriving in order, everything in the world wakes up from winter.

随着节气的推进,世间万物彻底从冬季中苏醒过来。

Start of Spring is the first of the 24 solar terms, which is considered the beginning of spring.

立春是二十四节气中的第一个,它被认为是春天的开始。

On this day, Chinese people have a custom of “biting spring” where they eat carrots or spring cakes to celebrate its arrival.

中国人在这一天有“咬春”的习俗,吃胡萝卜或春饼来庆祝春天的到来。

A shower of Rain Water awakens hibernating creatures.

一阵“雨水”催动冬眠的生物醒来。

The spring thunder surges after Insects Awaken, and then Spring Equinox falls, marking the true arrival of spring.

“惊蛰”这个节气之后,春雷乍动,随后便迎来“春分”,春天就真的来临了。

What follows is Clear and Bright time for spring outings.

接下来是“清明”踏青的时候了。

After finishing dates with blooming flowers, Grain Rain arrives, which is also the last solar term of spring. It indicates the hot summer is coming.

看完枝头的花,“谷雨”如期而至,这也是春天的最后一个节气,预示着一个热闹的夏天即将到来。

Picking tea leaves is an important spring activity in the Yangtze River basin in South China.

“采茶”是中国南方长江流域一项重要的春季生产活动。

Ancient Chinese agricultural production has long been guided by solar terms, and so has tea production.

古老的农业生产向来以节气为农事安排的指导,茶叶生产也是一样。

And tea leaves are ready to pick before Qingming, or Clear and Bright; people call tea picked at this time as Mingqian tea.

“清明”前就可采茶,我们把这时采摘的茶称为“明前茶”。

Because of the small output and good quality, Mingqian tea is considered very precious.

由于产量少、品质好,明前茶十分珍贵。

China has been a big tea producing country since ancient times.

中国自古以来就是茶叶生产大国。

Chinese tea culture has become part of people’s lives whether it’s in ancient courts or in modern society. It penetrates Chinese poetry, etiquette, religion and medicine.

茶文化渗透古今的宫廷和社会,深入中国的诗词歌赋、礼仪、宗教、医学。

According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China’s tea planting area has grown continuously in recent years, with an increase of more than 1.81 million hectares in 16 years since 2000.

国家统计局和农业农村部数据显示,中国茶叶种植面积近年来连续增长,自2000年起16年间增加181万公顷。

China’s annual tea production has ranked first in the world for several years in a row.

中国茶叶产量连续多年排名世界第一。

East China’s Zhejiang province is a major tea-producing place in the country.

浙江省是中国的产茶大省。

For example, White Tea in HuZhou city’s Anji county and West Lake Longjing Tea in Hangzhou are two renowned teas in both China and abroad.

例如,湖州市安吉县的白茶,杭州市的西湖龙井茶等等都享誉中外。

In spring, local hillsides are filled with tea workers as well as farmers sowing seeds on their land.

在春季除了田间播种,山坡上满是忙着采茶的茶农。

The beautiful scenery of tea farms in the countryside has also led to a tourism boom in these places.

美丽的乡间采茶还带动了现代旅游业。

Many families take their children to experience the fun of picking tea leaves during spring outings with singing, chatting and laughter echoing in the mountains.

很多家庭带着孩子前来体验春季采茶的乐趣,采茶小调和欢声笑语飘满山间。

Picking tea leaves reflects the simplicity and hard work of Chinese workers, which is also full of vitality.

采茶倾注着中国劳动人民的朴素与辛勤,充满了浓厚的生活气息。

The busy harvest in the fields starts from tea farmers, and then comes summer – a season for plowing and weeding.

田野间的忙碌从茶农开始,耕耘的夏天就要到来。 作者:读书有三到我先到 https://www.bilibili.com/read/cv21042899/?spm_id_from=333.999.0.0 出处:bilibili… Read the rest

Autumn is the season for harvest when tree colors change, birds migrate and farms are ready for cropping.

秋季是丰收的季节,草木变色,候鸟振翅迁徙,田地间硕果累累。

There are six solar terms in autumn: Start of Autumn, The End of Heat, White Dew, Autumn Equinox, Cold Dew and Frost’s Descent.

秋季共包含六个节气:立秋、处暑、白露、秋分、寒露、霜降。

Start of Autumn indicates autumn’s arrival but it’s not until the solar term of End of Heat that the summer heat will eventually disperse.

“立秋”预示着秋天的到来,而夏季的炎热真正消散则要等到“处暑”。

Starting with White Dew, the cool autumn days officially begins.

从“白露”开始,凉爽的秋季就真正开始了。

From Autumn Equinox to Cold Dew begins the golden time for harvest.

“秋分”至“寒露”这段时间是收获的大好时机。

It’s also the time when people in the Yangtze River basin and areas of the South get busy cropping late rice.

中国长江流域及南部广大地区正忙着晚稻的收割。

Starting with Frost’s Descent, the weather turns much colder and the first frost comes.

到“霜降”时,天气比以前冷得多。

People then have to find ways to keep frost from their plants and make preparations for winter.

人们便要对植物进行人工防霜,为过冬做准备。

During the autumn harvest season, rice terraces form a three-dimensional landscape in mountainous areas.

秋收之际,成熟后的水稻梯田勾勒出一幅立体的风景画。

They run about like a shining golden belt decorating the majestic mountains.

梯田像一条条美丽的金色腰带,装点着雄浑的大山。

The Longji terraces in Longji town Longsheng county South China’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region boast a history of more than 2300 years which is known as” home of terraced fields of the world”.

广西壮族自治区龙胜各族自治县龙脊镇的龙脊梯田,距今至少有2300多年历史,有“世界梯田园乡”之称。

Rice planting needs a large area of ponds. In Southeast China, however, there are more hills and fewer plain terrains suitable for planting rice.

水稻种植需要大面积的水塘。而在中国东南地区,丘陵较多,利于种植水稻的平原地形较少。

Local farmers thus use layers of dams to conserve water. This is how terraces are formed, making it possible to grow rice at a larger scale in hilly areas.

于是农民用一道道的堤坝涵养水源,构筑了梯田,使在丘陵地带大面积种植水稻成为可能。

The ancient people used their wisdom to solve food problems.

古人依靠智慧解决了粮食问题。

In 2018, the Chinese government set up the annual Autumn Equinox as the harvest festival for farmers.

2018年,中国政府将每年的“秋分”设立为中国农民丰收节。

On the day, people living in the Longji Mountain area will celebrate harvest in their centuries-old terraces with traditional dances and ritual activities.

龙脊山的人们会在“秋分”这一天,以传统舞蹈及祭祀活动于悠久的梯田之上庆祝丰收。

While China has a population of over 1.4 billion, it has a much smaller cultivated land per capita. Therefore, food problems have always been prioritized in the development of national economy and people’s livelihood.

中国人口超过14亿,人均耕地少。因此,粮食问题始终是关系国计民生的头等大事。

Yuan Longping, a Chinese scientist known as the “father of hybrid rice”, has led his research team to study high yielding rice for many years and has helped solve the problem of food shortage in China.

袁隆平,被誉为“杂交水稻之父”的中国科学家。平带领他的科研团队多年来潜心研究高产水稻,解决了中国的粮食短缺难题。

Whether it’s the terraced fields inherited from ancient times or today’s high-yielding rice, they manifest the survival wisdom of human beings.

从古老的梯田到如今的高产水稻都是人类的生存智慧。

Then comes winter, a time for hibernation and restoring energy in human bodies.

收获之后就该进入漫长的冬天蛰伏养息。 作者:读书有三到我先到 https://www.bilibili.com/read/cv21042989/?spm_id_from=333.999.0.0 出处:bilibili… Read the rest

The land of China ushers in summer with the calls of frogs and chirping of cicadas.

中国大地在蛙声和蝉鸣声中迎来了夏季。

There are six solar terms in summer: Start of Summer, Grain Buds, Grain in Ear, Summer Solstice, Minor Heat and Major Heat.

夏季共包含立夏、小满、芒种、夏至、小暑、大暑。

With the passing of each solar term, the hot period is coming, the crops grow vigorously, and it enters a busy season for farming.

随着节气的推进,炎热降临,农作物旺盛生长,农事进入繁忙的季节。

Entering the Start of Summer temperatures rise significantly.

进入“立夏”气温明显升高。

When it’s Grain Buds, the grains of summer crops grow full.

小满时夏熟作物的籽粒逐渐灌浆饱满。

During Grain in Ear, people harvest summer crops and sow autumn crops, making it the busiest time of the year.

芒种期间,夏熟作物要收获,夏播秋收作物要下地,是一年中最忙的时节。

The longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere is the Summer Solstice.

北半球一年中日照时间最长的一天是夏至。

The position of direct sunlight on the earth reaches the northernmost end of the year, almost directly on the Tropic of Cancer.

太阳直射地面的位置到达一年的最北端,几乎直射北回归线。

Minor Heat means that the sizzling summer heat officially begins.

小暑意味着盛夏酷热正式开始。

It’s not the hottest times though. The hottest is what follows, Major Heat.

小暑虽不是一年中最炎热的时节,但紧接着就是一年中最热的大暑。

There is a Chinese saying that goes” Minor Heat, Major Heat, drenched in sweat.”

民间有“小暑大暑,上蒸下煮”之说。

Chengde Mountain Resort in North China’s Hebei province was where Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) emperors took breaks and handled government affairs in summer. As one of the four famous gardens in China, it took 89 years to complete.

位于河北省的承德避暑山庄是清代皇帝夏天避暑和处理政务的场所,是中国四大名园之一,耗时89年建成。

Empress Dowager Cixi, an important figure in the late Qing Dynasty, also set up a palace there.

慈禧太后,清朝晚期的重要人物,在这里还设置了寝宫。

It’s said that watermelon is one of the most favored fruits of Cixi.

传闻中,慈禧太后最钟爱的水果之一便是西瓜。

Every summer, she ate a lot of sweet watermelons.

每到夏季,都要享用清甜的西瓜解暑。

Chinese people’s love for watermelon has actually lasted for thousands of years.

中国人对于西瓜的喜爱已经持续了上千年。

Watermelon is a must have summer fruit for Chinese people.

西瓜是中国人必备的消夏良品。

Since China’s reform and opening-up, the country’s watermelon industry has made great progress and China has become the world’s largest watermelon producer and consumer.

改革开放以来,我国西瓜产业得到了长足的发展,成为世界上最大的西瓜生产国和消费国。

China has various regions suitable for growing watermelons throughout the country.

中国从南到北皆有适合种植西瓜的区域。

The tastes and sweetness of watermelon differ from place to place due to different soil environments and climates.

产地的土壤及气候环境的不同赋予了西瓜不同的口感与甜度。

According to statistics, there are nearly 2000 registered watermelon varieties in China, and the annual planting area reaches about 2.3 million hectares, ranking first in the world.

根据数据统计,目前中国已登记的西瓜品种接近2000个,年播种面积约保持在3500万亩,持续位居世界第一。

The joy of consuming icy cold watermelon only belongs to summer. Once entering autumn, it is easy to get sick from eating the fruit. As the weather turns cooler, the busy autumn harvest nears.

冰镇西瓜的快乐只属于夏天。一旦进入立秋,再吃西瓜就有伤身的说法了。随着天气转凉,秋收的忙碌也即将开始。

作者:读书有三到我先到 https://www.bilibili.com/read/cv21042971/?spm_id_from=333.999.0.0 出处:bilibili… Read the rest

As the temperature gradually drops in winter, some animals begin to hibernate, and most plants fall into a long period of dormancy.

冬季随着气温逐渐降低,一些动物开始冬眠,大部分植物也都落叶进入漫长的休眠。

The six solar terms in winter are Start of Winter, Minor Snow, Major Snow, Winter Solstice, Minor Cold and Major Cold.

冬天的六个节气分别是立冬、小雪、大雪、冬至、小寒、大寒。

Start of Winter marks the cold season’s beginning when people stockpile harvested crops.

“立冬”是冬季的开始,人们将收割完的作物储藏起来。

Entering the period of Minor Snow, Southern Chinese people start to pickle meat. When the temperature drops and the weather gets dry, it’s a decent opportunity to make preserved meat.

在“小雪”时,南方人开始腌腊肉。气温下降,天气干燥,是加工腊肉的好时候。

During Major Snow, rivers in North China become frozen and people go skating.

“大雪”时,北方河流结冰,人们可以尽情地滑冰嬉戏。

The day of Winter Solstice is the day with the shortest period of daylight of the year.

“冬至”时白昼最短。

On that day, people in the north eat dumplings while their southern counterparts consume rice dumplings instead.

那一天,中国北方冬至要吃饺子,而南方则吃汤圆。

Minor Cold and Major Cold are the last two of the 24 solar terms of the year.

“小寒、大寒”是全年二十四节气中的最后两个节气。

The weather turns bitterly cold and foods that will warm your body become a must eat, for example, lamb.

天气酷寒,温补食材成为餐桌上的必备佳肴,如羊肉等。

Winter fishing and hunting culture also enrich Chinese people’s dining tables.

冬季的渔猎文化同样丰富了中国人的宴席。

From mid-December to January the following year, winter fishing in Chagan Lake in Northeast China’s Jilin province adds warmth and vitality to people’s lives during snowy and icy days.

每年12月中旬到次年一月,中国东北部吉林省的查干湖冬捕,使人们在一片冰天雪地之间热闹起来。

According to legend, the emperor of the Liao Kingdom (AD 916-1125) loved eating “iced fish”。Every year in the last month of the Chinese lunar calendar, he would lead his family to camp on the frozen Chagan Lake, breaking the ice and fishing.

相传古时辽国的皇帝爱吃“冰鱼”。每逢腊月,便率领家眷浩浩荡荡来到冰冻的查干湖上扎营,破冰捕鱼。

This ancient method of winter fishing has been passed down today.

这一古老的冬捕方式延续至今。

Every winter, an ice and snow fishing and hunting cultural tourism festival is held at Chagan Lake attracting flocks of tourists from other parts of China and abroad, which has also helped boost the local economy.

每年冬季冰雪渔猎文化旅游节都在查干湖举办,吸引很多国内外的游客前来观看,拉动了当地旅游经济的发展。

In 2008, Fishing in Chagan Lake was approved by the State Council China’s cabinet as a state-level intangible cultural heritage.

2008年查干湖冬捕被国务院批准确定为国家级非物质文化遗产。

In addition to eating the right food for winter, the healthiest winter lifestyle is exercise.

除食补过冬以外,最为健康的过冬方式便是运动了。

In China’s Northeastern region where ice is frozen for thousands of miles, skiing and ice skating are common winter activities setting off a popular winter sports craze for all locals.

在千里冰封的东北地区,滑雪、溜冰是冬季常见的热闹场面,掀起了全民参与的冬季运动热潮。

Beijing will host the 24th Winter Olympic Games in 2022 when China will welcome athletes from all over the world.

2020年,北京市将举办第24届冬季奥林匹克运动会,中国的冬天将与来自世界各地的奥运健儿结缘。

Under the snow, the winter season pulses with vitality.

白雪皑皑的冬季之下蕴藏着生机。

People live on their wisdom and tenacity waiting for the arrival of spring.

人们依靠智慧与坚韧等待着春天的到来。 作者:读书有三到我先到 https://www.bilibili.com/read/cv21059214/?spm_id_from=333.999.0.0 出处:bilibili… Read the rest

元宵节,中国人的狂欢节

Lantern Festival,the earliest existing carnival in China,falls on the 15th day of the first lunar month.

元宵节,中国人的狂欢节,是在农历的正月十五。

Its arrival also marks the end of Spring Festival celebrations.

它的到来也预示着春节庆祝活动的结束。

It is customary to appreciate the beauty of lanterns at night during Lantern Festival.

元宵节素有热闹喜庆的观灯习俗。

Large scale lantern exhibitions are held throughout the country.

全国各地会举办大型的花灯展览活动。

The Zigong Lantern Show in Southwest China’s Sichuan province and Yuyuan Lantern Show in East China’s Shanghai are representative lantern shows with traditional local characteristics

中国西北部四川省的自贡灯会,上海豫园元宵等会等,都是极具传统性和地方特色的灯会。

The Qinhuai Lantern Show in Nanjing,East China’s Jiangsu province,is one of the most famous shows in China,dating back more than 1700 years.

中国东部江苏省南京市的秦淮灯会,是中国最著名的灯会之一,已有1700多年历史。

It is held annually during Lantern Festival and runs for more than 50 days,which is inscribed one of China’s first national intangible cultural heritages

共持续50多天,是中国首批国家级非物质文化遗产。

It is also longest running,most attended and grandest lantern show in China.

也是中国持续时间最长,参与人数最多,规模最大的民俗灯会。

Gu Yeliang ,a native of Nanjing,is an inheritor of Qinhuai Lantern making a national intangible cultural heritage.

顾业亮,南京本地人,是秦淮灯彩国家级非物质文化遗产代表性传承人。

He began to make lanterns at the age of eight.

他8岁开始灯。

Over the past 40 years,he has traveled to 47 countries and sent the art of Qinhuai lantern to foreign skies.

40多年来,他走遍47个国家,将秦淮彩灯为代表的中国灯艺送上了异国的天空。

With the increasing number of Chinese living abroad,the world is gaining interest and accepting Chinese culture.

随着海外华人数量的增加,世界也越来越了解和接受中国文化。

Lantern shows are held every year in many parts of the world to celebrate Lantern Festival.

在海外很多城市,每年也都举办灯会庆祝元宵佳节。

Today,Auckland,the largest city in New Zealand,has successfully hosted 20 Lantern Festival shows

如今,奥克兰,新西兰第一大城市,已成功举办20届元宵灯会。

There are also regional differences in China’s lantern art culture.

中国的灯艺文化也存在着地域差异。

Lantern with lit candles are signatures of the South.

花灯是南方的标志。

In Northeast China,Lantern Festival in Harbin,Heilongjiang province,boasts a one-of-a-kind scenery.

在中国东北,黑龙江省哈尔滨市的元宵节,拥有独一无二的风景。

Glittering and translucent ice sculptures in different shapes create a fairytale of crystallized reflections of colors and light.

晶莹剔透、造型各异的冰雕在炫丽灯光下营造出一个冰雪童话世界。

In addition to viewing lanterns,there is another custom of Lantern Festival that cannot be missed,eating tangyuan,or glutinous rice balls.

除了观灯之外,元宵节还有一项习俗不能错过,那就是吃汤圆或元宵。

The fillings can be sweet,such as sesame or jujube paste,or savory,with minced meat or vegetables.

馅料可以是甜的,比如芝麻或者枣泥,或咸的,也可以加肉末或蔬菜。

These sweet and round delicacies are molded from glutinous rice flour,symbolizing the wholesomeness of family.

糯米粉揉成圆圆的团子,象征家庭圆满。

Sometimes people will pick out a tangyuan and put in a special “stuffing”,such as a coin.

有时候人们还会在一锅元宵里挑出一颗放入特殊的“馅儿”,如一枚消过毒的硬币。

The one lucky person who bites onto that coin is said to be blessed with good luck in the new year.

预示着吃到的人将在新的一年里财运红旺。

Lantern Festival is the last day of Chinese New Year celebrations.

元宵节是春节的最后一天。

For those working or studying away from home,it is time to bid farewell to their families and set out on a journey in a broad new year.

对于在外工作和求学的游子来说,他们即将惜别团聚,满怀乡思,再次踏上新一年的征程。 作者:读书有三到我先到 https://www.bilibili.com/read/cv21059353/?spm_id_from=333.999.0.0 出处:bilibili… Read the rest

农历正月初一是春节

The first day of the first lunar month is Spring Festival, the beginning of a new year for China.

农历正月初一是春节,对中国人来说是新一年的开始。

Spring Festival is China’s biggest extravaganza and a day for family reunion.

春节是中国最盛大的节日,也是家庭团聚的日子。

Being around family members at the turn of the year is a vital ritual for the Chinese people.

在新旧交替的时刻陪伴在家人身边,是中国人至关重要的仪式感。

Many of those living away from their hometowns return home during Spring Festival, which gives rise to what’s called “the largest annual human migration in the world”, also known as the “Spring Festival travel rush”.

身处异乡的人们集中在春节期间返乡,形成了一年一度“全球最大规模的人口迁徙”,也就是“春运”。

The Spring Festival celebration is a continuous process, starting from the 23rd or 24th of the 12th lunar month.

春节是一个持续的庆祝过程,从农历十二月二十三或二十四的小年起,就算春节的开始了。

People often worship the Kitchen God, clean their houses, do their shopping and put up Spring Festival couplets(blessing words posted on door frames) until New Year’s Eve on the lunar calendar.

人们会开始祭灶神、大扫除、买年货、贴春联等一直忙碌到农历十二月三十的除夕。

These customs can be traced back to a Chinese legend.

这个习俗来源于中国神话传说。

It is said that in ancient times, there was a monster named Nian, who would come out and harm the world by the end of each lunar year.

相传在远古时代,有一种怪兽叫“年”,每逢新旧岁之交,便出来危害人间。

People then took measures to send the monster away, such as putting up red couplets as Nian detested the color red, and setting off fireworks and firecrackers at their doors to scare it away.

人们随后采取措施把怪兽赶走,比如贴红联,因为“年”讨厌红色,并在门口燃烟花、放鞭炮,以吓走年。

In addition to staying up late on New Year’s Eve, having a New Year’s Eve dinner and watching the Spring Festival Gala are two important customs of Spring Festival.

除守岁以外,吃年夜饭和看春晚也是中国人在春节的两项重要习俗。

New Year’s Eve dinner are manifested in different ways in different parts of China.

年夜饭有不同讲究。

Those in South China must have a dish of fish, because “fish” in Chinese sounds similar to the character for “prosperity” symbolizing an abundant and comfortable life.

南方的年夜饭必有一道鱼,因为鱼在汉语中寓意“年年有余”的富足生活。

Those in North China often eat dumplings, which symbolize “reunion” and “fortune”.

而北方则吃饺子,有“喜庆团圆”和“吉祥如意”的寓意。

The Spring Festival Gala is a variety TV program broadcast annually to celebrate the lunar New Year.

春节联欢晚会,是每年除夕夜晚为庆祝农历新年举办的综艺性文艺晚会。

The gala attracts the largest audience of any entertainment show in the world, and runs for more than four hours, making it the longest TV show in the world.

春晚吸引了世界上最多的观众,节目时长超过4个小时,是世界上最长的电视节目。

It is often hailed as a cultural feast for Chinese people on New Year’s Eve.

它是中国人的文化年夜饭。

There is also a custom of of giving and receiving red envelopes, or hongbao.

春节还有发红包的习俗。

Traditionally, adults placed money into red envelopes and gave them to the children to wish them peace and good luck in the coming year.

长辈把钱放进红色信封里,把它们送给孩子们,祝愿他们在新的一年里平安、好运。

Nowadays, with the popularization of mobile payment in China, it is a trend to send red envelopes digitally.

如今中国移动支付的普及使手机发红包成为潮流。

The internet can deliver New Year’s wishes to each and every loved one, even if they are thousands of miles away.

便捷的网络能将人们的新年祝福第一时间传递给每一位亲友,即使他们远在千里之外。

The joyous atmosphere of Chinese New Year will linger until the first full moon of the first lunar month.

跨年之后,新年的欢乐气氛要一直持续到正月第一个月圆。

Then the Lantern Festival is celebrated, which is bound to be another busy day.

到了元宵节,又将是一个热闹非凡的日子。 作者:读书有三到我先到 https://www.bilibili.com/read/cv21059285/?spm_id_from=333.999.0.0 出处:bilibili… Read the rest