双语阅读：初一到十五 春节习俗知多少

春节习俗

大年初一：金鸡报晓

The first day of Chinese New Year, also known as the "day of chicken", officially begins at midnight.

午夜零点时分，人们正式跨入新年第一天，也叫“金鸡报晓”。

It is traditional to light firecrackers and make as much of a din as possible to chase off the evil monster nian.

传统习俗是，人们会燃放鞭炮，尽可能制造大的喧闹声赶走邪恶的妖怪“年”。

Most importantly the oldest and most senior members are visited with the visits strengthening family kinship.

最重要的习俗是，人们会拜访家中最年长的长辈，以加强家人之间的亲情。

Senior members of the family hand out red envelopes containing cash (Chinese: ya sui qian), a form of blessing and to suppress aging and the challenges of the coming year, to junior members of the family, mostly children and teenagers.

而家中的长辈会给晚辈（主要是儿童和青少年）红包（中国人称之压岁钱），代表着对晚辈的祝福，也是祈祷自己在来年身体康健、万事如意。

大年初二：金吠报春

On the second day, married daughters usually go back to their own family to visit parents, relatives and close friends. Traditionally, married daughters didn't have the opportunity to visit their birth families frequently.

初二，出嫁的女儿会回娘家给父母、亲人和密友拜年。旧时，女儿出嫁后拜访娘家父母的机会并不多。

大年初三：肥猪拱门

On the third day, an old saying goes: "A fat pig at the door", meaning the arrival of good luck and happiness.

初三，有一句俗语“肥猪拱门”，预示着好运和幸福的到来。

大年初四：三羊开泰

The old saying "three rams bring bliss" is connected with the fourth day, which says that by making a good beginning a happy end comes.

初四则和俗语“三羊开泰”有关，意思是岁首吉利就预示着岁末幸福。

大年初五：艮牛耕春

The fifth day is also called the "day of cow".

初五也被称为“牛日”。

The fifth day is also the God of Fortune's birthday and people will celebrate this day with a large banquet. This day is also commonly known as the Festival of Po Wu, literally breaking five. According to custom, it is believed that many New Year taboos can be broken on this day.

初五还是财神的生日，人们会举办盛宴以示庆祝。这天也被称为“破五日”，字面意思是打破数字五。根据习俗，许多新年禁忌过此日皆可破。

大年初六：马到成功

On the sixth day, people make wishes for "ma dao cheng gong", win success immediately upon arrival.

初六，人们祈祷“马到成功”，意思是成功马上就会到来。

According to tradition, families usually send away the Ghost of Poverty on this day. To send away him, Chinese people will usually throw away their ragged clothes, rubbish and other dirty things.

各家各户在初六有送“穷鬼”的传统。人们会扔掉破烂的衣服、垃圾和其他脏东西，预示送走穷鬼。

大年初七：人寿年丰

The seventh day is commonly referred as the "day of man", and in most parts of China people will eat noodles as they symbolize longevity in Chinese culture.

初七是“人日”，中国各地人民都会吃面条，因为面条在中国文化里寓意长寿。

大年初八：放生祈福

The eighth day is believed to be the birthday of millet, an important crop in ancient China.

初八被认为是中国古代一种重要粮食——谷的生日。

大年初九：玉皇天诞

The ninth day is called Ti Kong Dan, or the birthday of the Jade Emperor. There will be grand ceremonies in Taoist temples on this day, and ordinary families also offer sacrifices to the Jade Emperor.

初九被称为“天公诞”，即玉帝的生日。这一天，道家寺庙会举办华丽隆重的庆典，寻常人家也会祭祀玉帝。

大年初十：祭石感恩

The 10th day is believed to be the birthday of the God of Stone which played a very important role in the agricultural society of ancient China.

初十被认为是石头神的生日，在古代中国的农业社会占有非常重要的地位。

On this day, people are forbidden to move any stone, including stone rollers, stone mills and herb grinders, and should not cut into a mountain for rock or build a house with rocks, otherwise bad things will happen to the crops.

这一天切忌移动石头，包括石碾、石磨、研磨器具等等，也不能开山采石或用岩石建房子，否则这年庄稼就会遭殃。

正月十一：祭奉紫姑

People make offerings to Zi Gu, the guardian angel for weak women, on the 11th day.

正月十一，人们供奉紫姑，紫姑是可怜女子的守护神。

This day is also for Yuefu (fathers-in-law) to entertain Nuxu (sons-in-law).

这一天也是岳父宴请子婿的日子。

In many areas, after this day, people will start preparing for the upcoming Lantern Festival which is on the 15th day of the 1st month.

许多地方在这天之后会开始准备即将到来的灯节——正月十五。

正月十二：搭建灯棚

Families buy lanterns and build a lantern shack on the 12th day.

家家户户会买灯笼，然后在正月十二建一个灯笼棚。

正月十三：灶下点灯

On the 13th day, preparations for Lantern Festival continue.

正月十三，继续准备元宵节。

正月十四：娘娘诞辰

The 14th day is the birthday of the Goddess of Linshui, who is believed to protect women from dying in childbirth. People make offerings to the goddess on this day.

正月十四是临水娘娘的生日，临水娘娘是拯救难产妇女的神仙。人们在这一天供奉临水娘娘。

正月十五：夜照田蚕

The 15th day of the 1st lunar month is commonly celebrated as Yuan Xiao Jie, or Lantern Festival. The festivities of the Chinese New Year reach a climax on this day.

正月十五一般被称为元宵节或者灯节，中国新年庆祝活动在这一天达到顶峰。

Since early morning, dragon and lion dancers parade on streets crowded with people. In the evening families go out together to enjoy the full moon and appreciate colorful lanterns and also solve lantern riddles.

一大早，街上就挤满了人群，观看舞龙舞狮。晚上，全家人会一同外出享受满月，欣赏缤纷多彩的灯笼，一起猜灯谜。

Chinese people also eat yuan xiao, a traditional food made of glutinous rice flour which symbolizes family togetherness and reunion.

人们还会吃一种由糯米做成的传统美食——元宵，寓意阖家团圆。

This day officially marks the end of Chinese New Year celebrations.

这一天往往为中国新年庆祝活动划上句点。