介紹中國傳統春節年俗的英語文章
Spring Festival is the most important holiday for Chinese people. Excitement and happiness are palpable this time of the year， and they reach the peak on lunar new year‘s eve.
春節對于中國人來說是最重要的節日。在每年的春節都讓人興高采烈，尤其是大年三十那晚，更是達到了高潮。
Though the 15-day period， which starts with the first day of the lunar new year and ends on the 15th day (known as Lantern Festival)， is relatively long， it is the busiest time of the year for Chinese people. The arrangements they have to make for family reunions， buying necessities and preparing food keeps them busy throughout the holiday. Many of them travel back home and meet friends over dinner and drinks. The celebrations include decorating the house and setting off fireworks.
春節歷時15天，也就從大年初一開始，到元月十五元宵節結束。這段比較長的時間是中國人最忙的時候。他們為家庭聚會作安排，采購年貨，準備豐盛的食物，以至于整個春節假期都忙忙碌碌的。許多人在春季期間都要回老家過年，跟朋友碰碰頭，聚個餐。慶祝春節也包括大掃除和放煙火。
But we are talking about a tradition that seems to be fading.
但是我們現在要談的是越來越淡的年味。
Spring Festival， as it is celebrated today， has undergone many changes， thanks to the country‘s economic development and globalization.
現在的春節已經因為我國經濟的發展和全球化的影響而改變了很多。
Yet no Spring Festival is complete without food. People could not get good food whenever they desired in earlier times， something that does not apply to society today. More often than not， people faced the risk of famine. The best time for people to celebrate was when food was available in plenty， and that was possible in spring， or the beginning of the lunar new year. That was the main reason why Spring Festival acquired such great importance among Chinese people.
但是沒有哪個春節是完全離得開“吃”的。從前，不論人們提前多久想要買年貨，總是不能如愿，而現在早已今非昔比。過去常常還要鬧饑荒。人們最好的慶祝時間就是他們能得到食物豐盛的時候，也就是春天或是元月初的那段時間。那也是為什么春節對于中國人如此重要的主要原因。
But three decades of economic growth has ensured that people in China， except for those who are still poor， can enjoy a good meal whenever they want. Such has been the change in people‘s fortune that some have to be treated for obesity and other health problems associated with excessive eating.
但是三十年來的經濟發展已經讓中國人，除了那些仍然窮苦的人以外，隨時都能享受美食。這得益于人民財富的增長，但是后者也導致一些人吃得太多而受到肥胖威脅和健康問題。
In the past， celebrations were limited to events like song-and-dance duets in North China， dragon/lion dances in South China and fireworks， which required the joint efforts of the entire community. But economic development and urbanization seems to have weakened the social links among people. Many， especially those living in cities， are not interested in celebrating the festival with people they hardly know.
在過去，慶祝春節還只停留在北方的二人轉和南方的舞龍舞獅等形式。那些慶祝活動往往需要許多人合力才能辦得起來。但是經濟的發展和國際化程度的提升似乎已經將這種社會聯系弱化了。許多人，特別是城市居民，不太愿意與不相識的人一起共度春節。
Many customs associated with Spring Festival have changed， too. In the past， people used to visit relatives and friends with gifts and lots of good wishes. Today， many people， especially the youth， use their cell phones or the Internet to send their good wishes and even "gifts" to their relatives and friends. Some may say this a sign that people have become less caring about their near and dear ones， but we should see this development as a time- and energy-saving exercise granted by the information age.
與春節相關的許多習俗也被改變了。在過去，人們常常會帶著禮物走親訪友，互道祝福。今天許多人，特別是年輕人，用手機或是網絡向親朋好友發去“禮物”和祝福。有些人或許會說，這說明人們已經沒有那么關心至愛親朋了，但是我們應該把這種變化看作信息化時代省錢省力的好辦法。
In recent times， many people have started praying for a career promotion or more money instead of invoking God or the Buddha for a healthy and long life and the welfare of their family. But the number of such people is decreasing now， which shows that people are becoming more reasonable.
最近幾年，許多人開始祈禱事業高升，財源滾滾，而不是求神拜佛，他們身體健康，長命百歲，家庭美滿。但是這樣的人數現在正在減少，說明人們開始變得更加理性。
廣州的春節
派利市紅包傳達吉祥意
春節派利市，這是廣東春節的習慣。不過，最早的利市是跟錢無關的，它始于漢代，是一種類似于錢幣一樣的東西，拿來辟邪的吉祥物。后來老人家就用紅線把它串起來，串一串，就在年三十晚，壓在小孩的枕頭下，給他辟邪，叫壓祟�，F在改為年歲的歲，最初應該是鬼鬼祟祟的“祟”，后來使用了銅錢，串一串銅錢�，F在，大家是封一個紅包，表示利市，也是壓歲。
由于廣州較早就發展了商品經濟，老廣州講意頭、祈求生意興隆的心愿在廣州的年文化中表現得尤為突出。廣州的紅包不叫壓歲錢，叫“利市”便源于此。此外，給沒結婚的人派利是是極具嶺南特色的做法，這一習俗據說最早傳自香港。
過人日七寶羹同慶生日
大年初七這天，廣州人會過“人日”，民間叫“人日”“人勝節”或“七元日”。據民間傳說，女媧造人時，前六天分別造出了雞、狗、羊、豬、牛和馬，第七日造出了人，因此，漢民族認為，正月初七這一天是人類的生日。
過去，這一天早飯時，要吃由七種菜(一般芹菜、香菜、韭菜、蔥、蒜為必需，另外兩樣可靈活掌握)制成的“七寶羹”(又稱“七樣菜”)及“薰天餅”(在露天中煎成)等。解放以前，人日這天青年男女結伴到郊外游玩，評選“人日皇后”，中選者主持一天的話動;一家老小則登觀音山(即今天的越秀山)或白云山;女的去神廟參神，男的到花地賞花或拜黃大仙廟。據考證，人日所游花地的地址，就是今天的芳村花地灣。而近幾年，人日游花地這一傳統也恢復了。
趕生菜會生財發財愿長久
相傳正月二十六這天子時是觀音菩薩大開金庫貸款助民致富的時刻。因此，每逢此時大批善男信女都會到觀音廟進香，祈求觀音菩薩開恩“借錢”。所以，每當觀音“開庫”，觀音廟就格外熱鬧。
在1937年出版的《舊歷新年廣州人的風俗》第2卷第87期上，有一段生菜會的記載：“生菜會，郊野各鄉村都舉行。大家都在郊外席地大吃生菜，非常的熱鬧。唱八音，演戲的亦有。據說，這樣做了，年成必好，故盛裝的男女也紛紛去參加”。其中，會場有一個小池，里面預先放有許多蜆與螺，赴會者探手水中，摸得螺者生子，摸得蜆者生女。整個生菜會的寓意歸納起來就是六個字：生財·發財·長久。芳村坑口與黃埔的生菜會，已舉辦多年。那天無論是誰，認識不認識主人家，只要湊夠8個人一桌，就會給你上菜。去的人越多，主人家就越高興。
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