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 hopes with the advent of spring and flowers blossoming. People from different regions and different ethnic groups celebrate it in their unique ways.
中國的春節，也被稱為農歷新年，迄今已有四千多年的歷史。對于中國人來說，這是規模最大，最重要的傳統節日。就如同西方的圣誕節一樣，春節是一家團聚的日子。春節起源于商朝(公元前11-17世紀)，為了慶祝全家團圓和表達對春暖花開的期盼，節日期間會準備豐富多彩的活動。不同地區和不同少數民族人們會用自己獨特的方式慶祝這一傳統節日。
Festival Time
節日時長
It comes on the first day of Chinese lunar calendar and lasts for almost half of a month. But in folk custom, this traditional holiday lasts from the 23rd day of the twelfth month to the 15th day of the first month (Lantern Festival) in the lunar calendar. Among these days, the New Year’s Eve and the first day of the New Year is the peak time. The exact days are different in every year according to the lunar calendar.
春節從農歷新年第一天開始，幾乎要持續一整個月。但在民間傳統中，這一節日從臘月23日就開始了，直到正月十五(元宵節)。在這些天里，除夕和春節第一天是最熱鬧的時候。根據農歷，每年除夕和春節所在的公歷日期都有所不同。
History
春節由來
It is said that the custom of Spring Festival started in when people offered sacrifice to ancestors in the last month of Chinese lunar calendar. At that time, people prepared the sacrifice by doing thorough cleaning, having bathes and so on. Later, people began to worship different deities as well on that day. It is the time that almost all the farm works were done and people have free time. The sacrificing time changed according to the farming schedule and was not fixed until the Han Dynasty (202BC-220AD). The customs of worshipping deities and ancestors remains even though the ceremonies are not as grand as before. It is also the time that spring is coming, so people held all kinds of ceremonies to welcome it.
據說，春節起初源于人們在農歷臘月祭祀先祖，在那期間，人們為了祭祀會做大掃除，沐浴換衣等等。后來人們開始在那一天敬奉神明。春節期間正好各種農耕活動結束，人們有空余時間。最開始的祭祀日期由于農耕活動并不固定，直到漢朝(公元前202年-公元220年)才固定下來。祭祀神明和先祖的傳統延續下來，但并不像以前那樣浩大。春節也是春天的開始，所以人們會舉辦各種儀式迎接春天的到來。
Legends
春節傳說
There are many legends about Spring Festival in Chinese culture. In folk culture, it is also called “guonian” (meaning “passing a year”). It is said that the “nian” (year) was a strong monster which was fierce and cruel and ate one kind of animal including human being a day. Human beings were scared about it and had to hide on the evening when the “nian” came out. Later, people found that “nian” was very scared about the red color and fireworks. So after that, people use red color and fireworks or firecrackers to drive away “nian”. As a result, the custom of using red color and setting off fireworks remains.
中國文化中有很多關于春節的傳說。在傳統文化中，春節亦被稱為“過年”。傳說“年”是一種兇猛異常的怪物，每天都會吃一種動物(包括人)。人們非常懼怕他，當“年”夜間出來活動時，人們會找地方躲起來。后來，人們發現“年”非常害怕紅色和爆竹，于是，人們用紅色和鞭炮來驅趕“年”。久而久之，春節用大紅色和放鞭炮的習俗就保留了下來。
Festivities Schedule
春節活動
Preparing the New Year starts 7 days before the New Year’s Eve. According to Chinese lunar calendar, people start to clean the house on Dec. 24, butcher on Dec. 26th and so on. People have certain things to do on each day. These activities will end Jan. 15th of the lunar calendar.
新年的準備工作在除夕前的七天就開始了。根據中國農歷，人們從臘月二十四開始打掃屋子，二十六日殺豬宰羊等等。每一天都有不同的活動，所有這些活動將在正月十五結束。