小年到十五 春節天天有講究
Spring Festival, which falls on the 1st day of the 1st lunar month is the most important festival in China and a time for family reunion, like Christmas in the West.
農歷正月初一開始，就到了中國最重要的節日——春節。人們闔家團圓，就如同西方的圣誕節一樣。
Traditionally, Spring Festival starts in the early days of the 12th month of the lunar calendar and lasts until the middle of the 1st lunar month of the following year. With the modernization of China, some traditional customs are still followed today, but others have fallen by the wayside.
傳統意義上的春節始于農歷臘月（即十二月）初，一直持續到來年的正月（即一月）中旬。隨著中國的現代化，一些傳統習俗被保留了下來，而另一些卻逐漸消失在我們的視野中。
As we are preparing for the most important festival, let's have a review of the traditional customs that celebrate the Spring Festival.
在我們忙著準備這個重大節日的同時，不妨來回顧一下春節有哪些傳統習俗吧。
臘月二十三：送灶上天
Little New Year, which falls the 23rd day of the 12th month in the Lunar calendar, is also known as the Festival of the Kitchen God, the deity who oversees the moral character of each household.
農歷臘月二十三日是小年，也是祭灶節。灶神在中國神話傳說中監管一家善惡。
People make sacrifices to the Kitchen Gold on this day. A paper image is burnt dispatching the god's spirit to Heaven to report on the family's conduct over the past year. The Kitchen God is then welcomed back by pasting a new paper image of him beside the stove.
人們在小年這一天祭拜灶神，焚燒灶神的畫像，意味著送灶神上天，稟報這家人在過去一年的德行。接著人們會在灶旁貼上新的畫像，意味著再把灶神接回來。
臘月二十四：掃舍去塵
Families undertake thorough house cleaning on the 24th day of the 12th month in the Lunar calendar, sweeping out the old in preparation for the coming year.
農歷臘月二十四日，各家各戶會進行大掃除掃舍去塵，預示著除舊迎新。
According to tradition, ghosts and deities must choose either to return to Heaven or to stay on Earth during the last month of the year. It is believed that to ensure the ghosts and deities' timely departure, people must thoroughly clean both their bodies and their dwellings, down to every last drawer and cupboard.
根據傳統，各路鬼神在農歷臘月必須決定自己是返回天庭還是繼續留在人間。據說為了確保鬼神及時啟程離開，人們必須徹底地沐浴干凈、清理住處，哪怕是抽屜柜子也不能疏忽。
臘月二十五：推磨做豆腐
People turn the mill and make tofu on the 25th day of the 12th month in the Lunar calendar, as legend says the Jade Emperor will descend and taste the soybean curd residue to experience an austere life.
農歷臘月二十五日，人們推磨做豆腐，因為傳說玉帝會在這一日降臨人間，品嘗豆腐渣，體味人間疾苦。
According to Taoist mythology, the Jade Emperor is the Taoist ruler of Heaven and all realms of existence below, including that of Man and Hell. He is one of the most important gods of the Chinese traditional religious pantheon.
道家神話里，玉帝是道家統治者，管理著天界及以下各界，包括人間和地獄。玉帝是中國傳統宗教諸神中最重要的神祗之一。
臘月二十六：殺豬割年肉
The folk saying goes: "butcher a pig and get some meat to prepare for the New Year feast" on the 26th day of the 12th month in the Lunar calendar.
中國有一句俗語：“殺豬割年肉。”農歷臘月二十六正是殺豬割年肉的日子。
In the old days, many people could not afford meat and they saved the best for the New Year feast. People's livelihoods have improved greatly and meat is now a very common dish in daily diet, but the Chinese still prefer having meat during festival season.
舊時許多人買不起肉，所以就把一年中最好的東西留到新年團圓飯吃。如今人們的生活質量得到了極大的改善，一日三餐里肉食已經再常見不過，但春節期間人們仍然鐘愛肉食。
臘月二十七：宰雞趕集
People kill chickens and go to market to buy provisions for the Spring Festival on the 27th day of the 12th month in the Lunar Calendar. With the approach of the Lunar New Year, Chinese people prepare ingredients and food they need for the New Year feast. Chicken is an indispensible dish.
臘月二十七是人們動手殺雞、上市場打年貨的日子。農歷新年即將到來，中國人開始準備新年團圓飯所需的食材，而雞肉是必不可少的一道菜。
臘月二十八：題寫桃符
After people have cleaned the house and started preparing food, they begin decorating their homes creating an atmosphere of rejoicing and festivity on the 28th day of the 12th month in the Lunar Calendar. Decorations include spring couplets, New Year pictures, posters of door gods and paper-cuts.
掃舍除塵、采購食材之后，人們開始于臘月二十八日裝飾房舍，營造喜氣洋洋的節日氛圍。各色裝飾品包括春聯、年畫、門神貼畫和剪紙。
Spring Festival, which falls on the 1st day of the 1st lunar month is the most important festival in China and a time for family reunion, like Christmas in the West.
農歷正月初一開始，就到了中國最重要的節日——春節。人們闔家團圓，就如同西方的圣誕節一樣。
Traditionally, Spring Festival starts in the early days of the 12th month of the lunar calendar and lasts until the middle of the 1st lunar month of the following year. With the modernization of China, some traditional customs are still followed today, but others have fallen by the wayside.
傳統意義上的春節始于農歷臘月（即十二月）初，一直持續到來年的正月（即一月）中旬。隨著中國的現代化，一些傳統習俗被保留了下來，而另一些卻逐漸消失在我們的視野中。
As we are preparing for the most important festival, let's have a review of the traditional customs that celebrate the Spring Festival.
在我們忙著準備這個重大節日的同時，不妨來回顧一下春節有哪些傳統習俗吧。
臘月二十三：送灶上天
Little New Year, which falls the 23rd day of the 12th month in the Lunar calendar, is also known as the Festival of the Kitchen God, the deity who oversees the moral character of each household.
農歷臘月二十三日是小年，也是祭灶節。灶神在中國神話傳說中監管一家善惡。
People make sacrifices to the Kitchen Gold on this day. A paper image is burnt dispatching the god's spirit to Heaven to report on the family's conduct over the past year. The Kitchen God is then welcomed back by pasting a new paper image of him beside the stove.
人們在小年這一天祭拜灶神，焚燒灶神的畫像，意味著送灶神上天，稟報這家人在過去一年的德行。接著人們會在灶旁貼上新的畫像，意味著再把灶神接回來。
臘月二十四：掃舍去塵
Families undertake thorough house cleaning on the 24th day of the 12th month in the Lunar calendar, sweeping out the old in preparation for the coming year.
農歷臘月二十四日，各家各戶會進行大掃除掃舍去塵，預示著除舊迎新。
According to tradition, ghosts and deities must choose either to return to Heaven or to stay on Earth during the last month of the year. It is believed that to ensure the ghosts and deities' timely departure, people must thoroughly clean both their bodies and their dwellings, down to every last drawer and cupboard.
根據傳統，各路鬼神在農歷臘月必須決定自己是返回天庭還是繼續留在人間。據說為了確保鬼神及時啟程離開，人們必須徹底地沐浴干凈、清理住處，哪怕是抽屜柜子也不能疏忽。
臘月二十五：推磨做豆腐
People turn the mill and make tofu on the 25th day of the 12th month in the Lunar calendar, as legend says the Jade Emperor will descend and taste the soybean curd residue to experience an austere life.
農歷臘月二十五日，人們推磨做豆腐，因為傳說玉帝會在這一日降臨人間，品嘗豆腐渣，體味人間疾苦。
According to Taoist mythology, the Jade Emperor is the Taoist ruler of Heaven and all realms of existence below, including that of Man and Hell. He is one of the most important gods of the Chinese traditional religious pantheon.
道家神話里，玉帝是道家統治者，管理著天界及以下各界，包括人間和地獄。玉帝是中國傳統宗教諸神中最重要的神祗之一。
臘月二十六：殺豬割年肉
The folk saying goes: "butcher a pig and get some meat to prepare for the New Year feast" on the 26th day of the 12th month in the Lunar calendar.
中國有一句俗語：“殺豬割年肉。”農歷臘月二十六正是殺豬割年肉的日子。
In the old days, many people could not afford meat and they saved the best for the New Year feast. People's livelihoods have improved greatly and meat is now a very common dish in daily diet, but the Chinese still prefer having meat during festival season.
舊時許多人買不起肉，所以就把一年中最好的東西留到新年團圓飯吃。如今人們的生活質量得到了極大的改善，一日三餐里肉食已經再常見不過，但春節期間人們仍然鐘愛肉食。
臘月二十七：宰雞趕集
People kill chickens and go to market to buy provisions for the Spring Festival on the 27th day of the 12th month in the Lunar Calendar. With the approach of the Lunar New Year, Chinese people prepare ingredients and food they need for the New Year feast. Chicken is an indispensible dish.
臘月二十七是人們動手殺雞、上市場打年貨的日子。農歷新年即將到來，中國人開始準備新年團圓飯所需的食材，而雞肉是必不可少的一道菜。
臘月二十八：題寫桃符
After people have cleaned the house and started preparing food, they begin decorating their homes creating an atmosphere of rejoicing and festivity on the 28th day of the 12th month in the Lunar Calendar. Decorations include spring couplets, New Year pictures, posters of door gods and paper-cuts.
掃舍除塵、采購食材之后，人們開始于臘月二十八日裝飾房舍，營造喜氣洋洋的節日氛圍。各色裝飾品包括春聯、年畫、門神貼畫和剪紙。
