【优凸教育 • 好老师一对一】双语阅读 春节习俗

今天已经是大年初七了，新年的气氛似乎也没有那么强烈了，同学们也收拾好行囊踏上了学习之路。

传统的中国年，年味儿十足！来回顾初一到初六有哪些习俗吧~ 

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

大年初一，也被称为“金鸡报晓”，严格上来说开始于除夕的午夜。

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

人们会按照传统燃放鞭炮，制造尽可能大的喧闹噪声来驱赶邪恶的年兽。

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

但最主要的是，人们会去给家里的长辈们拜年，来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.

家里长辈们都会给晚辈们（通常是儿童和青少年）发红包（中国人又叫“压岁钱”），这代表着一种祝福，祈愿着家人能够在新的一年里身体健康，万事如意。

On the second day, married daughters usually go back to their own family to visit parents, relatives and close friends. 

大年初二，出嫁的女儿通常会回娘家，给自己的父母和亲戚好友拜年。

Traditionally, married daughters didn't have the opportunity to visit their birth families frequently.

按照传统，出嫁的女儿平时并没多少机会拜访娘家父母。

Some believe the second day is also the birthday of all dogs and remember them with special treats.

一些人认为大年初二还是所有犬类的生日，所以要记得在这一天多给他们一些好吃的。

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

大年初三，俗话称为“肥猪拱门”，预示着好运和幸福的到来。

Traditionally, the third day is known as "Chigou's Day". 

按照传统，大年初三又被称为“赤狗日”。

Chigou literally means "red dog", an epithet of "the God of Blazing Wrath", and it is considered an unlucky day to have guests or go visiting.

“赤狗”的字面意思是“红色的狗”，绰号又叫“熛怒之神”。这一天如果有人登门或是出门拜年都不太吉利。

Folklore says the 3rd day is also "rat marriage day" (Chinese: lao shu qu qin), so people often go to bed earlier to give rats time for their wedding.

民间传说，大年初三还是“老鼠结婚”的日子（中文叫做“老鼠娶亲”），因此这天人们都会早早上床休息，留时间给老鼠们去娶亲。

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.

俗话说的“三羊开泰” 则与大年初四有关。三羊开泰的意思是——岁首吉利，诸事顺遂。

According to folklore, it is also the day to welcome back the Kitchen God. 

依据民间传说，这一天还是恭迎灶神回民间的日子。

On this day, the Kitchen God would check the household and therefore people should not leave home.

在这一天，灶神会挨家挨户地清点人数，因此这一天切忌外出离家。

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

大年初五也被称为“牛日”。

According to Chinese folklore, the first seven days of the 1st lunar month are respectively called"day of chicken", "day of dog", "day of pig", "day of sheep", "day of cow", "day of horse" and "day of man". 

根据中国民间传说，正月的头七天分别被称为“鸡日”、“犬日”、“猪日”、“羊日”、“牛日”、“马日”和“人日”。

When creating all living beings on earth, Nu Wa, a goddess in Chinese mythology, created the six creatures before human beings.

中国传统神话中的女神女娲，在创造凡间生物时就是遵循了这个顺序，在创造人类之前先创造了这六种生物。

女娲——中国神话中的女神，创造世间万物的时候，在造人之前先创造了这六种动物。

The fifth day is also the God of Fortune's birthday and people will celebrate this day with a large banquet. 

大年初五还是财神的生日，人们通常会举办盛宴来庆祝这一天。

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.

民间，这一天也被称为“破五（日）”。依照传统，到了这一天，许多新年期间的禁忌都可以被打破了。

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

大年初六，人们互相祝愿对方“马到成功”，寓意“马上就会获得成功”。

According to tradition, families usually send away the Ghost of Poverty on this day. 

按照传统，家家户户都会在这一天送“穷鬼” 。

To send away him, Chinese people will usually throw away their ragged clothes, rubbish and other dirty things. By doing this Chinese people wish to send away poverty and welcome the beautiful days and good luck in the New Year.

为了把穷鬼送走，中国人通常会将破烂的衣服、垃圾和其他脏东西丢掉。人们希望这样做能够将贫穷送走，并在新年迎来好日子和好运气。

好啦，就到这里啦！作为炎黄子孙，希望我们都记得这些属于自己的传统。