小年到十五 春节天天有讲究

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.

农历正月初一开始，就到了中国最重要的节日——春节。人们阖家团圆，就如同西方的圣诞节一样。

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.

传统意义上的春节始于农历腊月（即十二月）初，一直持续到来年的正月（即一月）中旬。随着中国的现代化，一些传统习俗被保留了下来，而另一些却逐渐消失在我们的视野中。

As we are preparing for the most important festival, let's have a review of the traditional customs that celebrate the Spring Festival.

在我们忙着准备这个重大节日的同时，不妨来回顾一下春节有哪些传统习俗吧。

腊月二十三：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.

农历腊月二十三日是小年，也是祭灶节。灶神在中国神话传说中监管一家善恶。

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.

人们在小年这一天祭拜灶神，焚烧灶神的画像，意味着送灶神上天，禀报这家人在过去一年的德行。接着人们会在灶旁贴上新的画像，意味着再把灶神接回来。

腊月二十四：扫舍去尘

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.

农历腊月二十四日，各家各户会进行大扫除扫舍去尘，预示着除旧迎新。

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.

根据传统，各路鬼神在农历腊月必须决定自己是返回天庭还是继续留在人间。据说为了确保鬼神及时启程离开，人们必须彻底地沐浴干净、清理住处，哪怕是抽屉柜子也不能疏忽。

腊月二十五：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.

农历腊月二十五日，人们推磨做豆腐，因为传说玉帝会在这一日降临人间，品尝豆腐渣，体味人间疾苦。

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.

道家神话里，玉帝是道家统治者，管理着天界及以下各界，包括人间和地狱。玉帝是中国传统宗教诸神中最重要的神祗之一。

腊月二十六：杀猪割年肉

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.

中国有一句俗语：“杀猪割年肉。”农历腊月二十六正是杀猪割年肉的日子。

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.

旧时许多人买不起肉，所以就把一年中最好的东西留到新年团圆饭吃。如今人们的生活质量得到了极大的改善，一日三餐里肉食已经再常见不过，但春节期间人们仍然钟爱肉食。

腊月二十七：宰鸡赶集

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.

腊月二十七是人们动手杀鸡、上市场打年货的日子。农历新年即将到来，中国人开始准备新年团圆饭所需的食材，而鸡肉是必不可少的一道菜。

腊月二十八：题写桃符

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.

扫舍除尘、采购食材之后，人们开始于腊月二十八日装饰房舍，营造喜气洋洋的节日氛围。各色装饰品包括春联、年画、门神贴画和剪纸。