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每年都有那么一段時間，全中國的各大火車站長途汽車站、飛機場都會異常忙碌，在外地工作的人們，拖著行李，有的攜著年幼的孩子，帶著一年收獲，迫切地要趕回到家鄉、趕到父母的身邊，和家人團聚，這段時間里，包含著一個中國人最隆重的節日——春節。 Every year in China, there is always a period of time. During which, all railway stations, long-distance bus stations and airports are extremely busy. People, who work away from hometown, will take their luggage and their children, hurriedly come back to their hometown, and get together with their parents and family members. During this period Chinese people will celebrate their most important festival- the Spring Festival.
在中國，春節是一年中最重要的節日，它既是舊的一年的結束，更是新的一年的開始。據記載，除了漢族，中國還有38個少數民族在過這個節日而且其歷史非常悠久。
In China, the Spring Festival is the most important festival in a year. It marks the end of the previous year and the beginning of the new year. According to historical records, along with Han people, 38 ethnic minorities in China also celebrate this festival since a long time.
春節這種習俗，在中國已經傳承了幾千年了，起源于農業的祭祀，就是說一年的收成完了以后，大家都要慶祝一番。
The Spring Festival as a custom has been celebrated in China for thousands of years. It originated from sacrifice ceremonies in the agricultural society. It is to say, after the harvest, people would have a celebration.
過春節，中國人也叫過年。為什么又叫過年呢？剛才說到，中國春節最初的含意來自于農業。古時候，人們把谷的生長周期稱為“年”。
The celebration of the Spring Festival is also called the celebration of Nian (Year) in China. Why so? Just now, we know that the Spring Festival originated from agriculture. In ancient times, people will call a growth circle of corps as Nian.
中國的漢字寫這個“年”的時候，按照古老的這個習俗就是一個人拿著一個麥穗，拿著一個禾苗、麥子。
The writing of the Chinese character, Nian(年), in the tradition way, looks like a person with a wheatear, a seedling and a wheat.
從這一點上也說明了中國春節與農業的關系。其實，關于“年”的來歷還有很多傳說，其中一個傳說是這樣的。
It also explains the relationship between Chinese Spring Festival with agriculture. In fact, there are many legends about Nian. One of them goes like this.
老人說，“年”本來是個海里的怪獸，一到年三十（春節前夜），怪獸上岸后會破壞谷物和牲畜，弄得一團糟，怪獸最怕火光，鞭炮聲，大家就把門都關上了，在院里放炮。
Old people say that, “Nian” was a monster in the sea. Every year at the eve of new year, this monster will climb ashore to destroy crops and animals. But it was afraid of fire and the sound of firecrackers. People all closed the door and fired firecrackers in the yards.
雖然這是個傳說，不過，過年放鞭炮的習俗確至今保持著。現在，人們放炮放花，主要是圖個喜慶，用熱熱鬧鬧的鞭炮聲宣告新的一年的到來。那么，什么時候過春節呢？
Although it is only a story, the custom of firing fireworks during the Spring Festival is still popular today. Now, people fire crackers to announce the arrival of the new year. Then, when do people celebrate the Spring Festival?
中國現在用的是兩種歷法，一個是公元歷，一個就是農歷，從漢代（公元前206—公元220）開始一直到今天我們都是按照農歷的正月初一來過（春節）。
Now people in China still use two calendars. One is the Gregorian calendar. The other is the lunar calendar. From Han Dynasty, 206 BC -220 AD, people all celebrate Spring Festival at the first day of the first lunar month every year.
農歷是中國傳統的歷法，相傳始創于公元前2000多年前的夏朝，全年有354或355天。雖然從1911開始中國采用了現在國際通行的格里高利歷法，但是農歷現在依然在中國人的生產和生活中起著重要的作用。
The lunar calendar is the traditional calendar in China. It is said the lunar calendar was created more than 2000 years ago in Xia dynasty. The whole year has 354 or 355 days. Although, since 1911, China has adopted the internationally general calendar- the Gregorian calendar. But the lunar calendar still plays an important role in the life of Chinese people.
春節是在農歷每年的一月一日，但在公歷上，春節日期卻不是固定的，大約在公歷的一月下旬到二月上旬這個階段。
The Spring festival is the first day of the first lunar month each year. However, the Spring Festival does not have a fixed date on the Gregorian calendar. It ranges from the last ten days of January to the first ten days of February.
