春节马上就要到了，如何向外国朋友解释这个中国人心中重要的节日呢？又如何向他们介绍春节的习俗，从而让他们融入到中国新年的喜庆氛围中呢？有心的小耐姐特意为大家整理了一些如何用英语简单介绍春节的干货，下次再见到外国朋友，就不怕没什么好说的啦！
What is Spring Festival？
春节是什么
Spring Festival falls on the 1st day of the 1st lunar month, often one month later than the Gregorian Calendar. It originated in the Shang Dynasty (1600 BC - 1100 BC) when people always sacrificed to gods and ancestors at the end of an old year and the beginning of a new one.
Strictly speaking, Spring Festival starts the end of the 12th lunar month and will last till the mid 1st lunar month of the next year. The most important days are Spring Festival Eve and the first three days. Most people will have a week off , this time is known as “Golden Week”.
春节，又叫农历新年，是中国民间隆重、热闹的一个节日，是举家欢庆团团圆圆的大好时节，就像西方的圣诞节一样。春季是每年农历正月初一，通常比公历新年要晚一个月。它起源于殷商时期年头岁尾的民间祭祖活动。严格来讲，春节不只是一天的庆祝，而是从农历的12月底到新年的正月十五。重要的几天当属除夕夜和新年头三天。春节是法定假日，大家一般都会放七天假，又叫做黄金周。
Spring Festival Tavel Rush
春运
Spring Festival is the most important festival for Chinese people and is when all family members get together, just like Christmas in the West. All people living away from home go back which makes it the busiest time for transportation systems. Airports, railway stations and long-distance bus stations are crowded with people leave or return home.
对中国人来说，春节是重要的节日，春节是家里所有的成员相聚的时刻，就像西方的圣诞节一样。所有远离家乡的人都会回来，形成交通系统繁忙的时刻。机场、火车站和长途汽车站挤满了回家的人们。
Family Reunion Dinner
年夜团圆饭
Spring Festival is a time for Chinese to get the whole family reunion. On Chinese New Year’s Eve (Chu Xi), the whole family always sit at table to have a big dinner to celebrate new year together. This meal is usually made by the entire family, and that makes it the most important and meaningful meal of the year. Some of the dishes contain beautiful and best wishes for the coming new year.
春节是一个合家团圆的日子，在除夕夜，全家都合家团圆一起共享除夕大餐。这顿饭通常是全家总动员，每个人都要参与，也通常是一年之中丰盛美味的一餐。在年夜饭中，有一些美好象征意义的美食是必备的。
Firecrackers
鞭炮
Lighting firecrackers used to be one of the most important customs in Spring Festival celebrations. However, concerning the danger and the noises that lighting firecrackers may bring, the government has banned it in many major cities. However people in small towns and rural areas still hold this traditional celebration. At 12 o’clock on New Year’s Eve, cities and towns are lit up with the glitter from fireworks, and the sound can be deafening.
放鞭炮曾是春节庆祝活动中重要的习俗之一。然而，担心燃放鞭炮可能会带来危险和烦人的噪音，政府已在许多大城市下令禁止燃放鞭炮。但在小城镇和地区的人们仍然坚持这种传统的庆祝活动。除夕夜午夜12点钟，城市和乡镇都被烟花的闪闪光芒映亮，鞭炮声震耳欲聋。
Red Packet/Lucky Money
红包/压岁钱
Children love Spring Festival because they can receive red packets! A red packet is simply a red envelope with lucky money in it, which symbolizes luck and wealth. In Chinese traditional culture, red is considered as a lucky color and a red packet is believed to ward off evil spirits and bring good fortune to the receivers. Traditionally, elder generations give red packets to the younger generations. Nowadays, this extends to close friends, neighbors, and even some companies give year-end bonus by red packets.
孩子们偏爱过春节，因为春节有红包！红包就是在一个红包的小红包里装上压岁钱，寓意为幸运和财富。在中国传统文化中，红色是幸运色，大家相信红包能帮人赶走霉运，带来幸福富贵。在过去，都是长辈给晚辈红包，但是现在这个概念已经扩大到朋友、邻居之间，有些公司也会把年终奖金放到红包里面发放。
Chinese Zodiac
中国生肖
The Chinese zodiac are comprised of 12 animals in the sequence of Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. The coming new year is the year of Rat. Each animal represents a different “personality”. According to legend, people held a conference with all the animals, informing them the first 12 animals would be named the 12 representatives of the zodiac. However, in spite of being fast, the cat was not picked as its close friend back then, the rat, did not wake him up. This the reason why cats always hate rats from then on.
中国的十二生肖代表了十二种动物，他们的顺序是：鼠、牛、兔、龙、蛇、马、羊、猴、鸡、狗和猪。今年是猴年。每一种动物有他们自己的“性格”。根据传说，人们当初和动物们开了一个会，优先到会的动物们就可以进入十二生肖。而身为猫很好的朋友，老鼠却没有把猫叫醒去开会。因此，它们之前的战争一直持续到今天。
春节将至，英耐商务英语祝大家春节快乐！诸事顺利！Happy Spring Festival! Best wishes! 想要提升商务英语技能和跨文化沟通能力，快来找有趣、有才、有颜、有料的小耐姐021-22060635/22060638吧！
