同城友约

  Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year (春节), or Spring Festival or the Lunar New Year (农历新年), is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. The festival proper begins on the first day of the first lunar month (正月) in the Chinese calendar and ends on the 15th; this day is called the Lantern festival (元宵节).

春节（农历新年）是中国最重要的传统节日，从农历正月初一至十五（元宵节）。

Festivities 春节期间的活动

The Chinese New Year celebrations are marked by visits to kin, relatives and friends, a practice known as "new-year visits" (拜年). New clothings are usually worn to signify a new year. The color red is liberally used in all decorations. Red packets are given to juniors and children by the married and elders.

春节期间的一项重要活动是走亲访友，即“拜年”。其它活动还包括：穿新衣、用红色进行装饰、送红包等。

Days before the new year

On the days before the New Year celebration, Chinese families give their home a thorough cleaning.

春节前几天，家里要彻底打扫一番。

Reunion dinner 

A reunion dinner is held on New Year's Eve where members of the family, near and far, get together for the celebration.

年夜饭：在除夕夜，不论远近的家人都要聚到一起庆祝新年。

New Year practices 春节习俗

Red packets 红包

Red packets are also known as 压岁钱 (Ya Sui Qian, which was evolved from 压祟钱, literally, the money used to suppress or put down the evil spirit ) during this period.

红包也称为压岁钱。“压岁钱”源自“压祟钱”，是用来压住祸祟的钱。

Fireworks 烟花

Bamboo stems filled with gunpowder that were burnt to create small explosions were once used in ancient China to drive away evil spirits.

在中国古代的时候，在竹竿里装上火药，点燃后产生爆炸声，用来驱走怪兽。

Shou Sui 守岁

守岁（Shou Sui) occurs when members of the family gather around throughout the night after the reunion dinner and reminisce about the year that has passed while welcoming the year that has arrived. Some believe that children who Shou Sui will increase the longevity of the parents.

吃完年夜饭，全家人聚在一起守岁，回忆往昔，迎接新年。有些人认为，孩子守岁会有助于父母长寿。

http://www.answers.com/topic/chinese-new-year