過年的來歷
Spring Festival is the most important holiday for Chinese people. Excitement and happiness are palpable this time of the year， and they reach the peak on lunar new year‘s eve.
春節對於中國人來說是最重要的節日。在每年的春節都讓人興高采烈，尤其是大年三十那晚，更是達到了高潮。
Though the 15-day period， which starts with the first day of the lunar new year and ends on the 15th day (known as Lantern Festival)， is relatively long， it is the busiest time of the year for Chinese people. The arrangements they have to make for family reunions， buying necessities and preparing food keeps them busy throughout the holiday. Many of them travel back home and meet friends over dinner and drinks. The celebrations include decorating the house and setting off fireworks.
春節歷時15天，也就從大年初壹開始，到元月十五元宵節結束。這段比較長的時間是中國人最忙的時候。他們為家庭聚會作安排，采購年貨，準備豐盛的食物，以至於整個春節假期都忙忙碌碌的。許多人在春季期間都要回老家過年，跟朋友碰碰頭，聚個餐。慶祝春節也包括大掃除和放煙火。
But we are talking about a tradition that seems to be fading.
但是我們現在要談的是越來越淡的年味。
Spring Festival， as it is celebrated today， has undergone many changes， thanks to the country‘s economic development and globalization.
現在的春節已經因為我國經濟的發展和全球化的影響而改變了很多。
Yet no Spring Festival is complete without food. People could not get good food whenever they desired in earlier times， something that does not apply to society today. More often than not， people faced the risk of famine. The best time for people to celebrate was when food was available in plenty， and that was possible in spring， or the beginning of the lunar new year. That was the main reason why Spring Festival acquired such great importance among Chinese people.
但是沒有哪個春節是完全離得開“吃”的。從前，不論人們提前多久想要買年貨，總是不能如願，而現在早已今非昔比。過去常常還要鬧饑荒。人們的慶祝時間就是他們能得到食物豐盛的時候，也就是春天或是元月初的那段時間。那也是為什麽春節對於中國人如此重要的主要原因。
But three decades of economic growth has ensured that people in China， except for those who are still poor， can enjoy a good meal whenever they want. Such has been the change in people‘s fortune that some have to be treated for obesity and other health problems associated with excessive eating.
但是三十年來的經濟發展已經讓中國人，除了那些仍然窮苦的人以外，隨時都能享受美食。這得益於人民財富的增長，但是後者也導致壹些人吃得太多而受到肥胖威脅和健康問題。
In recent times， many people have started praying for a career promotion or more money instead of invoking God or the Buddha for a healthy and long life and the welfare of their family. But the number of such people is decreasing now， which shows that people are becoming more reasonable.
最近幾年，許多人開始祈禱事業高升，財源滾滾，而不是求神拜佛，他們身體健康，長命百歲，家庭美滿。但是這樣的人數現在正在減少，說明人們開始變得更加理性。
年的傳說
Chinese people held the first New Year Festival more than 3,000 years ago. Farmers gave thanks for the harvest and prayed. They asked the gods for good crops in the coming year.
中國人慶祝中國傳統新年已經有3000多年的歷史了，農民感謝上蒼賜予好的收成，同時禱告來年有好的收成。但是關於慶祝新年的背後，有壹個故事，下面就是關於慶祝新年的傳說。
But there is a story behind all the celebration, below is the legend of how the Chinese New Year celebration began.
據傳，有壹個食人野獸叫“年”，有壹張能壹口吃掉好幾個人的血盆大口。這個怪物在山上找不到吃的的時候，就會下山到附近村莊，攻擊和吃掉所有能吃的動物，包括人。村民們整個冬天都在恐懼中度過。
According to legend, there was a man-eating wild monster "Nian" with an extremely large mouth, capable of swallowing several people in a single bite. This beast appeared in a country village, towards the end of winter when there was nothing to eat it would visit the villages and attack and eat whatever it could. The villagers would live in terror over the winter.
據傳說，有壹個人吃的野生怪物“年”壹個非常大的口，吞咽幾個人在壹個單壹的叮咬。此獸出現在鄉村，對冬季結束時，有沒有吃的，它會到村裏去，什麽能吃就吃什麽，所以整個冬天村民都生活在恐懼之中。
The next year it returned and the same thing happened. The monster seemed too strong to be defeated. So all the villagers would take their old and young deep into the mountains to hide from Nian.
來年冬天，怪獸如期而至，同樣的悲劇再次發生，怪獸之強壯非常人能夠擊倒，所以所有村民都攜帶全家老小到深山躲藏，以避免成為“年”的食物
One day, a wise old man passed through the village and told an old woman, "I will teach you how to scare Nian away!"
有壹天，壹個充滿智慧的老人經過村莊，告訴壹個老婦人：“我叫妳怎麽把年嚇跑”。
That evening when Nian arrived at the village, he saw that all the houses were dark except the house in which an old woman lived. Nian approached the house, licking his lips in anticipation. Suddenly, the deafening noise of firecrackers sounded endlessly.
當天晚上，當年踏進村子時，它見村裏所有的屋子沒有燈光，除了那個老夫人家亮著燈。年靠房子，舔著嘴唇，期待著自己的晚餐。突然，震耳欲聾的鞭炮聲在耳邊響個不停。
The monster was startled and jumped. Suddenly he realized that the house was covered in red paper. This scared him even more and it ran off into the mountains. When the villagers returned they saw that the old woman was unharmed! People later learned that "nian" was afraid of loud noises and the color red, The villagers came together and agreed that when it was time for Nian's annual visit towards the end of winter they would start a fire in front of every door and not go to sleep but rather make noise.
“年”被鞭炮聲嚇得跳起來，突然發現那個房子外面貼著紅紙，這個把怪獸嚇得落荒而逃，村民回到村莊發現老婦人毫發無傷。後來，村民知道了這個叫“年”的怪獸害怕噪聲和紅色，於是村裏的村名都贊同，在“年”下壹次“光顧”村莊的時候，家家戶戶都在門前點起火，守歲然後制造“動靜”。
The following year, the villagers were ready for it. They set off firecrackers, lit all their lamps and decorated their houses in red, they paste red paper on the doors, wear red clothing, hang up red lanterns. They made loud music, play the gong and drums and they dance and burn the fireworks whenever Nian was about to arrive, to scared away the beast.
第二年，村名們都做足了準備，他們準備好了鞭炮，點燃了所有的燈，把房子裝飾橙紅色，在門上貼紅紙，穿紅色的衣服，手裏拎著紅燈籠。她們敲鑼打鼓大聲彈唱，跳舞，走到哪裏鞭炮就點到哪裏。
Nian had not come down the mountain to cause any trouble thereafter.
年從此以後再沒敢到這個村裏惹麻煩了
This eventually become a tradition of China and leads to the celebration for another year of safe life. Chinese people celebrate in remembrance of this legend and still continues till today!
這就成了中國的壹個傳統，慶祝壹年的平安，中國人以此傳說慶祝新年，直到今天。