春節起源於殷商時期年末的大型祭祀活動。是當時中國最為熱鬧，也是最盛大的壹個古代傳統節日，也有的說法是春節在堯舜時期就有類似的活動，只是沒有形成規模。
The Spring Festival originated from the large sacrifice activities at the end of the shang dynasty. It was the most lively and the grandest traditional festival in ancient China at that time. Some people say that the Spring Festival had similar activities in the period of yao and shun, but it did not form a scale.
魏晉時期有了爆竹，當然這個跟現代的鞭炮完全是兩回事。只是壹種燃燒竹子發出劈啪聲響的祝賀形式。當然關於燃燒爆竹也有壹個神話故事。
In the wei and jin dynasties, there were firecrackers, which were totally different from modern firecrackers. It's just a crackling sound of burning bamboo. Of course there is a myth about burning firecrackers.
很久很久以前,在大海中,生活著壹種十分可怕的怪獸,叫年。年在每年的除夕夜,都會出來,吃人或家禽家畜,弄得民不聊生。人們都十分害怕他。除夕夜的前壹天,壹位老乞丐來到了壹位老太太家,向老太太乞討。
Long, long ago, in the sea, there lived a very terrible monster, called nian. Every year on New Year's eve, people would come out to eat people or poultry and livestock, leaving people in dire need. People were terrified of him. The day before New Year's eve, an old beggar came to an old lady's house and asked her for money.
老太太好心的給了他壹碗飯,壹邊悲傷地說：“唉!明天年就要來了,我們壹定活不成了!”老乞丐搖了搖頭,看著老太太的紅色衣服說：“年害怕紅色和爆竹聲,明天妳穿上紅衣,在家門口貼上紅色春聯,年壹來,就放鞭炮,可避免災禍。”
The old lady kindly gave him a bowl of rice and said sadly, "alas! Tomorrow year will come, we certainly can't live!" The old beggar shook his head and looked at the old lady's red clothes and said, "nian is afraid of red and the sound of firecrackers. Tomorrow you will wear red clothes and put red couplets on your front door.
第二天,年來了,大家便把鞭炮壹起點燃,鞭炮的聲音嚇跑了年。以後,人們年年的除夕都放鞭炮,年再也不敢來了。現在,人們放鞭炮,有辟邪,吉祥,保平安,喜慶,招財之意。
The next day, came, we will set off firecrackers together, firecrackers sound scared off nian. After that, people would set off firecrackers every New Year's eve. Now, people set off firecrackers to ward off evil, auspicious, safe, festive, fortune.