The Spring Festival(春节) is the most important holiday in China, also known as the Chinese New Year. To the Chinese people, it is as important as Christmas(圣诞节)to the westerners(西方人). It falls on the 1st day of the lunar(农历) January. Before the Spring Festival, people usually clean and decorate (装饰) their houses. And they go to the Flower Fairs (花市) to buy some flowers. During the Spring Festival, the adults usually give lucky money (压岁钱) in red envelops(红包) to their children. On the eve of the lunar New Year’s Day, people often get together to have a big meal. Some people eat dumplings (饺子) for dinner. Paper cutting (剪纸), writting red couplets (对联) and burning firecrackers (鞭炮) are the traditional activities during the Spring Festival.
　　 In recent years, the Spring Festival party broadcast on China Central Television Station (CCTV) is an essential entertainment (娱乐) program for the Chinese both at home and abroad. According to the custom, each family will stay up to see the New Year in.
　　 春节是中国最重要的节日,也被称为中国的新年。春节对中国人来说,如同圣诞节对西方人那么重要。春节在每年的农历正月初一。在春节以前,人们通常会进行大扫除和装饰房屋,还会到花市去买一些花。春节期间,大人们通常将压岁钱装在红包里发给孩子们。在除夕,人们通常合家团圆在一起吃年夜饭。有些人会在晚餐时吃饺子。剪纸、写对联和放鞭炮都是春节的传统活动。
　　 近年来,中央电视台的春节联欢晚会对国内外的中国人来说,都是十分重要的娱乐节目。按照习俗,每家都会等待新年的到来,称为“守岁”。
　　
　　春节英语词汇 Spring Festival Vocabulary
　　敬酒 propose a toast
　　灯笼 lantern
　　烟花 fireworks
　　爆竹 firecrackers
　　红包 red packet / red envelop
　　舞狮 lion dance
　　舞龙 dragon dance
　　灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
　　灯会 exhibit of lanterns
　　守岁 staying-up
　　拜年 pay new year’s call; give new year’s greetings; new year’s visit
　　祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one’s ancestors
　　压岁钱 gift money / lucky money
　　辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
　　大扫除 spring-clean / thorough cleanup