在中國人的觀念裡，新舊的交替就在今天「春節」。這是一年中最大的節日，也是全家歡聚的日子。無論是哪國人只要看到大街小巷，那張燈結綵的美景，就可以猜出一定是一個不小的節日。
在孩子們的心裡，春節是最盼望的、最高興的日子，孩子們可以在一起快樂一陣子。因為是過年嘛，大人也很少去管他們，也一定有不少好吃的，好玩的東西，這一來也解了不少的饞。總之，「過大年，大人忙到了頭，小孩樂到家」。
說「大人忙到頭」這一點都不假，過年前一個月大人就開始準備了。總是這三大類：吃的、穿的、用的。先說穿的：全家人過年時都要穿新衣服。這時候，商店裡總是人山人海，熱鬧非凡。再說這用品：那是零零總總一大堆。例如：彩燈、彩帶、窗花等等。過年最重要的就是吃，也是花費最多的一項。從小到瓜子、花生，大到豬、牛、羊，真是大採購，也造了許多殺業，這是唯一美中不足的地方。
這些外面的東西忙完了，就要忙家中的事了。家中的事情也是不少。許多東西要洗，許多東西要換新，還要打掃房子。這些事就要我們做子女的去幫大人分擔了。一切的工作結束之後，就只剩等待那除夕之夜的熱鬧場面了。這除夕夜的高潮就是午夜十二時，那鞭炮齊鳴的喧鬧氣氛。那鞭炮聲、拜年聲交雜在一起真是舉家歡樂鬧今宵，快樂勝過活神仙。
這過年的氣氛一直要延續到正月十五，過完元宵節，才算是結束。各人再回到自己的崗位，去迎接那新的一年的挑戰。 |
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For Chinese people, lunar New Year Day, represents the exchanging of the old for the new. This is the biggest holiday of the year. It’s the time when the whole family gets together. When people see the lanterns and ribbons decorating the streets, no matter what country they are from, they know this is not a minor occasion.
The New Year represents a most longed-for and happy time for children, a time when they can all be together. During this holiday, they are not so closely supervised by adults, and there are sure to be good treats to eat and fun things to play with. They can pretty much satisfy their desires. In general, the New Year is a time when adults are busy to the end and kids have fun all the way through.
It is completely true that adults are busy to the end. They start preparations for the New Year a month ahead of time, in three main categories: food, clothing, and articles. As for clothing, everyone has to have new clothes to wear at New Year’s. at that time of year the stores are packed and bustling with activity. Heaps and piles of articles and decorations, such as colored lanterns, ribbons, and cut paper flowers, are seen everywhere. The most important thing is the food, which is the major area of expenditure. From melon seeds and peanuts to pork, beef , and lamb, all kinds of food are purchased. The only unfortunate thing is that a lot of killing karma is created in the process.
Once the external preparations are done, there are quite a few household chores to take care of. Many things must be washed or changed, and the entire house must be swept and cleaned. This is where we children can help out the adults. After all the work is done, we wait for the excitement of New Year’s Eve. The excitement reaches a peak at midnight, when firecrackers go off everywhere. In the noisy clamor of firecrackers popping and everyone wishing each other a Happy New Year, the whole family is happy as can be.
The excitement of the New year lasts until the fifteenth of the first month--the Lantern Festival. Only then dose everyone return to their own jobs to face the challenge of the new year.
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