為了慶祝春節(jié)這個(gè)重要的節(jié)日,中國(guó)政府規(guī)定春節(jié)放假七天,這是中國(guó)人一年中最長(zhǎng)的假期。其實(shí),早在春節(jié)前半個(gè)月左右,人們就開(kāi)始忙碌著做各種準(zhǔn)備了。
In order to celebrate this important festival, the Chinese government now stipulates people have seven days off for the Chinese Lunar New Year. In fact, half month before Spring Festival, people are already busy with all kinds of preparations.
臘八節(jié),就是每年(農(nóng)歷)十二月的初八,許多家庭會(huì)做多種美味的臘八粥。之后就開(kāi)始忙年了。
On the 8th day of the 12th lunar month, many families make laba porridge, a delicious kind of porridge. After that, people begin to prepare for the coming new year.
準(zhǔn)備年貨,農(nóng)村來(lái)講就是殺豬宰羊,各家都會(huì)買(mǎi)肉和其他一些過(guò)年的年貨。
Special purchases for the Spring Festival in the rural area mean to slaughter pigs and sheep. Each household will buy meat and other goods to celebrate Spring Festival.
快到春節(jié)時(shí),會(huì)給家里買(mǎi)一些過(guò)年的吃的還有糖果。
The Spring Festival is coming. We will buy something to eat for the celebration and also some candies.
物質(zhì)匱乏的時(shí)候只能買(mǎi)二兩花生,瓜子和水果糖,F(xiàn)在物質(zhì)是極大的豐富了,人們買(mǎi)的東西非常豐富,魚(yú)肉就不用說(shuō)了,有飲料、保健品、蔬菜等等,買(mǎi)得很細(xì)致。
In the days of material scarcity, we could only afford to buy 100 grams of peanuts, some sunflower seeds and some fruit candies. Nowadays, we enjoy all kinds of goods. People can buy a variety of things, needless to say fish and meat, they purchase very carefully,such as drinks, health care products, vegetables and so on.
我們買(mǎi)很多紅色的東西,像紅色的衣服。紅色代表著紅紅火火。
We bought a lot of things of red color, such as red clothes. Red symbolizes prosperity.
過(guò)去,中國(guó)人把從臘月初八開(kāi)始的過(guò)年準(zhǔn)備過(guò)程,還編成了一個(gè)順口溜:
In the past, Chinese people started the preparation at the 8th of the last lunar month. There was even a piece of doggerel about the preparation.
二十三,糖瓜粘;二十四,掃房日;二十五,碾白薯;二十六,燉牛肉;二十七,宰公雞;二十八,把面發(fā);發(fā)面,(就是)發(fā)酵嘛,二十九,蒸饅頭;
On 23, make candies; on 24, make a thorough cleanup; on 25, make sweet potatoes; on 26, brew beef; on 27, slaughter a rooster; on 28, prepare dough (To prepare dough means to make fermented dough); on 29, steam Mantou.
當(dāng)然,隨著時(shí)代的變遷,人們的生活內(nèi)容有了變化,所以現(xiàn)在人們過(guò)年準(zhǔn)備的內(nèi)容與過(guò)程也變化了,但是一些傳統(tǒng)還保留著。正月二十四,掃房日,實(shí)際上就是大搞家庭環(huán)境衛(wèi)生,這一天,家家戶戶開(kāi)始掃房、擦窗、清洗衣物、刷鍋洗瓢,進(jìn)行干凈徹底地衛(wèi)生大掃除。
Of course, there are many changes in people's life with the time. Therefore, the process and contents of the preparation for Spring Festival also changed. However, some traditional customs are still kept. The 24th day on the last lunar month is the day for cleanup. Every household will do home cleaning, sweep their home, clean windows, wash clothes and clean dishes and have a spring-cleaning.
這個(gè)時(shí)候,所有都準(zhǔn)備完畢。新衣服做好了,吃的東西、年夜飯的東西,也都準(zhǔn)備齊全。然后開(kāi)始貼對(duì)聯(lián),貼門(mén)神,貼窗花,這一切都準(zhǔn)備好以后,就到除夕夜了。
Therefore, at this moment all the preparations are done. New clothes have been made. All the things for eat and the spring festival dinner are ready. People begin to paste couplets and pictures of door gods, and paper cuttings on door panels. When everything is ready, it is the eve of Spring Festival.
持續(xù)半個(gè)多月的春節(jié)準(zhǔn)備活動(dòng),說(shuō)到底,其實(shí)就是兩方面的事:一個(gè)是除舊,去除過(guò)去一年里臟的、舊的、不愉快的東西,另一個(gè)是為迎接新的一年而準(zhǔn)備。
The half month continuous preparation for the Spring Festival is in indeed preparation in two aspects. One is to get rid of the old things. To get rid of the dirty, old and unpleasant things. The other is to prepare to welcome the new year.