Many customs accompany the Spring Festival. Some are still followed today, but others have weakened. 

 

Nónɡlìshíèryuèbārìchí làbāzhōu,yònɡyǐqìnɡzhù fēnɡshōu,yìzhíliúchuánzhìjīn。

农历十二月八日吃腊八粥,用以庆祝丰收,一直流传至今。

Zuì zǎodelàbāzhōushìhónɡxiǎodòuláizhǔ,hòujīnɡyǎnbiàn,

最早的腊八粥是红小豆来煮,后经演变,

jiāzhīdìfānɡtèsè,zhújiànfēnɡfùduōcǎiqǐlái

加之地方特色,逐渐丰富多彩起来。

On the 8th day of the 12th lunar month, many families make laba porridge, a delicious kind of porridge made with glutinous rice, millet, seeds of Job's tears, jujube berries, lotus seeds, beans, longan and gingko.

The 23rd day of the 12th lunar month is called Preliminary Eve. At this time, people offer sacrifice to the kitchen god. Now however, most families make delicious food to enjoy themselves.

shǒusuì

守岁
Chúxīshǒusuìshìzuì zhònɡyàodeniánsúhuódònɡzhīyī,shǒusuìzhīsúyóuláiyǐjiǔ。

除夕守岁是最重要的年俗活动之一,守岁之俗由来已久。

Zuì zǎojìzǎijiànyúxījìnzhōuchùde

最早记载见于西晋周处的

《fēnɡtǔzhì》:

《风土志》:

chúxīzhīyè,ɡèxiānɡyǔzènɡsònɡ,chēnɡwéi“kuìsuì”;jiǔshíxiānɡyāo,chēnɡwéi“biésuì”;

 除夕之夜,各相与赠送,称为“馈岁”;酒食相邀,称为“别岁”;

Zhǎnɡyòuxiānɡyāo,zhùsònɡwánbèi,chēnɡwéi“fēnsuì”;

 长幼聚饮,祝颂完备,称为“分岁”;

Dàjiāzhōnɡyèbùmián,yǐdàitiānmínɡ

大家终夜不眠,以待天明,称曰“守岁”。

Chúxīzhīyè,quánjiātuánjùzàiyìqǐ,chī ɡuòniányèfàn,wéizuò lúpánɡxiánliáo,

除夕之夜,全家团聚在一起,吃过年夜饭,围坐炉旁闲聊,

děnɡzhecíjiùyínɡxīndeshíkè,tōnɡxiāoshǒuyè,

 等着辞旧迎新的时刻,通宵守夜,

 Xiànɡzhēnɡzhebǎyíqièxiéwēnbìnɡyìzhàopǎoqūzǒu,qīdàizhexīndeyìniánjíxiánɡrúyì。

 象征着把一切邪瘟病疫照跑驱走,期待着新的一年吉祥如意。

Zhèzhǒnɡxísúhòuláizhújiànshènɡxínɡ,dàotánɡcháochūqī,

 这种习俗后来逐渐盛行,到唐朝初期,

Tánɡtàizōnɡlǐ shìmínxiěyǒu”shǒusuì“shī:”háncíqùdōnɡxuě,nuǎndàirùchūnfēnɡ“。

唐太宗李世民写有“守岁”诗:“寒辞去冬雪,暖带入春风”。

zhídàojīntiān,rénménháixíɡuànzàichúxīzhīyèshǒusuìyínɡxīn。

直到今天,人们还习惯在除夕之夜守岁迎新。

Gǔshíshǒusuìyǒuliǎnɡ zhǒnɡhányì:

古时守岁有两种含义:

niánzhǎnɡzhěshǒusuìwèi”cíjiùsuì“,yǒuzhēnàiɡuānɡyīndeyìsi;

年长者守岁为“辞旧岁”,有珍爱光阴的意思;

Niánqīnɡrénshǒusuì,shìwèiyánchánɡfùmǔshòumìnɡ。

年轻人守岁,是为延长父母寿命。

zìhàndàiyǐlái,xīnjiùniánjiāotìdeshíkèyìbānwèiyèbànshífēn。
 自汉代以来,新旧年交替的时刻一般为夜半时分。

After the Preliminary Eve, people begin preparing for the coming New Year. This is called "Seeing the New Year in".

Store owners are busy then as everybody goes out to purchase necessities for the New Year. Materials not only include edible oil, rice, flour, chicken, duck, fish and meat, but also fruit, candies and kinds of nuts. What's more, various decorations, new clothes and shoes for the children as well as gifts for the elderly, friends and relatives, are all on the list of purchasing.

Sǎochén

扫尘
 

Měifénɡchūnjiéláilín,jiājiā—hùhùdōu yàodǎsǎo huánjìnɡ,

每逢春节来临,家家户户都要打扫环境,

qīnɡxǐ ɡèzhǒnɡqìjù,chāixǐ bèirùchuānɡlián。

清洗各种器具,拆洗被褥窗帘。

Dàochùyánɡyì zhehuānhuān—xǐxǐɡǎo wèishēnɡ、

到处洋溢着欢欢喜喜搞卫生、

ɡānɡān—jìnɡjìnɡyínɡ xīnchūndehuānlèqìfen。

干干净净迎新春的欢乐气氛。

ànmínjiāndeshuōfǎ:yīn”chén“yǔ“chén”xiéyīn,xīnchūnsǎochényǒu“chúchénbùxīn”dehányì

按民间的说法:因“尘”与“陈”谐音,新春扫尘有“除陈布新”的涵义,

Qíyònɡyìshìyàobǎyíqièqiónɡyùn、huìqìtōnɡtōnɡ sǎochū mén。

其用意是要把一切穷运、晦气通通扫出门。

zhèyìxísújìtuō zherénméncíjiùyínɡxīndeyuànwànɡhéqíqiú。

这一习俗寄托着人们辞旧迎新的愿望和祈求。

Before the New Year comes, the people completely clean the indoors and outdoors of their homes as well as their clothes, bedclothes and all their utensils.