Chinese New Year. Its vibrant history and rich symbolism manifest in everything from

春節。它充滿活力的歷史和豐富的象徵意義體現在從

dance to food. To help explain some of that history and meaning here are The Tent's TOP

舞蹈與食物。為了幫助解釋其中的一些歷史和意義，以下是The Tent's Top

10 Chinese New Year Facts

10個春節小知識

The date for Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is determined by the

春節的日期，又稱春節，是由。

Lunar Calendar. Lunar months begin on the day of the dark moon, also called the new

陰曆。陰曆月從暗月日開始，也叫新月。

moon, and end on the day before the next dark moon; with each month lasting for 29 or 30

月，到下一個黑月的前一天結束；每個月持續二十九、三十

days. This means that in the Gregorian Calendar, the one most commonly used, the Chinese New

天。這意味著，在最常用的格里高利曆中，中國的新曆。

Year falls on a different date each year, although it will always fall between January

年是在每年不同的日期，雖然它總是落在一月之間的

21st and February 20th.

21日和2月20日。

According to Chinese Mythology, the beginning of the New Year started

在中國神話中，新年的開始是這樣的

because of the Nian, a beast that lives under the sea or in the mountains, and that comes

因為年，是一種生活在海底或山中的野獸，它來

out of hiding around New Year to eat livestock, crops, and villagers...especially children.

過年前後出來躲起來吃牲口、吃莊稼、吃村民......尤其是小孩。

To protect themselves from the Nian, the villagers would prepare food and leave on their doorstep.

為了保護自己不被年人發現，村民們會準備好食物，放在家門口。

It was believed that once the Nian ate all the food, it would leave the villagers alone.

相信一旦年氏吃光了所有的食物，就會放過村民。

However one day, a villager was visited by a god who told the villager to cover his house

然而有一天，一個村民被神靈拜訪，神靈讓村民把自己的房子蓋好。

with red paper and to place firecrackers in front of his house to scare the Nian; and

用紅紙，在他家門前放鞭炮嚇唬年人；。

it worked! From then on, right before the New Year, they decided to hang red lanterns,

成功了!從此，就在過年前，他們決定掛紅燈籠。

post springtime scrolls, and lite firecrackers in front of their houses. The Nian never came

貼春聯，在家門口燃放鞭炮。年人從未來過

back, starting the first of many New Year's traditions that we will examine.

回，開始了我們將研究的許多新年傳統中的第一個。

The Shengxiao, which literally mean "birth likeness", is also known as the Chinese zodiac.

生肖，字面意思是 "生得像"，又稱生肖。

Like western astrology, the cycle is divided into 12 parts, each ascribing personality

和西方占星術一樣，週期分為12個部分，每個部分都賦予了個性。

traits and life events. However, the Chinese zodiac's 12-part cycle corresponds to years

特質和生活事件。然而，中國十二生肖的週期對應的年份是

and is represented by 12 animals. In order they are: the rat, the ox, the tiger, the

並以12種動物為代表。它們依次是：鼠、牛、虎、。

rabbit, the dragon, the snake, the horse, the goat, the monkey, the rooster, the dog,

兔、龍、蛇、馬、羊、猴、雞、狗。

and the pig. The order of the animals comes from a very old folk story: 13 animals were

和豬。動物的順序來自於一個很古老的民間故事。13只動物

in a race to meet the Jade Emperor, who had decreed to name the years on the calendar

競相拜見玉皇大帝，玉皇大帝下旨命名曆法年號。

based on the order the animals would finish the race. It's a tale that shows the different

根據動物們完成比賽的順序。這是個故事，它顯示了不同的

personalities and the struggles they each faced to finish the race. The Rat proved to

個性，以及他們各自為完成比賽而面臨的掙扎。事實證明，"老鼠 "是

be the smartest one finishing by hiding in the ear of the ox, while the Pig got hungry

瞞天過海

during the race so he stopped to eat and take a nap finishing last...at the start of the

所以他停下來吃東西，打了個盹兒，最後完成了比賽... ...在開始的時候。

race, there also was a Cat, but sadly it drowned trying to cross the river, and therefore,

賽，也有一隻貓，可惜它在試圖過河時溺水身亡，是以。

never made it in the zodiac.

從未在十二生肖中出現過。

Chinese Astrology gets even more complex than what is commonly known in western culture.

中國的占星學比西方文化中常說的更加複雜。

While you are assigned an animal based on the year you were born, there are also animal

雖然你是根據你的出生年份被分配到一個動物，但也有動物的名字。

signs based on months (also known as inner animals), based on the days (also known as

根據月份（也稱內獸）的標誌，根據天數（也稱

true animals) and based on the hours (also known as secret animals). Furthermore, in

真正的動物）和基於小時（也稱為祕密動物）。此外，在

addition to the zodiac cycle of 12 animals, there is a 10-year cycle of Celestial Stems,

除了12種動物的生肖週期外，還有10年一個週期的天干。

which are associated with one of the five elements of Chinese Astrology: Wood, Fire,

它們與中國占星學的五行之一有關。木，火

Earth, Metal and Water. Each element is rotated every two years, with each one of those two

土、金屬和水。每種元素每兩年輪換一次，這兩種元素分別是

years being associated with either the yin or the yang. Combining all that up means that

年與陰或陽有關。綜合這些情況，意味著

there's a unique cycle that repeats every 60 years.

有一個獨特的週期，每60年重複。

2015 is the year of the Goat...more specifically the year of the Yin - Wood - Goat. It is the

2015年是羊年......更確切的說是陰-木-羊年。它是

eighth sign of the 12-year cycle. Although the sign usually refers to a goat, the Chinese

十二生肖中的第八個生肖。雖然這個星座通常指的是山羊，但中國的

word "yang" can refer to goats, sheeps, and rams therefore it not uncommon to hear people

陽 "字可指山羊、綿羊、公羊，是以，人們經常聽到的 "陽 "字，就是指羊、羊、羊，是以，人們經常聽到的 "陽 "字，就是指羊、羊、羊，是以，人們經常聽到的 "陽 "字，就是指羊、羊、羊。

celebrate the year of the sheep or the year of the ram. Chinese Astrology describes goats,

慶祝羊年或羊年。中國占星學描述的是山羊。

sheeps, and rams, with the addition of the wood element, as peace-loving, kind, and popular...but

羊、公羊，加上木元素，為愛好和平、善良、受歡迎......但。

also as clingy and resistant to change.

也是作為粘人和抗拒改變。

Today, Chinese New Year is celebrated in many countries and cities around the world, predominantly

如今，世界上許多國家和城市都在慶祝春節，主要是以

those with a large Chinese population. The San Francisco Chinese New Year Festival and

那些有大量華裔人口的地方。三藩市農曆新年節和

Parade is the largest event of its kind outside of Asia. The festivities include people marching

巡遊是亞洲以外最大的活動。慶祝活動包括人們遊行

down Grant and Kearny streets while carrying colorful flags, banners, lanterns, drums,

沿著格蘭特和卡尼大街，同時舉著彩旗、旗幟、燈籠、鼓。

and firecrackers. Other North American cities celebrating with a parade include Los Angeles,

和鞭炮。其他以遊行慶祝的北美城市還包括洛杉磯。

New York City, Boston, Wellington, Toronto, Vancouver and even smaller cities have started

紐約市、波士頓、惠靈頓、多倫多、溫哥華，甚至更小的城市都開始了

hosting celebrations. The London festivities include concerts and performances on Trafalgar

舉辦慶祝活動。倫敦的慶祝活動包括在特拉法加廣場舉行音樂會和表演。

Square that attract close to half a million people each year. Sydney also celebrates the

廣場，每年吸引了近50萬人次。雪梨還慶祝

Chinese New Year with large appeal. The events there last for 3 weeks and they include outdoor

春節，吸引力大。活動持續3周，包括戶外活動和戶外活動。

markets, Chinese opera performances, dragonboat races, a film festival, and multiples parades

墟市、戲曲表演、龍舟賽、電影節、多場巡遊。

attended by hundreds of thousands of people each year.

每年有數十萬人参加。

Chinese New Year celebrations are deeply rooted in family and welcoming in the new year. Shared

春節慶祝活動深深紮根於家庭，迎接新的一年。共享

meals are deeply symbolic to both of these components and they are reflected

飯菜對這兩個部分都有深刻的象徵意義，它們反映了

in traditional food homophones, words that sound the same but

同音字

have different meanings. Four Chinese New Year dishes are noodles, fish, dumplings,

有著不同的含義。四道年菜是麵條、魚、餃子。

and sticky cake. First, Noodles are a quintessential Chinese food period. During the New Year,

和粘糕。首先，麵條是中國食品時期的典型。在過年期間。

uncut noodles, the longer the better, represent longevity. Fish(魚), pronounced yú is a

未切的麵條，越長越好，代表長壽。魚(魚)，讀音yú是一種。

homophone for "surpluses"(餘yú), and is often eaten or just displayed and saved

餘裕

for the day after. If you head south towards Canton, the main Chinese new year dumpling

為後天。如果你往南走，往廣州方向走，主要的年貨水餃

is thought to resemble ancient Chinese gold ingots signifying wealth and prosperity. Finally

被認為像中國古代的金錠，象徵著財富和繁榮。最後

there isn't a better way to end a New Year's meal than with some sweet Niangao, a popular

年夜飯的結尾，沒有比吃甜年糕更好的方式了。

eastern Chinese dessert which literally means sticky cake, but is pronounced as "a more

粘餅

prosperous new year (年高 lit. year high)". These examples from around China are just

年年高"。這些來自中國各地的例子只是

a sample from a people who have a deep love for food and symbolic word play.

一個對食物和象徵性文字遊戲有著深深熱愛的民族的樣本。

The dragon and lion dances are two traditional Chinese dances that are commonly performed

舞龍和舞獅是中國傳統的兩種常見的舞蹈。

during celebrations including Chinese New Year. The dragon dance can be distinguished

在春節等喜慶活動中。舞龍可分為

from the lion dance as dragon dancers are large teams of performers that are fully visible

舞龍是舞龍的大型表演隊伍，完全可以看到

by the crowd. On the other hand, lion dancers operate in two dancer teams and the performers'

由民眾。另一方面，舞獅者以兩支舞者隊伍為組織、部門進行操作，表演者的。

faces are only seen occasionally, since they are inside the lion costume.

面孔只是偶爾看到，因為他們是在獅子服裝內。

As classic Chinese symbols, dragons are believed to bring good luck, therefore the longer the

作為經典的中國符號，龍被認為會帶來好運，是以，越是長的

dragon in the dance, the more luck it will bring to the community. The dance is performed

舞蹈中的龍，會給社會帶來更多的好運。舞蹈表演

by a team of dancers who manipulate a long flexible figure of a dragon using poles positioned

由一隊舞者操縱著一條長長的靈活的龍形，他們用杆子擺放好

at regular intervals along the length of the dragon. Some of its classic movements include:

沿著龍的長度有規律的間隔。它的一些經典動作包括：

"Cloud Cave", "Whirlpool", T'ai chi pattern, "threading the money", ""looking for pearl"",

"雲洞"、"漩渦"、太極圖案、"穿錢"、""尋珠""。

and "dragon encircling the pillar." The movement "looking for pearl" is emblematic

和 "龍繞柱"。"尋珠 "的樂章，是象徵性的

for the pursuit of wisdom. The Dragon dance also reflects agricultural roots that can be seen

為追求智慧。舞龍也反映了農業的根基，可以看到

in the movements for the river dragon deities.

在為河龍神的動作中。

The Chinese lion dance has fundamental movements that can be found in most Chinese martial arts.

中國舞獅的基本動作，在大多數中國武術中都能找到。

The two main forms of the Chinese lion dance are the Northern and Southern Lion dances,

中國舞獅的兩種主要形式是北獅和南獅。

with many Southeast Asian countries adapting a form of the later. In Southern Chinese Lion

與許多東南亞國家適應後的形式。在中國南方的獅子

Dancing, the lion consists of a head which is traditionally constructed using papier-mâché

跳舞的獅子由一個頭組成，傳統上是用紙糊做的。

over a bamboo frame, and a body made of fabric trimmed with fur. The colors of the lion,

在竹架上，身體用布藝裝飾的毛皮製成。獅子的顏色。

particularly white, yellow, and black, are symbolic of the lion's age but also refer

尤其是白、黃、黑三色，是獅子時代的象徵，但也指的是

to three historical characters recorded in the classic Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

到經典《三國演義》中記載的三個歷史人物。

The Chinese Lion Dance is also performed accompanied by the beating of drums, cymbals, and gongs.

中國舞獅的表演還伴隨著鼓、鈸、鑼的敲擊。

While these dances have been described in depth, seeing them performed live is the best

雖然這些舞蹈已經有了深入的介紹，但看現場表演才是最好的。

route to go.

路線去。

The Chinese New Year is often accompanied by loud, enthusiastic greetings, often referred

過年時，往往伴隨著響亮、熱情的問候，通常指的是

to as 吉祥話 (jíxiánghùa) in Mandarin, loosely translated as auspicious words or

吉祥話(jíxiánghùa)，通俗地講就是吉利話或吉祥話。

phrases. The Chinese love for wordplay in auspicious phrases is often structured in

短語。中國人對吉祥語中的文字遊戲情有獨鍾，其結構往往在

New Year couplets, printed in gold letters on bright red paper. They probably predate

新年對聯，用金字印在鮮紅的紙上。它們可能比

the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644), but did not become widespread until then.Today, they are

明朝（1368-1644年），但直到那時才普及。

ubiquitous with Chinese New Year. These greetings or phrases may also be used before children

與春節無處不在。這些問候語或短語也可以在孩子面前使用。

can receive their red packets. Some examples include:

可以收到他們的紅包。一些例子包括：

"May your wealth [gold and jade] come to fill a hall",

"願君財[金玉]來滿堂"。

- "May you realize your ambitions", "Greet the New Year and

- "願你實現自己的抱負"，"迎新春，迎新年"。

encounter happiness", "May all your wishes be fulfilled",

遇到幸福"、"願你所有的願望都能實現"。

"May your happiness be in abundance",

"願你幸福滿滿"。

"May you hear [in a letter] that all is well", and finally

"願你聽到[信中]一切都好"，最後。

"May your happiness and longevity be complete." Children and teenagers sometimes jokingly

"願你幸福美滿，長命百歲"。兒童和青少年有時開玩笑地說

use the phrase 恭喜發財,紅包拿來 "Congratulations and be prosperous, now give me my red envelope!"

恭喜發財,紅包拿來 "恭喜發財,紅包拿來,現在給我紅包!"

This is followed by a heavy beating unless you're a really cute kid...just kidding.

這之後，除非你是個很可愛的孩子，否則就會被重重地打一頓......開玩笑。

As previously mentioned, a classic Chinese New Year tradition is the giving and requesting

前面提到過，中國春節的一個經典傳統是送和求。

of red envelopes, also known as "hong bao." Hong bao are usually given out by married

的紅包，又稱 "紅包"。紅包通常是由已婚的

couples from the previous generation to single people, especially to children. The red color

從上一代的夫妻到單身人士，尤其是對孩子。紅色

of the envelope symbolizes good luck and is supposed to ward off evil spirits. The practice

的信封象徵著好運，據說可以辟邪。這種做法

is thought to have originated in the Qin Dynasty where the elderly would thread coins with

秦朝的時候，老人家會在錢幣上穿上 "錢 "字。

a red string. The money was referred to as yāsuì qián (Chinese: 壓祟錢) or "money

一根紅色的繩子。壓祟錢"，即 "錢"。

warding off evil spirits" and was believed to protect the person of younger generation

驅邪"，被認為可以保護年輕一代的人。

from sickness and death. The yasui qian was replaced by red envelopes when printing presses

從疾病和死亡。在印刷廠的時候，雅水錢被紅色信封所取代。

became more common. Red envelopes continue to be referred to by such names today. As

變得更加普遍。今天，紅包仍然以這樣的名字來稱呼。由於

a last thought, during New Year it is traditional to put brand new notes inside red envelopes

最後想說的是，過年的時候，傳統的做法是把嶄新的紙幣裝在紅包裡。

and also to avoid opening the envelopes in front of the relatives out of courtesy.

也是出於禮貌，避免在親戚面前拆信封。

Chunyun, or the spring festival, is also a period of travel in China with an extremely

春節，也就是春節，也是中國旅遊的一個時期，具有極強的。

high traffic load around the time of the Chinese New Year. The number of passenger journeys

春節前後，交通負荷大。的客運班次。

during the Chunyun period has exceeded the population of China, hitting over 2 billion

春運期間的人口已經超過了中國的人口，達到了20多億。

in 2006 and it has been called the largest annual human migration in the world. Three

2006年，它被稱為世界上最大規模的年度人類遷徙。三

main factors are responsible: First, it is a long-held tradition for most Chinese people

主要因素。第一，這是大多數中國人長期以來的傳統觀念

to reunite with their families during Chinese New Year. Since the Chinese economic reforms

以期在春節期間與家人團聚。自中國經濟改革

of the late 1970s, new economic opportunities have emerged, often at a considerable distance

70年代末，新的經濟機會已經出現，而且往往是在相當遠的地方。

from people's hometowns. This particular phenomena is given a human face in the 2009 film, "The Last

來自人們的家鄉。這種特殊的現象在2009年的電影《最後的》中被賦予了人性的色彩。

Train Home" where it connects the migration with tech companies like Apple. Second, Chinese

回家的列車"，在這裡，它將遷移與蘋果等科技公司聯繫起來。其次，中國的

education reforms have increased the number of university students, who often study outside

教育改革增加了大學生的數量，他們經常在外面學習。

of their hometown. The Spring Festival holiday period falls around the same time frame as

的故鄉。春節放假期間，大約與

their winter break. Among the 194 million railway passengers of the 2006 Chunyun period

他們的寒假。在2006年春運1.94億鐵路旅客中

were 6.95 million university students. Finally, because the Spring Festival Period is one

是695萬大學生。最後，由於春節期間是一個

of the few week-long holiday periods in the People's Republic of China, many people choose

在中華人民共和國為數不多的一週長假中，很多人選擇了

to travel for pleasure around this time. Tourism in mainland China is reaching record levels,

以在這個時間段出行遊玩。中國大陸的旅遊人數達到了歷史最高水準。

further adding to the pressure on the transportation system.

進一步增加了交通系統的壓力。

You have heard our TOP10 list for Chinese New Year Facts

你聽過我們的春節小知識TOP10榜單嗎？

and now we want to hear yours. How do you celebrate?

現在我們想聽聽你的。你是怎麼慶祝的？

What questions do you have?

你有什麼問題？

Let us know in the comments

請在評論中告訴我們

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