The first day of the first lunar month is Spring Festival, the beginning of a new year for China.

農(nóng)歷正月初一是春節(jié)，對中國人來說是新一年的開始。

Spring Festival is China's biggest extravaganza and a day for family reunion.

春節(jié)是中國最盛大的節(jié)日，也是家庭團聚的日子。

Being around family members at the turn of the year is a vital ritual for the Chinese people.

在新舊交替的時刻陪伴在家人身邊，是中國人至關(guān)重要的儀式感。

Many of those living away from their hometowns return home during Spring Festival, which gives rise to what's called "the largest annual human migration in the world", also known as the "Spring Festival travel rush".

身處異鄉(xiāng)的人們集中在春節(jié)期間返鄉(xiāng)，形成了一年一度“全球最大規(guī)模的人口遷徙”，也就是“春運”。

The Spring Festival celebration is a continuous process, starting from the 23rd or 24th of the 12th lunar month.

春節(jié)是一個持續(xù)的慶祝過程，從農(nóng)歷十二月二十三或二十四的小年起，就算春節(jié)的開始了。

People often worship the Kitchen God, clean their houses, do their shopping and put up Spring Festival couplets（blessing words posted on door frames） until New Year's Eve on the lunar calendar.

人們會開始祭灶神、大掃除、買年貨、貼春聯(lián)等一直忙碌到農(nóng)歷十二月三十的除夕。

These customs can be traced back to a Chinese legend.

這個習(xí)俗來源于中國神話傳說。

It is said that in ancient times, there was a monster named Nian, who would come out and harm the world by the end of each lunar year.

相傳在遠古時代，有一種怪獸叫“年”，每逢新舊歲之交，便出來危害人間。

People then took measures to send the monster away, such as putting up red couplets as Nian detested the color red, and setting off fireworks and firecrackers at their doors to scare it away.

人們隨后采取措施把怪獸趕走，比如貼紅聯(lián)，因為“年”討厭紅色，并在門口燃煙花、放鞭炮，以嚇走年。

In addition to staying up late on New Year's Eve, having a New Year's Eve dinner and watching the Spring Festival Gala are two important customs of Spring Festival.

除守歲以外，吃年夜飯和看春晚也是中國人在春節(jié)的兩項重要習(xí)俗。

New Year's Eve dinner are manifested in different ways in different parts of China.

年夜飯有不同講究。

Those in South China must have a dish of fish, because "fish" in Chinese sounds similar to the character for "prosperity" symbolizing an abundant and comfortable life.

南方的年夜飯必有一道魚，因為魚在漢語中寓意“年年有余”的富足生活。

Those in North China often eat dumplings, which symbolize "reunion" and "fortune".

而北方則吃餃子，有“喜慶團圓”和“吉祥如意”的寓意。

The Spring Festival Gala is a variety TV program broadcast annually to celebrate the lunar New Year.

春節(jié)聯(lián)歡晚會，是每年除夕夜晚為慶祝農(nóng)歷新年舉辦的綜藝性文藝晚會。

The gala attracts the largest audience of any entertainment show in the world, and runs for more than four hours, making it the longest TV show in the world.

春晚吸引了世界上最多的觀眾，節(jié)目時長超過4個小時，是世界上最長的電視節(jié)目。

It is often hailed as a cultural feast for Chinese people on New Year's Eve.

它是中國人的文化年夜飯。

There is also a custom of of giving and receiving red envelopes, or hongbao.

春節(jié)還有發(fā)紅包的習(xí)俗。

Traditionally, adults placed money into red envelopes and gave them to the children to wish them peace and good luck in the coming year.

長輩把錢放進紅色信封里，把它們送給孩子們，祝愿他們在新的一年里平安、好運。

Nowadays, with the popularization of mobile payment in China, it is a trend to send red envelopes digitally.

如今中國移動支付的普及使手機發(fā)紅包成為潮流。

The internet can deliver New Year's wishes to each and every loved one, even if they are thousands of miles away.

便捷的網(wǎng)絡(luò)能將人們的新年祝福第一時間傳遞給每一位親友，即使他們遠在千里之外。

The joyous atmosphere of Chinese New Year will linger until the first full moon of the first lunar month.

跨年之后，新年的歡樂氣氛要一直持續(xù)到正月第一個月圓。

Then the Lantern Festival is celebrated, which is bound to be another busy day.

到了元宵節(jié)，又將是一個熱鬧非凡的日子。