1.除夕

今天就是大年三十除夕夜啦！在我们中国的传统里，这一天要和家人团聚，吃年夜饭、放鞭炮、拜祖先、一起守岁……这些年俗伴我们一起长大，每个人都再熟悉不过，不过要如何用英语来把它们表达清楚，你又知道吗？

New Year's Eve, or the last night of the year in Chinese lunar calendar, is called Chuxi. It is an extraordinary day in China because the old year and new year meet during this night. Since Chuxi in Chinese means removing the old, most of the activities during New Year's Eve centers on removing the old and evil and pray for the best.
中国农历每年最后一天、也就是新年前夜被称为“除夕”。这一天在中国是特别的一天，因为新与旧在这天夜里交替。因为除夕在中文里的意思是除旧，所以大部分除夕夜里的习俗也是和除去旧恶、祈求幸福相关。

The customs on Chuxi Day in different districts are almost the same; while in some places, the customs are quite special, such as in Suzhou, Beijing and Taiwan. When staying up late in Suzhou, people always wait for the bell ring from the Hanshan Temple, which is a sign of the coming year; Beijing people hold Caisui activity by stepping on the sesame straw paved in the courtyard; In Taiwan, people will put a firepan under the table when have dinner and the daughters-in-law will stay up late in the New Year's Eve, the later, the better (It is said that the elders will enjoy longevity by this way).
除夕夜的习俗在大部分的地区都是相似的，不过在某些地方也有特别的习惯，比如苏州、北京和台湾。在苏州，人们会等候寒山寺里的钟声，它预示着新年的到来；在北京，人们会“踩岁”——用脚踩踏铺在地上的芝麻穗；在台湾，人们把火盆放在年夜饭桌下。做儿媳妇的要在除夕夜里守岁，越晚越好（因为传说家中长辈这样才能长寿）。

There are many activities on New Year's Eve / Chuxi Day, which mainly include sticking New Year scrolls (spring scrolls), enjoying family reunion dinner, Shousui (stay up late at night), sacrifice offering and setting off fireworks.
其他在除夕夜的习俗还包括贴春联、吃团圆饭、守岁（熬夜）、拜祭和放烟火。

2.春联和年画

Spring/New Year Scroll and Painting

春联和年画

Spring scrolls and New Year paintings are always stuck on the doors and walls of a family. The content of the spring scrolls are various. Generally, the scrolls stuck on the door is to show the family status and the happiness to welcome the New Year; walking in, you will see the scroll about luck, such as "Raise your head and see happiness (Tai Tou Jian Xi)" and "Everything looks fresh and gay"; on the door of the room, there are always scrolls about longevity and blessing; on the door of shops always write wishes for prosperous business; beside the kitchen god's portrait, the scroll with earnest hope is stuck; on the grain bin, wishes for good harvest are written...
春联和年画通常会贴在家中的门上和墙上，内容丰富各异。通常，门上的春联会代表着这家人的地位，以及对新年的期盼。你会发现和“运气”相关的春联，比如“抬头见囍”或是“事事如新”；房门上贴着和长寿祝愿相关的春联；商店里会贴着生意兴隆的春联；厨房灶神旁贴着诚挚的祝愿；粮仓里贴着来年丰收的愿望……

But the families could not stick New Year scrolls for three years if some of their relatives has/have passed away. The most popular contents of the New Year paintings are mainly chicken, fish, children, flowers and the god of wealth. In some places, red paper-cuts are posted to the window.
不过当家中有亲人过世，则三年不能贴春联。最受欢迎的年画内容包括鸡、鱼、小孩、花和财神。在有的地方剪贴画也会贴在窗上 。
 

3.拜祭祖先

Sacrifice to Heaven and Ancestors

拜天地、拜祖先

In ancient times, every districts of China held sacrificial rites to heaven and ancestors. For sacrifice offering to heaven, the rite has become simple nowadays. People usually lay a table and put fruits, food, wine on it. And then burn some paper money and incenses. The offerings include chicken, fish and round decorated cakes.
在古时候，中国的各个地区都会举行祭拜天地和祖先的仪式。如今拜天地的仪式已经被简化。人们通常会摆上一张桌子，放上水果、食物和酒，烧纸钱、点香。祭品通常包括鸡、鱼和年糕。

As people always have a family reunion on New Year's Eve. Many always think of the past relatives and offer sacrifice to them. The main activities are: setting off fireworks, burn incenses and paper money and offering oblations.
而因为除夕夜里家人通常要团聚，很多人也会在这时拜祭祖先。主要的活动有放烟火、焚香、烧纸钱和献祭品。

4.年夜饭

Family Reunion Dinner

年夜饭

China nation has a strong family concept and always have family reunion in some important days. Family Reunion Dinner is an essential custom on New Year's Eve. They usually enjoy a big feast this day. And dumpling and fish are must during the Family Reunion Dinner on New Year's Eve. Some people will put a coin inside one dumpling. The people who eat this dumpling will be to thought be a lucky guy. The fish could not be eaten out because the fish means extra things by partial tone. And it represents the wish for a prosperous year with abundant and even extra wealth and luck.
中国人的家庭观念很强，在重要的节日里都会团圆。除夕夜的团圆饭是重要习俗。大家通常会在这天大吃一顿。饺子和鱼是宴席上的必须品。有的人会在包饺子时放一枚硬币进去，谁吃到了他就有好运气。鱼不能被吃完，因为“鱼”和“余”同音，预示年年有余。

5.放烟火

Setting off Fireworks

放烟火

Fireworks are always set off in festivals in China, especially on New Year's Eve. Fireworks were an army to get rid of the evil-Nian. That's why Chuxi came into being. (Nian was a demon in the legend, who was scared off by fireworks and red New Year scrolls. From then on, the day to get rid of Nian is called "Guo Nian" and "Chuxi".) The time to set off fireworks is different: after having dumplings, when the new day comes, etc.
在重要的节日里放烟火是中国人的习俗，除夕夜尤其如此。烟火是赶跑怪兽“年”的武器，这也是除夕的来历。（“年”是传说里的怪兽，它害怕烟火和红色的春联。所以人们赶走“年”的这一天也被称为“过年”或“除夕”）。放烟火的时间在各地有所不同：吃完饺子、或是等到新年到来等等。

6.守岁

Shousui (stay up late)

守岁

On New Year's Eve, people always stay up late, which is called "Shousui". At night, the families get together, drink and chat. They watch the New Year festival gala and enjoy some snacks (mainly sweets, peanuts and sunflower seeds). It is said that the parents can live for long if the young stay up late. They often sleep after the new day comes or after the New Year festival gala. And all the lights will not turn off for the whole night.
除夕夜里，人们通常都会熬夜，这被称为“守岁”。在夜里，家人们围坐一团，一边喝酒、一边聊天，大家一起看春晚、吃零食（通常是糖果、花生和瓜子）。据说子女睡得越晚、父母就活得越长。大家会等到凌晨或是春晚结束后再睡，并且整晚都不会关灯。

7.拜年

New Year Visiting

拜年

New Year Visiting is an important custom on the first day of the New Year's Eve, which is called the New Year's Day. And children can get lucky money (Yasui Qian). we call such New Year greetings Jíxiánghùa (吉祥話) , the most common Jíxiánghùa include Xīnnián kuàilè (新年快乐: literately means Happy New Year, and guònián hǎo (过年好: Having a Prosperous New Year. Of course there are a lot more examples that you can think, create and use, to make people really cheerful.
在新年的头一天，拜年是一个重要的习俗。孩子们通常能得到压岁钱。拜年要说吉祥话，常用的吉祥话有“新年快乐”、“过年好”等。当然如果你能创新，大家就会更高兴啦。