春节的由来英语60词 篇一
The Origin of Chinese New Year
The Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is the most important traditional festival in China. It has a history of over 4,000 years and is celebrated with great joy and enthusiasm by Chinese people all over the world. But have you ever wondered about the origins of this festive holiday?
According to legend, a mythical monster named Nian would come out on the first day of the year to eat crops, livestock, and even people. To protect themselves, the Chinese villagers would put food and firecrackers outside their doors and wear red clothing. They believed that Nian was afraid of the color red and the loud sounds of firecrackers. This tradition has been passed down from generation to generation and is still followed today.
Another legend tells the story of a brave lion-like creature called "Nian Shou" who would terrorize the village every year until a wise old man came up with a plan to scare it away. He told the villagers to hang red lanterns and set off firecrackers to create loud noises. The plan worked, and Nian Shou never returned. From then on, the Chinese people would decorate their homes with red lanterns and set off firecrackers to ward off evil spirits during the New Year.
Over time, the Spring Festival became not only a time to scare away monsters and evil spirits but also a time for family reunions and honoring ancestors. People would clean their houses, decorate them with red paper cuttings, and exchange gifts and red envelopes filled with money. They would also visit temples to pray for good fortune and happiness in the coming year.
In conclusion, the Chinese New Year has a rich history and is deeply rooted in ancient Chinese traditions and beliefs. It is a time for families to come together, celebrate, and ward off evil spirits. The customs and traditions associated with this festival have been passed down from generation to generation and continue to be an integral part of Chinese culture today.
春节的由来英语60词 篇二
The Significance of Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is not only a time for celebration and family reunions, but it also holds great cultural and historical significance. Let's explore the different aspects of this important holiday.
Firstly, Chinese New Year marks the beginning of the lunar calendar, which is based on the moon's phases. It falls on a different date each year, typically between January 21st and February 20th. This is why the Chinese New Year is also known as the Spring Festival, as it celebrates the arrival of spring and the end of winter.
Secondly, Chinese New Year is a time for family reunions. It is believed that during this time, the Kitchen God, who is responsible for reporting the behavior of each family member to the Jade Emperor, would leave the house to give his annual report. To ensure a good report, families come together to clean their homes, cook traditional dishes, and spend quality time with one another.
Thirdly, Chinese New Year is a time for honoring ancestors and paying respects to gods and deities. People visit temples and pray for good fortune and blessings in the coming year. They also burn incense and offer food and gifts to their ancestors, as a way of showing gratitude and seeking their blessings.
Lastly, Chinese New Year is a time for warding off evil spirits and bad luck. The color red is believed to bring good luck and fortune, which is why it is prominently featured in decorations and clothing during this festival. Firecrackers are also used to scare away evil spirits, as they are believed to be afraid of loud noises.
In conclusion, Chinese New Year is a festival that holds great cultural and historical significance. It marks the beginning of the lunar calendar, is a time for family reunions and honoring ancestors, and is a time for warding off evil spirits and bad luck. The customs and traditions associated with Chinese New Year have been passed down for generations and continue to be cherished and celebrated by Chinese people all over the world.
春节的由来英语60词 篇三
The Origin of Chinese New Year
the Chinese New Year is now popularly known as the Spring Festival because it starts from the Begining of Spring (the first of the twenty-four terms in coodination with the changes of Nature). Its origin is too old to be traced. Several explanations are hanging around. All aGREe, however, that the word Nian, which in modern Chinese solely means "year", was originally the name of a monster beast that started to prey on people the night before the beginning of a new year.
One legend goes that the beast Nian had a very big mouth that would swallow a GREat many people with one bite. People were very scared. One day, an old man came to their rescue, offering to subdue Nian. To Nian he said, "I hear say that you are very capable, but can you swallow the other beasts of prey on earth instead of people who are by no means of your worthy opponents?" So, it did swallow many of the beasts of prey on earth that also harrassed people and their domestic animals from time to time.
After that, the old man disappeared riding the beast Nian. He turned out to be an immortal god. Now that Nian is gone and other beasts of prey are also scared into forests, people begin to enjoy their peaceful life. Before the old man left, he had told people to put up red paper decorations on their windows and doors at each years end to scare away Nian in case it sneaked back again, because red is the color the beast feared the most.
From then on, the tradition of observing the conquest of Nian is carried on from generation to generation. The term "Guo Nian", which may mean "Survive the Nian" becomes today "Celebrate the (Ne
w) Year" as the word "guo" in Chinese having both the meaning of "pass-over" and "observe". The custom of putting up red paper and firing fire-crackers to scare away Nian should it have a chance to run loose is still around. However, people today have long forgotten why they are doing all this, except that they feel the color and the sound add to the excitement of the celebration.