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為了慶祝春節這個重要的節日，中國政府規定春節放假七天，這是中國人一年中最長的假期。其實，早在春節前半個月左右，人們就開始忙碌著做各種準備了。
In order to celebrate this important festival, the Chinese government now stipulates people have seven days off for the Chinese Lunar New Year. In fact, half month before Spring Festival, people are already busy with all kinds of preparations.
臘八節，就是每年（農歷）十二月的初八，許多家庭會做多種美味的臘八粥。之后就開始忙年了。
On the 8th day of the 12th lunar month, many families make laba porridge, a delicious kind of porridge. After that, people begin to prepare for the coming new year.
準備年貨，農村來講就是殺豬宰羊，各家都會買肉和其他一些過年的年貨。
Special purchases for the Spring Festival in the rural area mean to slaughter pigs and sheep. Each household will buy meat and other goods to celebrate Spring Festival.
快到春節時，會給家里買一些過年的吃的還有糖果。
The Spring Festival is coming. We will buy something to eat for the celebration and also some candies.
物質匱乏的時候只能買二兩花生，瓜子和水果糖。現在物質是極大的豐富了，人們買的東西非常豐富，魚肉就不用說了，有飲料、保健品、蔬菜等等，買得很細致。
In the days of material scarcity, we could only afford to buy 100 grams of peanuts, some sunflower seeds and some fruit candies. Nowadays, we enjoy all kinds of goods. People can buy a variety of things, needless to say fish and meat, they purchase very carefully，such as drinks, health care products, vegetables and so on.
我們買很多紅色的東西，像紅色的衣服。紅色代表著紅紅火火。
We bought a lot of things of red color, such as red clothes. Red symbolizes prosperity.
過去，中國人把從臘月初八開始的過年準備過程，還編成了一個順口溜：
In the past, Chinese people started the preparation at the 8th of the last lunar month. There was even a piece of doggerel about the preparation.
二十三，糖瓜粘；二十四，掃房日；二十五，碾白薯；二十六，燉牛肉；二十七，宰公雞；二十八，把面發；發面，（就是）發酵嘛，二十九，蒸饅頭；
On 23, make candies; on 24, make a thorough cleanup; on 25, make sweet potatoes; on 26, brew beef; on 27, slaughter a rooster; on 28, prepare dough (To prepare dough means to make fermented dough); on 29, steam Mantou.
當然，隨著時代的變遷，人們的生活內容有了變化，所以現在人們過年準備的內容與過程也變化了，但是一些傳統還保留著。正月二十四，掃房日，實際上就是大搞家庭環境衛生，這一天，家家戶戶開始掃房、擦窗、清洗衣物、刷鍋洗瓢，進行干凈徹底地衛生大掃除。
Of course, there are many changes in people's life with the time. Therefore, the process and contents of the preparation for Spring Festival also changed. However, some traditional customs are still kept. The 24th day on the last lunar month is the day for cleanup. Every household will do home cleaning, sweep their home, clean windows, wash clothes and clean dishes and have a spring-cleaning.
這個時候，所有都準備完畢。新衣服做好了，吃的東西、年夜飯的東西，也都準備齊全。然后開始貼對聯，貼門神，貼窗花，這一切都準備好以后，就到除夕夜了。
Therefore, at this moment all the preparations are done. New clothes have been made. All the things for eat and the spring festival dinner are ready. People begin to paste couplets and pictures of door gods, and paper cuttings on door panels. When everything is ready, it is the eve of Spring Festival.
持續半個多月的春節準備活動，說到底，其實就是兩方面的事：一個是除舊，去除過去一年里臟的、舊的、不愉快的東西，另一個是為迎接新的一年而準備。
The half month continuous preparation for the Spring Festival is in indeed preparation in two aspects. One is to get rid of the old things. To get rid of the dirty, old and unpleasant things. The other is to prepare to welcome the new year.
