The Spring Festival (Chinese New Year)

你知道吗？春节是中国最重要的节日。

Nǐ zhīdào ma? Chūnjié shì zhōngguó zuì zhòngyào de jiérì.

Did you know? The Spring Festival is China's most important holiday.

它在一年的开始。

Tā zài yì nián de kāishǐ.

It comes at the very start of the year.

人们也叫它过年。

Rénmen yě jiào tā guònián.

People also call it guonian, celebrating the new year.

大家都放假回家。

Dàjiā dōu fàngjià huíjiā.

Everyone gets time off and goes home.

春节前，很多人坐火车回家。

Chūnjié qián, hěn duō rén zuò huǒchē huíjiā.

Before the festival, many people take trains home.

有的人从北京回到南方。

Yǒude rén cóng běijīng huídào nánfāng.

Some people go from Beijing back to the south.

路很远，可是大家都很高兴。

Lù hěn yuǎn, kěshì dàjiā dōu hěn gāoxìng.

The road is long, but everyone is happy.

因为他们想和家人一起过年。

Yīnwèi tāmen xiǎng hé jiārén yìqǐ guònián.

Because they want to spend the new year with their family.

过年以前，家里要打扫干净。

Guònián yǐqián, jiālǐ yào dǎsǎo gānjìng.

Before the new year, the home must be cleaned.

人们在门口贴上红色的春联。

Rénmen zài ménkǒu tiē shàng hóngsè de chūnlián.

People put red couplets by the door.

红色是好运的颜色。

Hóngsè shì hǎoyùn de yánsè.

Red is the color of good luck.

孩子们也帮忙做事。

Háizimen yě bāngmáng zuò shì.

The children help out too.

除夕晚上，一家人一起吃饭。

Chúxī wǎnshang, yìjiārén yìqǐ chīfàn.

On New Year's Eve, the whole family eats together.

北方人常常吃饺子。

Běifāng rén chángcháng chī jiǎozi.

Northerners often eat dumplings.

饺子像以前的钱，吃了会有好运。

Jiǎozi xiàng yǐqián de qián, chī le huì yǒu hǎoyùn.

Dumplings look like old money, so eating them brings luck.

你吃过饺子吗？

Nǐ chī guò jiǎozi ma?

Have you ever eaten dumplings?

奶奶给小明一个红包。

Nǎinai gěi Xiǎo Míng yí gè hóngbāo.

Grandma gives Xiaoming a red envelope.

红包里有钱，也有好运。

Hóngbāo lǐ yǒu qián, yě yǒu hǎoyùn.

There is money in it, and also good luck.

大人给孩子红包，说新年快乐。

Dàren gěi háizi hóngbāo, shuō xīnnián kuàilè.

Adults give children red envelopes and say happy new year.

小明高兴得笑了。

Xiǎo Míng gāoxìng de xiào le.

Xiaoming is so happy that he laughs.

春节有十五天，最后一天有灯会。

Chūnjié yǒu shí wǔ tiān, zuìhòu yì tiān yǒu dēng huì.

The festival lasts fifteen days, and the last day has a lantern show.

人们看灯，看烟花，也看朋友。

Rénmen kàn dēng, kàn yānhuā, yě kàn péngyou.

People look at lanterns and fireworks, and also visit friends.

现在，很多国家的人也过春节。

Xiànzài, hěn duō guójiā de rén yě guò chūnjié.

Today, people in many countries also celebrate it.

你们那儿过不过春节？

Nǐmen nàr guò buguò chūnjié?

Do they celebrate it where you are?