Traditions and Taboos: My First Spring Festival
传统与禁忌：我的春节初体验
撰稿人：Mitch
又快要过年了！小编在此先祝大家新年快乐！
随着中国经济的日益发展，越来越多的外国人开始关注中国。国外很多著名的高等学府也开设了汉语以及中国文化的专业，希望能够加深学生对中国的了解。于是乎，在中国新年里，到中国家庭中去，体验浓厚的新春氛围，亲历贴春联、包饺子、吃团圆饭、赶庙会这些传统，成了外国朋友们感受中国文化的首选。然而，中西文化始终存在着差异。又于是乎，老外过中国年，入乡随俗，必须得适应中国文化的繁文缛节。
最后，小编温馨提示：如果你也有一位渴望到中国过春节的外国朋友，请把他邀请到家中来吧，不过，要做好心理准备噢，你面临的也许是一个极大的中西文化大碰撞呢！
Part 1 New Year’s Eve 忙碌除夕辞旧岁
在中国传统中，除夕的意思是“月穷岁尽”，因此这一天的活动都以“除旧部新，消灾祈福”为中心，家家户户忙得不可开交。这不，Jackson刚下飞机踏上中国这片热土，一刻也没休息，就被李霞拉着加入到“除旧岁”的大军中。Jackson可是第一次在中国过年，对春节的习俗一概不知，理所当然地闹了笑话，这对李霞来说是一个大大的难题噢！
Li Xia: Well, this is my house. Welcome. Please, come in.
Jackson: Oh, it’s very…
Li Xia: Shoes!
Jackson: Huh?
Li Xia: Take off your shoes, please.
Jackson: Oh, sorry.
Li Xia: Now, let’s get to work.
Jackson: Work? I just got off a plane.
Li Xia: No time for relaxing, my friend. Tomorrow is the first day of Chinese New Year. We’ve got cleaning to do. It’s tradition to clean the house before the New Year. Then we’ve got to go shopping for the family dinner tonight.
Jackson: ①No rest for the 1)wicked, huh?
Li Xia: I’m afraid not. You’ve arrived at the busiest time of the year for us. When you kept delaying your trip, I thought you were never going to come. ②But better late than never, I guess.
Jackson: ③Okay then, let’s get this over with. Where should I start?
Li Xia: You take the bathroom, I’ll get started on the kitchen. Oh, when will Penny arrive?
Jackson: Tomorrow.
Li Xia: Oh, she will miss the cleaning.
Jackson: Oh, poor Penny.
(A few hours later)
Jackson: OK, the house is 2)sparkling. ④That toilet is as clean as a 3)whistle. And I just changed my clothes. So, I’m ready. Can we go now?
Li Xia: Yes, but you have to go and change your clothes first.
Jackson: No. I just changed.
Li Xia: No, no, no. You cannot wear black! That is the colour for 4)mourning. We are not going to a 5)funeral. This is a time for celebration. You will have to change into some red clothes.
Jackson: You’re kidding, right?
Li Xia: ⑤Do I look like I’m kidding?
Jackson: Oh.
Li Xia: Oh, you poor boy. You have so much to learn.
Jackson: ⑥What have I gotten myself into?
Li Xia: ⑦Don’t worry, you will pick it all up in no time. Hurry up, we still have to buy all the food for the family dinner tonight. They are all dying to meet you.
Jackson: What food do you eat?
Li Xia: Everything! Rice, fish, chicken, noodles, soup, duck, turtle…
Jackson: Turtle?
Li Xia: Yeah, you will love it.
Jackson: OK. Anything else I need to know？
Li Xia: Don’t drop your 6)chopsticks.
Jackson: OK. I’ll do my best.
Li Xia: And don’t break anything. You will have all sorts of bad luck if you do that. Come on, it’s going to be great.
Jackson: I can’t wait.
李霞：来，这是我家。欢迎欢迎，进来吧。
杰克逊：噢，这里真是太……
李霞：鞋子！
杰克逊：呃？
李霞：请把鞋子脱了。
杰克逊：哦，抱歉。
李霞：现在我们开始干活吧。
杰克逊：干活？我才刚下飞机呢。
李霞：没时间休息了，我的朋友。明天就是大年初一了，我们得大扫除。在新年到来之前打扫屋子，这是传统。然后我们还得去购物，为今晚的团圆饭作准备。
杰克逊: 就休息一会儿也不行吗？
李霞：恐怕不行。你可是在我们一年之中最忙的时候来的。你不断地推迟你的行程，我还以为你不来了呢。但是我想，迟到总比不到好。
杰克逊：那好吧，只好动手干活了。我应该从哪开始呢？
李霞：你去打扫浴室，我去清理厨房。噢，对了，佩妮什么时候到呢？
杰克逊：明天。
李霞：哦，那她就错过大扫除了。
杰克逊：噢，可怜的佩妮。
（几小时后）
杰克逊：好了，屋子焕然一新了。厕所干净极了。我刚换好了衣服，所以我准备好了。现在可以出发了吗？
李霞：没错，不过你得先去把衣服换了。
杰克逊：不是吧，我才换的。
李霞：不，不，不。你不能穿黑色的衣服！那是悲伤的颜色，我们又不是去葬礼。这是喜庆的时刻。你必须去换上红色的衣服。
杰克逊：你是在开玩笑，对吧？
李霞：我像是在开玩笑吗？
杰克逊：哦。
李霞：哦，可怜的男孩。你要学的太多了。
杰克逊：我这是在自寻烦恼吗？
李霞：别担心，你很快就会适应的。快点，我们还得去买今晚团圆饭的所有食物。我的家人都迫不及待想要见你了呢。
杰克逊：你们都吃些什么？
李霞：什么都吃！米饭、鱼肉、鸡肉、面条、汤、鸭肉、乌龟……
杰克逊：乌龟？
李霞：是啊，你会喜欢的。
杰克逊：好吧。还有什么我需要了解的吗？
李霞：别弄掉你的筷子。
杰克逊：好的，我尽力吧。
李霞：还有别打破任何东西。那样的话，你就会霉运不断。快走吧，接下来的一切都会很好玩。
杰克逊：我等不及了。
Smart Sentences
① No rest for the wicked, huh? 就休息一会儿也不行吗？
no rest for the wicked: the bad guys should be punished, a joke used here to make fun of the speaker himself（坏人会被处罚，此处说话者用此来自嘲）。例如：
Hey, sis, you need to help with the party. No rest for the wicked.
喂，姐，你得帮忙搞派对啊，你可不能休息。
② But better late than never, I guess. 但是我想，迟到总比不到好。
better late than never: it is better to do sth. late than not do it at all（迟做总比不做好）。例如：
You are just now writing back to Grandma? Well, I guess better late than never.
你现在才给奶奶回信？也好，迟回总比不回好。
③ Okay then, let’s get this over with. 那好吧，只好动手干活了。
get (sth.) over with: finish an unpleasant or unhappy experience（熬过/结束一件不愉快但必须做的事）。例如：
Let’s get this dinner over with.
我们吃完这餐算了。
④ That toilet is as clean as a whistle. 厕所干净极了。
as clean as a whistle: completely clean（非常干净）。例如：
Look at the kitchen; it’s as clean as a whistle.
看看厨房，太干净了。
⑤ Do I look like I’m kidding? 我像是在开玩笑吗？
Do I look like I’m kidding?: expression used to indicate the speaker is serious about what he/she means（我像是在开玩笑吗？用以表示说话人所说的话的严肃性）。例如：
—Do you really want me to finish this report by three o’clock?
你真的要我在三点前完成这份报告？
—Do I look like I’m kidding?
我像是在开玩笑吗？
⑥ What have I gotten myself into? 我这是在自寻烦恼吗？
get sb. into sth.: cause sb. to be involved in an unpleasant situation（使某人陷入某种不愉快的状态）。例如：
Using the credit card frequently got me deep into debt.
不停地使用信用卡让我债务缠身。
⑦ Don’t worry, you will pick it all up in no time. 别担心，你很快就会适应的。
in no time: very quickly, almost immediately（非常快，几乎不用花时间）。例如：
The article doesn’t look too hard. I can finish the translation in no time.
文章看起来不难，我马上就能翻译完。
中国春节传统知多少？
相传古时候有一种叫做“年”的怪兽，头长触角，凶猛异常，长年深居海底，每到除夕才爬上岸，吞食牲畜伤害人命。但是，“年”最害怕的就是红色，因此，人们想出一个办法，就是穿红衣服、贴红对联，果真把“年”赶走了。每到岁末除夕，人们便穿上红衣服，驱赶厄运，以示喜庆。
在中国的传统文化中，红色是喜庆吉祥的色彩，在春节里穿红衣服会给人带来好运；黑色则是沉闷、悲伤的颜色，在春节穿黑色的衣服则失去了其本身喜庆的意义。但在西方国家，黑色的服装代表了庄严和稳重。
Part 2 New Year’s Day 吉祥如意过新年
中国人做什么都讲究“意头”，凡事都要求吉祥如意，尤其在新春佳节，一切不吉利的事情都是不允许的。一个Jackson已经让李霞初尝苦头了，大年初一里又来了一个Penny，这两个活宝究竟又会让李霞陷入怎样的苦恼之中呢？
Penny: Is Jackson still sleeping?
Li Xia: Yes. He must be very tired. My dad made him drink a lot of wine last night.
Penny: OK, I’ll let him sleep. But I hope he gets up soon. We are going to look around the city.
Li Xia: I prepared some breakfast for you. These are jiaozi.
Penny: Oh, 1)dumplings. Wow, there are so many.
Li Xia: Yes. You must eat all of them. They will bring you lots of money.
Penny: Oh, I really can’t eat so much. ①I’m watching my weight. ②I really want to avoid piling on pounds over the winter.
Li Xia: Well, now it’s spring, so you have no excuse. Quickly! Eat!
Penny: OK, I’ll do my best. Oh, I was meaning to ask you, do you have a broom? I just wanted to sweep my bedroom.
Li Xia: Oh, no! You cannot clean today.
Penny: No, really it’s no problem. I would have done it earlier, but I couldn’t find your broom.
Li Xia: No, today is the first day of the new year. You must not sweep the floor. ③If you do that, you may as well just throw my money out the door!
Penny: Sorry. I didn’t realise. Well, at least let me take the garbage out. Where should I put it?
Li Xia: No, no, no, no, no. You just sit down and take it easy. Garbage cannot be 2)disposed of on New Year’s Day. ④Oh! Between you and Jackson, I can see I’m going to have my hands full. You have so much to learn. ⑤It’s not going to be a walk in the park.
Penny: Sorry. We are not used to so many customs and traditions. I don’t know how you remember them all.
Li Xia: Every Chinese person will know about these things.
Penny: Well, I might just take a quick shower. I feel 3)yucky from being on the plane for so long.
Li Xia: Sure, go right ahead…but don’t wash your hair.
Penny: Excuse me?
Li Xia: You cannot wash your hair for three days. That’s a tradition. You wouldn’t want to wash away your wealth, would you?
Penny: Ah, no…I guess I wouldn’t. But the smell may scare away a few people.
Smart Sentences
① I’m watching my weight. 我正在减肥呢。
watch one’s weight: be careful with one’s weight（留意自己的体重）。例如：
You need to watch your weight during Chinese New Year.
春节期间你最好多留心自己的体重。
② I really want to avoid piling on pounds over the winter. 真不想一个冬天就体重暴增。
pile on pounds: gradually adding weight to one’s body（渐渐地增加体重）。例如：
My husband piled on a lot of pounds over the holiday.
我丈夫的体重在假期增加了不少。
③ If you do that, you may as well just throw my money out the door! 如果你那样做，就跟把钱扔到门外去没什么两样！
may as well: a situation is the same or almost the same as if it were true（与……一样）。例如：
If I go out tonight, I may as well not take the exam tomorrow.
如果我今天出去混，还不如明天不参加考试呢。
④ Oh! Between you and Jackson, I can see I’m going to have my hands full. 哦！在你和杰克逊之间，我可以预见我将会忙得团团转。
have one’s hands full: very busy because of sth. （非常忙）。例如：
Sorry, I didn’t call you back earlier. I have had my hands full for the last two days.
很抱歉没能早点回你的电话，我这两天忙坏了。
⑤ It’s not going to be a walk in the park. 这可不是轻而易举的事。
a walk in the park: sth. that is really easy（易如反掌）。例如：
Don’t worry about the class registration. It’s like a walk in the park.
别为课程注册担心，那太容易了。
中国春节传统知多少？
1. 在中国，尤其是北方地区，有春节吃饺子的习俗。每天晚上十一点到凌晨一点这个时间叫做“子时”；年三十的这一时候，不仅是新旧两天的更替，更是新旧岁的更替，因此叫“交子”，是辞旧迎新的界限。饺子和“交子”谐音，加上外形与古代的金元宝相似，因此吃饺子有“招财进宝”的意思。
2. 在春节的前三天，“洗头”是禁忌。头发的“发”又有“发财”的意思，因此这时候洗头会被看成是在一年刚开始的时候就把财富洗走的意思。
3. 相传大年初一是扫帚的生日，这一天不能动用扫帚，否则会扫走运气、破财，而把“扫帚星”引来，招致霉运。假如非要扫地不可，必须从外向内扫。
Part 3 The Final Festivities 最后的庆典
我们的主人公一行三人来到熙熙攘攘的寺庙，准备虔诚地为来年祈福。大街上的热闹情景可把Jackson和Penny吸引住了，他俩就像孩子一样对一切都充满好奇。这回他们又遇到什么难题了呢？对于他们来说，这场中国春节初体验可谓精彩纷呈，火花无限啊！
Li Xia: Hurry up, guys. We have to make it to the 1)temple before it closes. It’s our last chance to make prayers for the coming year.
Jackson: Man, those fireworks were amazing. I’ve never seen anything like that. They were everywhere. ①Everyone was getting in on the act.
Penny: Yeah. How cute was that little old lady. ②But, I must say, my favourite thing was seeing those lion dancers. That’s, like, an 2)iconic image of China. I got some great photos, too.
Li Xia: Actually, you are very lucky to see the fireworks here. Many cities have 3)banned them because of noise pollution and for safety, of course.
Jackson: They were really loud. I think I’m 4)temporarily deaf, actually.
Penny: Pardon?
Jackson: I said…oh.
Penny: Joking, Jackson. So, what should we pray for at this temple?
Li Xia: Anything you want. Fortune, wealth, good health, marriage, a baby…
Penny: A baby?! Whoa, slow down…this is my first visit to a temple. ③I think I’ll take baby steps, no 5)pun intended, and focus on something like good health.
Jackson: Hey, guys, I really want to buy that bag I saw this morning, but I won’t have enough cash until Saturday. ④Could one of you tide me over till then?
Li Xia: No, no, no, no ,no.
Jackson: Sorry. I don’t mean to be rude. It’s just that I saw all that money you got in the red packets.
Li Xia: The hong bao? Yes that is my money for good luck. It’s bad luck for me to lend money at Chinese New Year. Another lesson for you, Jackson.
Jackson: How about you, Penny?
Penny: Sorry, I wouldn’t want to give myself bad luck. I guess we all know what you will be praying for at the temple…
(At the airport before leaving China)
Li Xia: I hope you have enjoyed your stay. Now, what have you learned on your trip?
Jackson: ⑤Well, I learnt how to clean a toilet…and how to live on a 6)budget.
Penny: And I learnt how to get dirty hair.
Li Xia: And? Did you learn some Chinese expressions?
Penny and Jackson: Yes…
Li Xia: Go on then, don’t be shy.
Penny and Jackson: Xin nian kuai le!
Li Xia: Very good! ⑥Hats off to you! I’m so proud of you guys.
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