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腊月二十三，俗称“小年”，传说这日是“灶王爷上天”之日。 People will offer malt sugar candies, 糖瓜 ( Tang Gua), to the Kitchen God 腊月二十四，掸尘扫房子，这日是约定俗成的扫除日。 Each family will thoroughly clean their house 腊月二十五，推磨做豆腐。 To make the Tofu，making tofu also means welcoming happiness and a good harvest in the new year 腊月二十六，杀猪割年肉 Go to market to get some meat to prepare for the new year 腊月二十七，宰年鸡、赶大集，置办春节物品。 Preparing all the ingredients and food they need for the feast. Chicken will is a necessary meat dish at this festival season as well. 腊月二十八，打糕蒸馍贴花。古人以桃木为辟邪之木，后被红纸代替。 Preparing the food，paste spring couplets 腊月二十九，去打酒，祭祖 Chinese people will get some wine ready today.A ceremony to worship ancestors, which means not to forget ancestors. 大年三十，除夕守岁 Stay up the whole night on the 30th day of the 12th month in Lunar Calendar 大年初一，串门走亲戚 Visit the relatives and friends 大年初二，媳妇回娘家 Married daughters usually go back to their own family to visit their parents, relatives and close friends On this day, married daughters usually go back to their own family to visit their parents, relatives and close friends. Traditionally, married daughters didn’t have the opportunity to visit their birth families frequently. 在这一天，已婚的女儿们会回娘家看望自己的父母，亲戚以及好友。传统来说，已婚的女儿没有很多看望自己家人的机会。 In old days, since married daughters are considered as outsider and no longer belonging to their parents family, they are not required to come back for reunion dinner on the New Year Eve or come back on the first day of the New Year. 在旧时代，人们认为“嫁出去的姑娘，泼出去的水”，所以他们一般不能在除夕或者大年初一回家吃团圆饭。 大年初三，老鼠嫁女儿。
Rat marriage day (老鼠娶亲，lao shu qu qin). So people will restrict night activities in order to give rats time for their wedding. Actually, it is considered an unlucky day to have guests or go visiting. People will go to rest earlier at night and get up late in the morning。 实际上，在大年初三会亲友是一件并不吉利的事儿。人们会在今夜早早歇息，在早上也晚点起来。 The folklore is the 3rd day is for rat marriage day (老鼠娶亲，lao shu qu qin). So people will restrict night activities in order to give rats time for their wedding。 俗语说，大年初三，老鼠娶亲，所以人们会在晚上减少活动，以便给老鼠们嫁女的时间。 大年初四，迎接灶王爷。
A god welcoming day on the 4th day of the Chinese New Year The Kitchen God (灶王爷，zao wang ye, or 灶神 zao shen) is said to report his work to the Jade Emperor (玉皇大帝， yu huang da di) commenting on human good and evil, until the 4th day of New Year to return back to the earth。 据说，灶王爷要将过去一年人类的善与恶汇报给玉皇大帝，直到大年初四才会重返人间。 中国俗语说：“送神早，接神迟。”，所以在清晨需要送走灶王爷，而在下午四点左右迎接灶王爷。 Chinese folk saying goes: “Send-off early, welcome late” (送神早，接神迟. song shen zao, jie shen chi) so that the Kitchen God need to be sent off in the morning, while to welcome at about four o’clock in the afternoon。 大年初五，迎财神
The birthday of the God of Fortune (财神, cai shen) shoot off firecrackers in the attempt to get the attention of the god of fortune 大年初五是财神爷的生日。在中国北方，初五被称为'破五' ，要吃饺子。传统习俗是过了破五，放了鞭炮，家家户户就要开工开业开始新一年的工作。 还有一说是初五放鞭炮能得到关公的祝福，保证今年风调雨顺。 This day is the God of Wealth's birthday. In northern China, people eat jiaozi or dumplings, on the morning of 'powu.' Traditionally, businesses re-open on the next day (the sixth day), accompanied by firecrackers. It is also common in China that on the 5th day people will shoot off firecrackers to get Guan Yu's attention, thus ensuring his favor and good fortune for the new year. 大年初六，千家送穷鬼
Families usually send away the Ghost of Poverty (穷鬼, qiong gui) on this day. According to traditional customs, families usually send away the Ghost of Poverty (穷鬼， qiong gui) on this day根据传统习俗，家里通常要在这一天送走穷鬼。 By doing this, Chinese people wish to send sway poverty and welcome the beautiful days and good luck in the new year。 通过做这些，中国人希望能送走贫穷并且在新的一年迎来幸福和好运。 According to the legend, the ghost of poverty is a son of an emperor thousands years ago. He was short and weak, and liked wearing ragged clothes and eating poor porridge。 根据传说，几千年前穷鬼是一个皇帝的儿子。他矮小而又瘦弱，并且喜欢穿破烂的衣服，喝稀饭。 Even when people presented him with new clothes, he would not wear it until he ripped it apart. So, he got the name of ‘the man of poverty (穷子， qiong zi) with time passing by, he gradually became the ghost of poverty。 即使人们送给他新衣服，他也要扯破后才穿。因此，随着时间推移，他被称为了穷子，渐渐地就变成了穷鬼。 To send away the Ghost of Poverty, Chinese people will usually throw away their ragged clothes, rubbish and other dirty things。 为了送走穷鬼，人们通常会将自己的破衣服、垃圾和其他脏东西扔掉。 This practice also has its hygienic reason。这一做法也是为了清洁。 As for the first five days of Chinese new year, people are not allowed to throw away any rubbish because the rubbish is regarded as fortune which cannot be swept off。就新年的前五天来说，人们不允许扔掉任何垃圾因为垃圾被视为财富不能被清扫掉。 However, after the Festival of Po Wu (破五， po wu)， many taboos can be broken。然而在破五之后，许多禁忌就可被打破。 Thus, people finally can clean up their houses again。于是，人们最后会再打扫一遍他们的房子。 大年初七，人日捞鱼生
Take yusheng on this day to celebrate everyone’s birthday. (鱼生), also known as lo hei (Cantonese for 捞起, lao qi, or toss up) is a Chinese style raw fish salad. Today is commonly referred to as 人日 ( ren ri, the day of human) and it is considered as birthday for everyone. 这天通常被称为人日，被认为是每个人的生日。 In most part of China, people will have noodles on this day, because noodles symbolise longevity in Chinese culture. 在中国的大部分地区，人们会在这一天吃面条，因为在中国的文化中，面条象征着长寿。 In south part of China and even South East Asia, particularly Malaysia and Singapore, Chinese people will take yusheng on this day to celebrate everyone’s birthday. (鱼生)， also known as lo hei (Cantonese for 捞起， lao qi, or toss up) is a Chinese style raw fish salad. 在中国的南方，甚至是在东南亚地区，特别是马来西亚和新加坡，中国人会在这一天拿鱼生来庆祝每个人的生日。这种中国式的生鱼沙律也被称为lo hei(捞起鱼生)。 It usually consists of strips of raw fish (most commonly salmon)， mixed with shredded vegetables and a variety of sauces and condiments, among other ingredients. 它通常由生鱼条(多为鲑鱼)拌入蔬菜丁，再加入多种酱汁及作料，与其他配料一并食用。 Yusheng literally means ‘raw fish’ but since ‘fish (鱼)’ is commonly conflated with its homophone “abundance (余)”， yusheng (鱼生) is interpreted as a homophone for yusheng (余升) meaning an increase in abundance. 鱼生字面意思就是“生的鱼肉”，但是因为“鱼”和“余”发音相同，鱼生被解释为同音词“余升”，寓意为高升有余。 Therefore, yusheng is considered as a symbol of abundance and prosperity. 因此，鱼生便成了富足、发财的象征。 The yusheng had fish served with white radish, carrots, red pepper, turnips, red pickled ginger, sun-dried oranges, Chinese parsley, chopped peanuts, toasted sesame seeds, Chinese shrimp crackers (or fried dried shrimp)， five spice powder and other ingredients, laced with a sauce using plum sauce, rice vinegar, kumquat paste and sesame oil. 鱼生的配料包括萝卜(白色小萝卜)、胡萝卜、红辣椒、芜菁、紫姜泥、橘子干、柠檬叶、芫荽、干辣椒、海蜇皮、花生末、烤芝麻、炸虾米、五香粉等，再加入由酸梅酱、米醋、金丝橘膏及香油调制的酱汁。 It is common to say auspicious wishes as each ingredient is added。一般说来，每个加进去的配料都意为吉祥如意。 大年初八，谷日惜粮食
The birthday of millet, to attach importance to agriculture and cherish food It is believed to be the birthday of millet, an important crop in ancient China, a typical agricultural society. 这天被认为是谷子的生日，它是在典型的农业社会的古代中国最重要的农作物。 People take the 7th day as the birthday of human while 8th day of birthday of the main food for human. 人们把初七当做人类的生日而初八则作为人们最主要的食物的生日。 It is called Millet Day (谷子节 or 谷日, gu zi jie or gu ri). According to the folk proverbs, if this day is bright and clear, then this whole year will be a harvest year; however, if this day is cloudy or even rainy, then the whole year will suffer from poor harvest. 这天被称为“谷日”。民间认为，如果这一天天气好，则这一年稻谷丰收；然而，如果这天天气多云甚至下雨，则年歉。 Although millet is no longer among the staple food in China, the celebration of this day is still of great significance. 虽然谷子再也不是中国的主食之一了，但是在这一天庆祝仍然具有重要的意义。 The aim of this day, which is to attach importance to agriculture and cherish food, still matters today. This is especially important to children to form a good habit to cherish food. 这天的目的是重视农业和珍惜粮食仍然是很重要的。特别是对孩子养成珍惜粮食的好习惯尤为重要。 大年初九，拜关公。
It is believed to be the birthday of the Jade Emperor (玉皇大帝，yu huang da di, or 天公，tian gong) who is the Supreme Deity of Taoism. 这天被认为是道家的最高神灵玉皇大帝的生辰。 It is one of the most important celebrations in Chinese culture, the Jade Emperor’s birthday is touted as grander than the first day of the Chinese New Year as it is like a thanksgiving celebration. 这是中国文化中最重要的庆祝活动之一，玉皇大帝的生辰据说是新年的后面第一天就像感恩节庆祝一样。 Moreover, it also marks the New Year for the Hokkien community. There will be grand ceremonies in Taoist temples on this day. 此外，这也标志着福建地区的新年，这一天要到道教寺庙拜天公。 Ordinary families also have their own way to celebrate the birthday of the Jade Emperor. 平常的家庭也有自己庆祝玉皇大帝生辰的方式。 Beginning from the midnight of the 8th day of the Chinese New Year to 4 o’clock before the dawn of the ninth day, people will keep setting off firecrackers. On this day, people usually offer sacrifices to the Jade Emperor. 从新年初八的午夜到初九的凌晨4点，人们会放鞭炮。人们通常在这天祭祀玉皇大帝。 大年初十，祭石感恩。有天还有地，人畜房米麦百谷都生地。
The birthday of the God of Stone (石神，shi shen),people will burn incense and candles for the stones, and offer pancake to the God of Stone. Today is the 10th day of the 1st month in Lunar Calendar. It is believed to be the birthday of the God of Stone (石神，shi shen). 今天是农历正月初十。这天被认为是石神的生日。 As China is a typical agricultural society and stones were used in making food and medicines, and even for decoration. 由于中国是典型的传统农业社会，石头被用来制作食物和药物甚至可以来装饰。 It is considered as a very important part of Chinese daily life. 这被认为是中国日常生活中非常重要的一部分。 On the very next day of the birthday of the Jade Emperor, people will celebrate the birthday of the God of Stone. 在玉皇大帝生辰的后一天，人们将会庆祝石神的诞生。 On this day, it is forbidden to move any stone, including stone roller, stone mill and even Chinese herb/drug grinder which was made by stone, so this day is also known as ‘Shi Bu Dong’ (a homophone of 石不动, meaning not move any stone, and 十不动, literally meaning ten not moving, implying it is the 10th day of Chinese New Year). 在这天，禁止搬动任何的石头，包括石磨，石材厂以及用石头做的中药磨床。因此，这天也被叫做“石不动”。 In addition, it is also forbidden to cut into a mountain for rock and build a house with rocks, or bad things will happen to the crops. 另外，开挖山体和用是头建造房子也是被禁止的，否则会有不好的事情发生在农作物上。 On this day, families will burn incense and candles for the stones, and offer pancake to the God of Stone. Nowadays, this celebration with regional variations still can be seen at rural areas where people are still using stone tools to a very large extent. 这天，家里会给石神点燃熏香和蜡烛，供奉煎饼。如今，地区差异的庆祝活动还能在农村地区看见，很大程度上人们还在使用石制的工具。 正月十一，岳父请女婿
Fathers-in-law (wife’s father) to entertain sons-in-law (wife’s husband) Today is the 11th day of the 1st month on Lunar Calendar. This day is for fathers-in-law (wife’s father) to entertain sons-in-law (wife’s husband). 今天是农历正月十一。这天是岳父（妻子的父亲）来招待女婿的（妻子的老公）。 There is a lot of food left on the 9th day of the Chinese New Year when celebrating the birthday of the Jade Emperor, so the left over of that day can be used to entertain the sons-in law. 在正月初九庆祝玉皇大帝生辰这天留下了很多的食物，因此那天剩下的食物被用来招待女婿。 In many areas, after this day, people will start preparing for the upcoming Lantern Festival which is on the 15th day of Chinese New Year. 在许多地区，这天之后人们将开始准备即将来临的正月十五元宵节。 正月十二，搭建灯棚。元宵节将近，开始做元宵赏灯的准备工作。 Families will buy some lanterns and build the lantern shack.
正月十三，灶下点灯，预放元宵。 The preparation for Lantern Festival is still going on.
正月十五，元宵节观灯，吃汤圆 Celebrated the Lantern Festival， eat sweet dumplings.
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