Xinnian kuaile!
新年快乐！
Happy new year!
新年快乐！
Join us as we explore Lunar New Year, a holiday that dates back thousands of years.
跟我们一起了解一下农历新年这个传承了数千年的节日吧。
Today we'll travel to China to explore the rich traditions that have been passed down from generations to celebrate the holiday.
今天，我们会去中国探寻那些从祖辈流传至今丰富多彩的春节习俗。
Another year of good fortune is beginning in China.
在中国，新一年的好运又开始了。
Fireworks pop high in the sky.
烟花在天空中绽放。
Dragons dance in the streets and the city slows down to celebrate Lunar New Year.
舞龙表演在街头巷尾随处可见，整座城市都放慢脚步喜迎农历新年。
In Chinese culture it's the most important time of the year rooted in traditions and customs passed down through the ages.
在中国文化中，代代相传的传统习俗认为这是一年中最重要的时刻。
The celebration lasts for 15 magical days full of family togetherness, delicious food and good fortune.
庆祝活动将持续15个美妙的日日夜夜，每天都有安排的满满当当的家庭聚会，享用不尽的美食和好运。
Today Lunar New Year is filled with happiness, but according to legend, it didn't start out that way.
如今，春节处处洋溢着幸福祥和。但在传说中，刚开始的时候并非如此。
A long long time ago, in China there was a big scary nasty beast named Nian whose name means "Year".
很久很久以前，在中国有一个名叫“年”的野兽，它体型巨大，长相凶猛，极其危险。
He had razor-sharp teeth, giant claws and a really mean growl.
它有着利齿和巨爪，还会发出凶狠的咆哮声。
Most of the time, he lived in the wilderness.
它大部分时间住在荒野里。
But on the darkest night of the year when the new moon was in the sky,
但在一年中最黑暗的夜晚，也就是天上只剩一弯新月时，
he would sneak into the village and scare everyone in sight, even the animals.
它会潜入村庄，吓走遇到的每个人，连动物也不放过。
People dreaded the new moon for many many years until a wise man taught them the three things Nian was afraid of.
多年来，人们一直惧怕新月之夜，直到一位智者告诉他们“年”害怕三样东西。
Loud noises, fire and the color red.
巨大的声响，火和红色。
The next time Nian came, the villagers fought back.
当“年”再次出现的时候，村民们奋起反抗。
They hit their drums as loud as they could, lit every firecracker they had and wore the color red from head to toe.
他们铆足了劲敲鼓，点燃所有的鞭炮，而且从头到脚都身着红色。
Nian ran far away and never came back.
“年”跑得老远，再也没有回来过。
After that, the people started celebrating the new moon instead of fearing it.
从此，人们开始庆祝新月之夜而不再害怕它。
That celebration became a 15-day festival of family, food and good fortune called Lunar New Year.
庆祝活动逐渐演变成为一个为期15天的节日，可以与亲人团聚、享用美食以及祈福，这个节日被称为“农历新年”。
Every Lunar New Year is always represented by one of 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac chosen by the Jade Emperor of China.
每个农历新年都由中国十二生肖中的一种动物来代表，这十二种动物是由玉皇大帝选出来的。
Centuries and centuries ago, according to legend a long time ago in China, the Jade Emperor held a great race.
在中国古老的神话传说中，很久以前，玉皇大帝举行了一场规模空前的竞赛。
The first 12 animals to reach his palace would be the winners and they would each get a year named after them in their honor.
首先抵达皇宫的12个动物将获胜，奖励就是以每个胜利者的名字命名一整年。
During the race, the ox was winning until he had to cross a rushing river.
比赛中，眼看着牛只要越过一条湍急的河流就能获胜。
The rat was right behind him and couldn't swim very well, so the kind ox let the rat ride on his back.
紧随其后的老鼠不怎么会游泳，于是好心的牛就让老鼠骑在了自己背上。
As soon as they got to the other side, the rat jumped off and scurried to the finish line to win the race first.
他们一到对岸，老鼠就跳下来冲向终点第一个获胜。
That's why the first year in the Chinese zodiac calendar is the year of the rat.
所以老鼠排在十二生肖之首。
Eleven other animals reached the palace to create the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac.
另外11个动物相继到达天宫，形成了12年一循环的十二生肖。
It said that the animal your birth year is named after can shape your personality and destiny.
据说你的生肖决定了你的个性和命运。
You might be honest like a dragon or smart like a monkey.
你或许像龙那样正气凛然，也可能像猴子一样聪明伶俐。
When your animal takes its turn in the zodiac cycle, legend has it that your year will be full of surprises.
据说本命年会充满惊喜。
But no matter which animal you are, everyone is excited to honor these ancient traditions even in modern New Year celebrations.
但不管你的生肖是什么，人人都乐意恪守这些古老的传统，即便在现代的春节庆祝活动中依然如此。
Today Lunar New Year brings families together all over the world.
现在，春节能让身处世界各地的家庭团聚。
In fact, billions of people travel back to their homes and families in China to feast on a delicious reunion dinner with plates and plates of a homemade food.
实际上，无数中国人都会回到家人身边享用美味的年夜饭，品尝一盘盘家乡菜。
Many of the foods like egg rolls, noodles and shrimp means something special.
许多食物都有特别的寓意，比如春卷，面条和虾。
Egg rolls symbolize wealth for the coming year because they look like bars of solid gold.
春卷象征着来年的财富，因为它们看起来很像金条。
Changming noodles shouldn't be cut because long noodles symbolize health for a long life.
长寿面不能夹断，因为长长的面条寓意健康长寿。
Shrimp symbolizes happiness because the Mandarin words for shrimp and smile sound very similar.
虾代表快乐，因为普通话里“虾”和“笑”的发音很像。
As part of the festivities, lucky red envelopes called Hong Bao are passed out to children as well as unmarried adults.
作为节庆的一个内容，汉语里叫做“红包”的幸运红包会发给孩子以及还未成家的成年人。
In Chinese culture, the color red symbolizes luck. In order to receive the red envelopes, well wishes are given to the elders.
在中国文化中，红色象征幸运。为了得到红包，孩子会给长者送上美好的祝福。
Thank you, grandpa.
谢谢爷爷。
Money is inside each envelope to bring prosperity and good fortune in the coming year.
红包里都会塞上钱，希望给来年带来兴旺和好运。
During all 15 days of Lunar New Year, it is a time to reflect on the passing year and celebrate the future.
春节的这15天，是回顾往年同时预祝未来的好时机。
Bright fireworks light up the sky and huge parades line the streets until the final day of the New Year celebration.
明亮的烟花点燃夜空，大规模的游行队伍在街头欢腾，这样的庆祝活动会一直持续到节日最后一天。
The lantern festival when thousands of red lanterns glow in the night to bring good fortune to all.
也就是元宵节的时候，千万盏灯笼照亮黑夜，为大家带来好运。
No matter where you live, you can join the festivities.
不管你身处何地，都能加入庆祝的人群。
Whether it's one reunion dinner with your family or 15 days of celebrating togetherness.
无论是和家人吃一顿团圆饭，还是整整15天的团聚。
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