Ancient ways of welcoming lunar New Year

　　古代人怎么迎接新年

　　Preparations for the lunar New Year traditionally started well in advance of New Year's Day. The seven days before New Year's Eve were set aside for the annual housecleaning， or the "sweeping of the grounds." Every corner of the house had to be cleaned for the new year.

　　过年前的一礼拜要进行一次大扫除。

　　Spring couplets，written in black ink on large vertical scrolls of red paper，were put on the walls or on both sides of gateways. These couplets， short poems written in classical Chinese，were expressions of good wishes for the family in the coming year.

　　用黑墨水红纸写上带有喜庆字句的春联。

　　In addition， symbolic flowers and fruits were used to decorate the house， and colorful New Year pictures were placed on the walls.

　　此外，假花和水果装饰在屋子里，还要挂年画。

　　In rural areas， after the housecleaning， it was time to bid farewell to the Kitchen God. The Kitchen God was regarded as the guardian of the family hearth. By tradition， the Kitchen God left the house on the 23rd day of the last month to report to heaven on the behavior of the family and would return on the first day of the New Year. On the evening of the 23rd day，the family would give the Kitchen

　　农历腊月23，还要祭灶王爷。

　　On the last day of the old year， everyone was busy either preparing food， or in going to the barbers and getting tidied up for New Year's Day. Tradition stipulated that all food be prepared in advance so sharp implements， such as knives and scissors， could be put away to avoid cutting the "luck" of the New Year. The kitchen and well were not to be disturbed on the first day of the New Year. On New Year's Day， the children were given little red envelopes with good luck money inside. On New Year's Day， people would put on new clothes and their best behavior. It was considered improper to tell a lie， raise one's voice， use indecent language， or break anything on the first day of the year.

　　在旧年的最后一天，每个人都在忙着准备食物，或者去理发店为新年做准备。传统规定，所有的食物都要提前准备好，所以像刀和剪刀这样锋利的工具可以放在一边，以避免切断新年的“运气”。在新年的第一天，厨房和井是不会被打扰的。新年那天，孩子们会收到装着压岁钱的小红包。在新年的第一天，人们会穿上新衣服和他们最好的行为。人们认为在新年的第一天说谎、提高嗓门、使用不雅的语言或打破任何东西都是不恰当的。