Lunar New Year , the most solemn of traditional Chinese folk festivals. First day of the first lunar month in the traditional Chinese lunar calendar, known as the Moon, commonly known as "New Year" and "New Year." The long history of the Spring Festival, which originated in the Shang period the year draws to a close servicemen and the memorial activities. According to China's Lunar, the first day of the first lunar month yen ancient name, Yuan-chen, a copy, is Emperor, the New Year Day, which is commonly known as Day of the Republic. switch to the Gregorian calendar, the calendar on January 1 as New Year's Day, January 1st called the Lunar Spring Festival.
春节是中国民间最隆重的传统节日。在夏历正月初一，又叫阴历年，俗称“过年”、“新年”。春节的历史很悠久，它来历于殷商时期年头岁尾的祭神祭祖活动。按照我国农历，正月 初一古称元日、元辰、元正、元朔、元旦等，俗称年初一，到民国时期，改用公历，公历的一月一日称为元旦，把农历的一月一日叫春节。
Spring Festival is the most important holiday for Chinese people. Excitement and happiness are palpable this time of the year， and they reach the peak on lunar new year‘s eve.
春节对于中国人来说是最重要的节日。在每年的春节都让人兴高采烈，尤其是大年三十那晚，更是达到了高潮。
Though the 15-day period， which starts with the first day of the lunar new year and ends on the 15th day （known as Lantern Festival）， is relatively long， it is the busiest time of the year for Chinese people. The arrangements they have to make for family reunions， buying necessities and preparing food keeps them busy throughout the holiday. Many of them travel back home and meet friends over dinner and drinks. The celebrations include decorating the house and setting off fireworks.
春节历时15天，也就从大年初一开始，到元月十五元宵节结束。这段比较长的时间是中国人最忙的时候。他们为家庭聚会作安排，采购年货，准备丰盛的食物，以至于整个春节假期都忙忙碌碌的。许多人在春季期间都要回老家过年，跟朋友碰碰头，聚个餐。庆祝春节也包括大扫除和放烟火。
But we are talking about a tradition that seems to be fading.
但是我们现在要谈的是越来越淡的年味。
Spring Festival， as it is celebrated today， has undergone many changes， thanks to the country‘s economic development and globalization.
现在的春节已经因为我国经济的发展和全球化的影响而改变了很多。
Yet no Spring Festival is complete without food. People could not get good food whenever they desired in earlier times， something that does not apply to society today. More often than not， people faced the risk of famine. The best time for people to celebrate was when food was available in plenty， and that was possible in spring， or the beginning of the lunar new year. That was the main reason why Spring Festival acquired such great importance among Chinese people.
但是没有哪个春节是完全离得开“吃”的。从前，不论人们提前多久想要买年货，总是不能如愿，而现在早已今非昔比。过去常常还要闹饥荒。人们最好的庆祝时间就是他们能得到食物丰盛的时候，也就是春天或是元月初的那段时间。那也是为什么春节对于中国人如此重要的主要原因。
But three decades of economic growth has ensured that people in China， except for those who are still poor， can enjoy a good meal whenever they want. Such has been the change in people‘s fortune that some have to be treated for obesity and other health problems associated with excessive eating.
但是三十年来的经济发展已经让中国人，除了那些仍然穷苦的人以外，随时都能享受美食。这得益于人民财富的增长，但是后者也导致一些人吃得太多而受到肥胖威胁和健康问题。
In the past， celebrations were limited to events like song-and-dance duets in North China， dragon/lion dances in South China and fireworks， which required the joint efforts of the entire community. But economic development and urbanization seems to have weakened the social links among people. Many， especially those living in cities， are not interested in celebrating the festival with people they hardly know.
在过去，庆祝春节还只停留在北方的二人转和南方的舞龙舞狮等形式。那些庆祝活动往往需要许多人合力才能办得起来。但是经济的发展和国际化程度的提升似乎已经将这种社会联系弱化了。许多人，特别是城市居民，不太愿意与不相识的人一起共度春节。
Many customs associated with Spring Festival have changed， too. In the past， people used to visit relatives and friends with gifts and lots of good wishes. Today， many people， especially the youth， use their cell phones or the Internet to send their good wishes and even "gifts" to their relatives and friends. Some may say this a sign that people have become less caring about their near and dear ones， but we should see this development as a time- and energy-saving exercise granted by the information age.
与春节相关的许多习俗也被改变了。在过去，人们常常会带着礼物走亲访友，互道祝福。今天许多人，特别是年轻人，用手机或是网络向亲朋好友发去“礼物”和祝福。有些人或许会说，这说明人们已经没有那么关心至爱亲朋了，但是我们应该把这种变化看作信息化时代省钱省力的好办法。
In recent times， many people have started praying for a career promotion or more money instead of invoking God or the Buddha for a healthy and long life and the welfare of their family. But the number of such people is decreasing now， which shows that people are becoming more reasonable.
最近几年，许多人开始祈祷事业高升，财源滚滚，而不是求神拜佛，他们身体健康，长命百岁，家庭美满。但是这样的人数现在正在减少，说明人们开始变得更加理性。
Lunar new year, which falls on the first day of the lunar new year, also known as the Spring Festival, the Spring Festival is the Chinese lunar Suishou, is the Chinese folk is most grand, the most lively of an ancient traditional festivals, Spring Festival in Chinese folk custom is probably the evolution of from the primitive society "La Festival". Spring Festival is also called "new year", commonly known as "years", the year is a monster, the year round in the deep sea, only new year's Eve to climb ashore. It is the flood went ashore. Later, people at home in front of the pasted red paper, yard burning firewood rope stir, with a kitchen knife chop meat dishes, a thunderous sound. The "year" scared back to escape back to the sea. So there will be a new year's Eve paste couplets, hanging lanterns, wearing new clothes, but also chop stuffing dumplings dumplings, night also rope stir, burning firewood --- it is years. The lunar calendar the twelfth lunar month thirty, move clockwise at twelve when they came to the spring festival. According to the Chinese lunar calendar, commonly known as the beginning of the year, the traditional celebration from the new year's Eve has continued until the first month of the Lantern Festival fifteen. The first day of the first month before worship, wiping filthy. On the 30th to paste the goalkeeper, couplet, eating dumplings, setting off firecrackers, the new year's Eve "detainees" ceremony; the Lunar New Year's day, new year's elders to younger people, and then to the family and friends of Chinese New Year. When friends meet for the first time, said some "rich" and "Happy New Year" and other words to congratulate each other, new son-in-law to to the wife's parents house in the new year, in the general election of the third year. In addition, all except each other to ascend a happy new year, festivals and give children pressure old money, lion dance, playing the dragon, played Club fire, visiting the flower market, such as Shangding practices. Lantern town during this period, visitors to the streets, until the Lantern Festival is a grand occasion.
中国古时侯有一种叫”年”的怪兽，头长尖角，凶猛异常，”年”兽长年深居海底，每到除夕，爬上岸来吞食牲畜伤害人命，因此每到除夕，村村寨寨的人们扶老携幼，逃往深山，以躲避”年”的伤害．
农历新年也就是大年初一，也称春节，春节是中国农历的岁首，也是中国民间最隆重、最热闹的一个古老传统节日，中国民间过春节的习惯，大抵是从原始社会时代的"腊祭"演变而来的。春节又叫"过年"，俗称"年"，年是一只怪兽，一年四季都在深海里，只有除夕才爬上岸来。它一上岸，所到之处便是洪水泛滥。后来人们在家门口贴起红纸，院子里烧柴禾、拢旺火，用菜刀剁菜肉，发出雷鸣般的声音。把“年”吓回逃回了海里。于是就有了除夕贴对联，挂彩灯，穿新衣，还要剁饺馅包饺子，晚上还要拢旺火、烧柴禾，------这就是年了。 到了农历腊月三十日，时针移过半夜十二点的时候，春节便来到了。按照我国农历，俗称年初一，传统的庆祝活动则从除夕一直持续到正月十五元宵节。正月初一前有祭祖、扫除污秽。三十日要贴门神、对联、吃饺子、放鞭炮，除夕"守岁"等仪式；正月初一，晚辈向长辈拜年，然后到亲友家贺年。亲友第一次见面时，说些 "发财"、"过年好"等话互相祝贺，新女婿要到岳父母家中拜年，一般选在年初三，另外，各地除互相登门拜年，节日中还有给儿童压岁钱、舞狮子，耍龙灯，演社火，逛花市，赏灯会等习俗。这期间花灯满城，游人满街，盛况 空前，直到元宵节。本回答被网友采纳