The Chinese New Year has a great history. In our past, people lived in an agricultural society and worked all year long. They only took a break after the harvest and before the planting of seeds. This happens to coincide with the beginning of the lunar New Year.

　　The Chinese New Year is very similar to the Western one, rich in traditions, folklores and rituals. It has been said that it is a combination of the Western Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year. This is hardly an exaggeration!

　　The origin of the Chinese New Year itself is centuries old - in fact, too old to actually be traced. It is popularly recognized as the Spring Festival and celebrations last 15 days.

　　Preparations tend to begin a month before the date of the Chinese New Year (similar to a Western Christmas). During this time people start buying presents, decoration materials, food and clothing. A huge clean-up gets underway days before the New Year, when Chinese houses are cleaned from top to bottom. This ritual is supposed to sweep away all traces of bad luck. Doors and windowpanes are often given a new coat of paint, usually red, then decorated with paper cuts and couplets with themes such as happiness, wealth and longevity printed on them.

　　中国新年有一个伟大的历史。在过去,人们住在一个农业社会和全年工作。他们只休息后收获和播种前种子。这正好和农历新年的开始。

　　中国农历新年非常类似于西方,丰富的传统,民俗文化和礼仪。有人说,这是一个结合西方的感恩节,圣诞节和新年。这不是夸张!

　　农历新年的起源本身已经有几个世纪的历史了——事实上,老被追踪。普遍认为是春节,庆祝活动持续15天。

　　准备开始倾向于一个月前中国新年的日期(类似于西方的圣诞节)。在这期间人们开始购买礼物,装饰材料、食物和衣服。一个巨大的清理开始在新年的前几天,当中国房子清洁从上到下。这个仪式是为了扫除坏运气的痕迹。门和窗户玻璃通常是给定一个新的漆皮,通常红色,然后用剪纸和对联装饰主题如幸福、财富和长寿印刷。