中国农历新年，为什么不能翻译成Lunar New Year？

爆竹声中一岁除，
Amid the crackle of firecrackers,
the old year takes flight.
春风送暖入屠苏。
The spring breeze brings warmth,
and Tusu wine brings delight.
千门万户曈曈日，
On countless households,
the morning sun gleams.
总把新桃换旧符。
As fresh peachwood charms take
the old ones' place.

公元1069年，北宋著名诗人、政治家王安石（1021-1086）创作了这首诗，以庆祝新春的到来。
诗中洋溢着欢快的情绪，映射出王安石刚刚得到皇帝重用，春风得意、踌躇满志的心境。尽管他此后发起的种种改革遭遇了政治对手的激烈反对，这首充盈着希望的诗却历久弥新，被一代又一代中国人在春节期间吟诵。



In 1069, Wang Anshi, the renowned poet and statesman of the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), composed this poem to celebrate the arrival of a new year. The poem endures as a timeless expression of hope, memorized and recited by generations of Chinese during the New Year celebrations, including the coming one.


“过年——春节主题展”展出的全国各地的手工艺品。摄影：姜东

这是一份深深根植于季节的承诺之中的希望：中国传统历法将冬末春初之际定为一年之始，其中所蕴含的生机与更新之意不言自明，这也是为什么中国新年又被称为“春节”。
值得说明的是，尽管中国新年常常被称为农历新年，但传统的中国历法融合了月亮（阴历）和太阳（阳历）运转的计时周期，其核心在于使农业实践与自然节奏相协调。在中国，新年也标志着农耕季节的开始、大地的解冻、万物的复苏和希望的萌动。
这也是为什么中国农历新年不建议直接翻译成Lunar New Year，而要翻译成Chinese New Year的原因。
And that hope is rooted in a seasonal promise: the traditional Chinese calendar aligns the New Year with the end of winter and the beginning of spring, hence the name "Spring Festival".
At the core of the calendar, which integrated both moon-based (lunar) and sun-based (solar) cycles of timekeeping, is an effort to harmonize agricultural and social practices with the rhythm of nature. The New Year marks the start of the farming season, as hope stirs beneath the thawing earth.



数千年来，春节的传统和历法一样不断演变。虽然新年从午夜钟声敲响时开始，但欢庆活动通常会延续数周，从除夕前直至正月十五元宵节。
The calendar had evolved over thousands of years, so did Chinese New Year traditions. While the New Year itself begins at the stroke of midnight, the festive celebrations typically extend for weeks, and in certain areas, even over a month, commencing days before Chinese New Year's Eve.
王安石所深情描绘的一切——他那个时代的人们在岁末年初所遵循的传统习俗——至今仍焕发着勃勃生机。尽管中国已不再是昔日的农耕社会，但人们对暖春回归的期盼、对与亲人团聚的期待、对过往岁月的怀念以及对新的一年的憧憬，是恒久不变的。而春节，正是这些深厚情感汇聚的时刻。
Everything Wang so vividly recounted — the customs his contemporaries embraced at this time of year — continues to thrive today. And here's the reason: although China is no longer the agrarian society it had been, the yearning for warmth’s return, the joy of being with loved ones, the bond to the past, and the promise of renewal all endure — each beautifully symbolized by Chinese New Year.


国家级非遗代表性传承人林顺奎制作的乐清首饰龙 摄影：姜东

正如王安石所言，旧岁唯有在鞭炮的噼啪声中才会离去——那雷鸣般的声音震颤着街道两旁的窗户，孩子们捂着耳朵欢笑，留下一地曾经包裹着火药的红色纸屑。鲜为人知的是，虽然中国人很早就发明了火药，但我们今天所熟知的鞭炮，其实是在王安石所处的宋代——因与邻国战事频发，火药制造技术得到显著的改进与发展，才逐渐兴起的。
As Wang rightly noted, the old year would only depart at the ear-splitting sound of firecrackers — tiny thunderclaps that rattle street-level windows, send children cupping their ears in delight and leave a confetti of shredded red paper that once wrapped the fiery explosives. Yet, few know that the firecrackers we recognize today only emerged during Wang's time, as gunpowder — first invented by the Chinese around the 9th century — advanced significantly due to the frequent warfare between the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and its neighbors.


2021年2月12日上午9时，大年初一，深圳市龙岗区吉华街道的甘坑客家小镇锣鼓喧天、鞭炮齐鸣，麒麟队逐家逐户拜年，惹得村民笑逐颜开，村里洋溢着浓郁的新年气息 黄志/China Daily

在此之前，尖锐的爆炸声是通过点燃干竹竿发出的，因此鞭炮在中国被称为“爆竹”。另外，人们甩响鞭子也能产生响亮的爆裂声，这也就是“鞭炮”的由来。
Before that, the sharp, explosive sound was made by igniting dried bamboo stalks, which is why the Chinese name for firecrackers is bao zhu, meaning "bamboo burst". Alternatively, the resounding crack could be produced by snapping a whip, giving firecrackers the name bian pao, meaning "whip blast".
鞭炮在夜空中绽放出震耳欲聋的活力乐章，并非仅仅是为了刺激耳朵制造气氛，而是为了驱逐一头名为“年”的猛兽。
传说中，这头猛兽形似狮子，每在岁末年初出现，专门在夜间出没吃人，令人闻风丧胆。后来村里的一位老者发现，年兽看似无敌，却惧怕日光，不喜红色，尤其讨厌喧闹的声音。因此，人们为了保护自己，会在除夕夜张贴红色的对联、窗花，点起灯火，同时通过打鼓、放爆竹来驱赶年兽，祈求平安。


年兽

While the firecrackers created a chaotic symphony full of energy, it was not to delight the ears, but to drive away a ferocious beast. This beast, named nian — the same character for "year" — once struck terror in the villages, according to legend, until a wise old man discovered that despite its apparent invincibility, nian feared three things: loud noises, bright lights and the color red. Thus, firecrackers exploded in the night, candles flickered until dawn, and lanterns swayed from every rooftop, while the color red seemed to be everywhere, from scarlet couplets and paper-cut window decorations to red envelopes filled with money, gifted to the younger generation as a blessing of good fortune.


2023年1月20日，广西梧州，万秀区夏郢镇古藤村的村民沿袭传统的过年风俗，打扫房前屋后，在自家门头贴春联、合影全家福、放鞭炮，喜迎新年，祈求来年农业风调雨顺、丰产丰收，村民生活富裕 何华文/China Daily

至于为何“年”常被视作一种“破坏之力”，文化历史学家们长久以来一直众说纷纭。有人推测，这或许与冬日严寒所带来的艰难困苦息息相关。新年的到来如同一缕温暖的春风，为人们带来慰藉与希望，赋予人们战胜不幸、摒弃旧我、超越过往、迎接新生的勇气与力量。
How did nian come to be seen as a force of destruction? Cultural historians have long pondered this, suggesting it may be tied to the unforgiving nature of winter. Yet, with the arrival of the new year comes a gentle assurance — a chance to triumph over misfortune, over the weight of the past, and over the person we once were.



“过去的年华像一座一座的山横在我后面。假使我回过头去，转身往后面走，翻越过一座山又一座山，我就会看见我的童年......”
中国近现代文学巨匠巴金（原名李尧棠，1904-2005）在其作品《过年》写道。
文中他忆起儿时某个难忘的新年，孩提时代的他“穿着臃肿的黄缎子棉袍和花缎棉鞋，一个人躲在花园后面一个小天井里燃放‘地老鼠’之类的花炮，不知道怎样竟然把自己的棉鞋烧起来了”。



“我并不愿意年光倒流重返到儿时去，纵使这儿时真如一般人所说，是梦一般地美丽。”巴金说。
他继而反思了自身的历史使命：“我对于同时代的青年的热望，又做过什么事情呢？我们这时代的青年的热望不也就是——爱那被虐待受侮辱的同胞，为自由、平等、博爱而奋斗吗？”
"All the passing years lay behind me, like distant mountain ranges… separating me from my childhood," wrote venerated Chinese author Ba Jin (Li Yaotang, 1904-2005) in Ring in the New Year (Guo Nian), recalling how, as a boy, he once burned his cotton-padded shoes with firecrackers during an unforgettable New Year's moment. Yet, he confessed that even if he could return to that sweet dream of childhood, he would not, for he had to confront the pain of his soul and his duty "to love his much-suffered countrymen and to fight for freedom and peace".
巴金写下这段文字的时候，是1934年的春节，那时距离日本发动“九一八事变”、侵占中国东北已逾两年半，而中国抗日战争（1931-1945）的烽火也即将在三年多后燃起。
在那个阴云密布、前途未卜的年代，中国新年不仅仅意味着欢聚与庆祝，它更成为了决心与勇气的象征，庄严地警示着世人：那些深深植根于千年历史土壤中的文化传统与遗产，倘若不被我们珍视与捍卫，便可能在转瞬之间崩塌消逝；有时，守护它们甚至需要我们付出生命的代价。
Ba Jin wrote this in 1934, during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45). In those dark and uncertain times, Chinese New Year was no mere celebration — it stood as a testament to resolve, a solemn reminder that even traditions rooted in millennia could crumble if not fiercely protected, sometimes at the cost of life itself.
保留这份珍贵的文化遗产，是对祖先最深切的敬仰。而这份敬仰则深深镌刻于春节传统庆典习俗中。
在被誉为中国古代小说巅峰之作的《红楼梦》里，曹雪芹（1715-1763）以其细腻的笔触，生动再现了一个显赫家族在春节举行的庄重而复杂的祭祖仪式：
“过年最大的礼仪乃是祭祖，年三十、年初一都得祭拜......到年三十大清早，贾母率族中有诰封者，按品级着朝服，八抬大轿一字长龙，进宫朝贺，行礼领宴。回来便直接进宁国府贾氏宗祠祭祖。此时家族中所有人皆须到场.....青衣乐奏，三献爵，拜兴毕，焚帛奠酒，礼毕，乐止，退出。众人围随着贾母至正堂上，影前锦幔高挂，彩屏张护，香烛辉煌。上面正居中悬着宁荣二祖遗像，皆是披蟒腰玉；两边还有几轴列祖遗影。贾荇贾芷等从内仪门挨次列站，直到正堂廊下。”



相比之下，寻常百姓家的方式则更为朴素：在长桌上供奉着祖先的画像，作为祭坛，虔诚地献上食物与香火，以此表达对先辈的缅怀与敬仰。
To preserve that heritage is the highest form of veneration for one's forebears, a tradition deeply embedded in the customs of Chinese New Year celebrations. In Dream of the Red Mansion, widely regarded as the most accomplished novel of ancient China, author Cao Xueqin (1715-63) vividly depicts the intricate rituals of ancestral worship performed by a prominent family of the era. Humbler households followed modest practices, offering food and incense before painted portraits of their ancestors displayed on a long table serving as an altar.

▪ veneration /ˌvenəˈreɪʃn/ 尊敬；崇拜


2016年2月9日，农历大年初二，深圳坪山新区大万世居的曾氏后人举行隆重的传统祭祖仪式，共同祭拜先祖，祈求新年国泰民安

在广袤的中国农村，无论古今，这些祭祖仪式往往都在公共祠堂中举行，那里供奉着共同的祖先，承载着家族的荣耀与记忆。值得一提的是，宗祠通常是早期中国移民抵达异国他乡后最先建造的建筑之一。这些移民中，有些人在150多年前乘坐无动力帆船，横渡浩瀚的太平洋来到美国西海岸。他们参与修建了美国第一条连接东西海岸的铁路，但也深受严重的种族仇视之害——仅在19世纪70至80年代，就发生了近500起针对华人的暴力骚乱，其中绝大部分发生在中国移民集中的加利福尼亚州。
在这样的时代背景下，宗祠成为了中国移民的重要精神庇护所。对于这些早期移民社区的成员来说，庆祝春节不仅是表达文化认同的方式，更是一种抵御同化压力的手段。
In China's rural villages, both past and present, these rites are often conducted in communal temples dedicated to shared ancestors. And it's worth noting that ancestral temples were often the first structures built by early Chinese immigrants, some of whom crossed the Pacific in engineless junks nearly 150 years ago. On the American West Coast, where early Chinese immigrants had endured severe forms of racism — including nearly 500 anti-Chinese riots in the 1870s and 1880s, mostly in California — the temples served as spiritual sanctuaries.
For these communities, celebrating Chinese New Year constituted a profound expression of cultural identity, a means of resisting assimilation.


2012年1月30日，英国纽卡斯尔市，英国“蔡李佛”为纽卡斯尔民众带来的精彩舞龙表演 苟秉宸/China Daily

在一张摄于20世纪早期的黑白照片中，一条龙蜿蜒穿梭于热闹的美国街道，两旁商铺悬挂着英文招牌。


20世界早期美国唐人街舞龙庆祝中国新年

龙舞，作为中国新年庆典的重要组成部分，已拥有上千年的历史，其起源可追溯至古代的祭祀仪式。这些仪式旨在祈求龙的庇护，因为龙作为有象征力量的神兽，被视为能带来甘霖、确保丰收的神灵。
In an early 20th-century black-and-white photograph of the festival, a puppet dragon weaves its serpentine movements down a bustling American street, flanked by storefronts adorned with English signs. Performed during Chinese New Year celebrations for over a millennium, the dragon dance likely evolved from ancient rituals meant to invoke the blessings of the dragon, a symbol of power believed to bring rain and ensure a bountiful harvest.

▪ rituals /ˈrɪtʃʊəlz/ 典礼
▪ bountiful / ˈbaʊntɪf(ə)l / 丰富的；慷慨的

照片中，表演者操控着由多节竹架支撑、布料覆盖而成的龙形道具。他们或许早在移民美国之前，就在家乡学习和传承了这一技艺。抵达美国后，许多人投身于修建铁路或经营洗衣店的艰辛劳作中。春节成为了他们难得的契机，得以用热闹喜庆的方式自豪地展现自己的文化，彰显自身的存在。因此，即便有些地区禁止燃放鞭炮，一些人仍会用敲击锅碗瓢盆的方式在中国城内外守护着他们的文化记忆。
The performers in the picture, manipulating the dragon puppet made of cloth stretched over a multi-segmented bamboo framework, likely practiced this tradition in their native Chinese villages before emigrating to the United States where many probably found work as railroad builders and laundry workers. Chinese New Year became one of the rare occasions when these hardworking yet often-overlooked individuals could make their presence known — loudly and proudly. That's perhaps why, even when local ordinances forbade firecrackers, some defiantly banged pots and pans, reclaiming a space for their cultural memory, both in and outside the Chinatown.
通过珍视这种集体记忆，他们将其传承给后代。这些后代在经历了种种艰辛后，逐渐在新的家园中塑造出属于自身的独特身份，并将这一传统延续下去。随着时间的流逝，春节演变为一个全球性的文化现象，连接着每一个华人的心灵，讲述着关于归属、希望与梦想的不朽故事。
By honoring that collective memory, they passed it down to their descendants who, not without much struggle, forged a new identity in their adopted home to carry that heritage forward. Over time, they transformed the festival into a global phenomenon participated by the Chinese diaspora worldwide.


2013年2月16日，北京地坛春节庙会最后一天，大人驮着戴着“京剧脸谱”的小朋友逛庙会

“过了腊八就是年”——按照传统习俗，新年最后的紧张筹备工作自旧历十二月初八便正式拉开序幕。在这段日子里，家家户户都会进行大扫除，寓意着扫除旧岁的霉运，迎接新年的吉祥；人们也会忙着储备各种食物，如腌制腊八蒜、磨豆腐、买肉、蒸馒头等，以备春节期间享用。
The ancient custom dictates that the intense preparations for the New Year begin on the eighth day of the 12th month. This marks the start of the final rush to ready the household for the celebration, including cleaning house, stockpiling food and making new clothes.



当然还要裁制新衣。在消费主义盛行之前很久，中国新年就是对“新”的庆祝。这是一年中少有的几乎人人都会穿上新衣的时刻，这些新衣通常由家中的女性亲手缝制，饱含爱意。对孩子们来说，穿上簇新、带着一丝未经水洗的硬挺感的衣物所带来的兴奋，是一种多年后依然难以忘怀的纯粹快乐。在那个物质并不丰富的年代，春节的魅力被极大地放大了：新衣、新开始，还有穿着新衣的人在镜前细细打量时，心里那种焕然一新的美感与对新生活的无限期许——这一切都是那么美好。
Long before consumerism took hold, Chinese New Year was a celebration of the truly "new". It was the one time of year when people received new clothing, often lovingly handmade by the women of the family. For children, the thrill of wearing something crispy and unspoiled brought pure joy. In a world where newness was a rarity, the festival magnified its allure — new clothes, new beginnings, and a renewed sense of beauty that quietly shone.

▪ crispy /ˈkrɪspi/ （食物的外皮）松脆的；生气勃勃的
▪ allure /əˈlʊr/ 吸引力，魅力

腊月二十三，家中管家庭事务的神仙——灶王爷——将被送往天庭，向至高无上的玉皇大帝禀报这家人过去一年的善恶表现。为了表达对灶王爷的敬意并送其启程，家人通常会供奉包括麦芽糖在内的多种黏甜食物，意在黏住他的嘴，以防他向玉帝透露家中的任何过失——如果真有过失存在的话。到了除夕夜，伴随着噼里啪啦的鞭炮声，人们又会以热烈的仪式迎接灶王爷的回归。
On the 23rd day of the 12th month, the Kitchen God — who, according to legend, oversees the household — is sent to heaven to report to the all-powerful Jade Emperor on the family's behavior over the past year. To bid him farewell, the family typically offers food including sticky sweets like malt sugar, to ensure his lips remain sealed and no misdeed, if there's indeed any, is revealed. This send-off is followed by a spirited welcome-back on New Year's Eve, amid the sound of bursting firecrackers.
同样在除夕夜，中国部分地区的居民还会依照传统，饮用王安石诗中提及的屠苏酒。这种采用多种草药精心酿制的酒，自古以来就被认为具有滋补身体和解毒的神奇功效。饮用时，家中的年轻一辈往往会率先举杯，随后才是年长者。
这一习俗在南北朝时期的梁宗懔所著《荆楚岁时记》中已有记载：“岁饮屠苏，先幼后长，为幼者贺岁，长者祝寿。”这一独特的饮用顺序，映照出人们对时间本质的深刻洞察。每一滴酒液中，都蕴含着成长的喜悦与岁月流逝的哀愁，它们交织在一起，共同构成了人们对生命无常与时间流转的复杂情感。
Also on this eve, Tusu Wine, as mentioned in Wang Anshi's poem, is poured in certain parts of China. By custom, this fermented herbal drink, believed to have a nourishing and detoxifying effect, is first sipped by the younger members of the family, marking the addition of another year to their lives. The older members drink next, acknowledging a year slipping quietly away. In this ritual, the wine becomes more than a drink — it is a bittersweet reflection on the cyclical nature of time, where growth and loss intertwine.

▪ herbal /ˈɜːrb(ə)l/ 草药的
▪ nourishing /ˈnɜːrɪʃɪŋ/ 有营养的；滋养多的
▪ detoxify / diːˈtɑːksɪfaɪ / 使解毒，给……解毒

1978年底，改革开放的春风悄然吹起，逐渐在20世纪80年代晚期吹散了物质匮乏的阴霾。这场波澜壮阔的改革不仅极大地推动了经济的蓬勃发展，还催生出了规模庞大的农民工群体。至1990年代中期，农民工的数量已迅猛增长至过亿。这股从农村涌向工业化城市的劳动力洪流，不仅为中国经济的腾飞注入了强劲动力，更深刻地重塑了农村的生活面貌和社会结构，也对包括春节在内传统节日产生了持久和深刻的影响。
The material scarcity began to ease in the 1980s, following China's reform and opening-up, initiated at the end of 1978. These sweeping reforms, which significantly boosted economic development, also gave rise to a vast population of migrant workers. By the mid-1990s, their numbers had surged to hundreds of millions. The migration of labor from rural areas to industrial cities not only drove China's economic boom but also profoundly altered rural life and social structures, reshaping traditions such as Spring Festival in lasting ways.
对于农民工及其留守在家乡父母妻子而言，春节不再是农忙间隙的休憩，而是成为了一段无比珍贵的团聚时光——一个让因生计而分隔两地的亲人拉近心与心之间距离的机会。返乡的农民工带着城市的繁华故事归来，为家人描绘了一幅幅与乡村宁静生活截然不同的图景。而那些无数次期盼着父母的归来的孩子们，此刻尽情沐浴在至亲的陪伴之中，却又不得不默默为即将到来的离别做好心理准备。
For the migrant workers and the families they have left behind — parents, spouses and children — Spring Festival is no longer a pause in agricultural labor but a much-cherished time of reunion, a brief chance to close the distance imposed by economic necessity. Parents return home with stories of the bustling cities, offering glimpses into a world far removed from the tranquil rhythms of village life. The children, who have ached for their parents' presence, savor the moment even as they brace for another farewell.

▪ tranquil /ˈtræŋkwɪl/ 平静的，宁静的


2024年2月7日，广州南站迎来春运出行客流高峰，候车室挤满乘坐高铁返乡的旅客

在高铁尚未普及的年代，每年春节前夕，大规模的人口流动使得火车往返变成了一场异常艰辛的征程。车厢内人头攒动，狭窄的过道上挤满了手持“站票”的乘客，他们不得不在拥挤不堪举步维艰的空间中站立数小时乃至十数小时。密集的人群里弥漫着汗水的气息，偶尔会听到一声疲惫叹息。
Before the advent of high-speed rail, the massive flow of people in the days leading up to Spring Festival turned train rides into a grueling ordeal. The carriages were packed to the brim, with the narrow walkway running through the middle of the train entirely occupied by passengers holding "standing tickets", which condemned them to long hours — sometimes 10 or more — on their feet. The crowd was so dense that trying to cut through it felt like a hopeless endeavor. The air was thick with the smell of sweat, and every so often, a weary groan would rise above the murmur of voices, as exhaustion took its toll on the travelers.



即便如此，人们依然不忘携带满载着感情的礼物，这是送给远方亲人的珍贵心意。此外，人群中还夹杂着放寒假归家的学生，他们的父母早已在站台上翘首以盼，即便是在东北零下30摄氏度的严寒中也依然坚守着，只为子女一走出车厢就能收获一个拥抱。
And as if the journey itself weren't challenging enough, nearly everyone carried giant packages — gifts for loved ones, in an era when what was available in one part of the country might be impossible to find in another. Among the passengers were students returning home for Spring Festival and winter holiday, their parents waiting on the arrival platform, sometimes in temperatures as low as -30 C.
这些经历正渐渐远离我们。如今，孩子们不再仅仅因为能吃糖而对春节满怀憧憬——只要他们想，糖果随时都可以有。越来越多的人也选择在春节旅行，前往阳光明媚的沙滩感受海风拂面，远离家乡的喧嚣。然而，随着城市化的疾速推进和现代生活节奏的日益加快，分离似乎变得越来越频繁且不可避免，这也使得每一次春节团聚显得愈发弥足珍贵。那些历经人生风霜洗礼的人们，更能深刻体会到这一点。
These experiences are gradually fading into memory. Today, children no longer eagerly anticipate the festival for a taste of candy, and Spring Festival itself may even be spent on a sun-kissed beach, far from home. Yet, the relentless tide of urbanization and the fast pace of modern life means that separation has become more frequent and inevitable, making each reunion all the more precious.
一年一度的春节团聚，无法抹去一个人过往所承受的艰辛，也无法减轻他依然要承担的重负，但却如同一缕温暖的阳光，为疲惫的心灵带来慰藉，为生命在寒冬长夜中点亮一盏希望之灯，增添一抹光明。
Life has not always been kind or easy. Spring Festival can neither erase the struggle nor lift the burden for one, but it offers solace — a gentle balm for the weary soul, a moment of comfort and warmth to brighten life’s winter night.



说到长夜，除夕晚上，除了年幼的孩子，大多数人都会通宵达旦地迎接新年的到来。这一习俗被称为“守岁”。
关于“守岁”的源起，有人认为是体现了人们对最珍爱之物的守护和对一切危险和不详的戒除。常明的灯光和烛火为亲人们照亮归家的路，也指引着逝者的灵魂。
Speaking of night, it has long been tradition for people — except young children — to stay awake throughout the night beginning from the eve of Chinese New Year. This custom, known as shou sui or the new year's vigil, reflects a deep desire to safeguard what's most valued. The glow of lights is also expected to illuminate the path home for loved ones, including those who have passed away.
1062年，与王安石同时代的文化巨匠，北宋文学家、书画家苏轼（1037-1101），以“守岁”为题创作了一首诗，开头部分写到：“欲知垂尽岁，有似赴壑蛇。修鳞半已没，去意谁能遮。”苏轼感叹年岁流逝，恍然如蛇入深涧，须臾之间一半已然隐去，谁又能阻止使其停驻呢？
In 1062, Su Shi (1037-1101), a much-revered polymath of the Northern Song Dynasty and a contemporary of Wang Anshi, composed a poem for the occasion, under the title Shou Sui. "To sense the year's end approaching; is like seeing a snake slipping into a ravine. Half its scaled body has already vanished away; who can stop its journey, or make it stay?" prompted Su, whose influence on Chinese culture as a poet, prose writer and painter is hard to overestimate.

▪ polymath /ˈpɑːlimæθ/ 博学的

按照中国的十二生肖，2025年农历新年是蛇年。在中国文化中，蛇常被尊称为“小龙”，这一雅号不仅源于蛇与龙在外形上相似，更因为它们都有一些神秘力量。一些文化学者认为，中华民族“龙”图腾的产生和蛇息息相关。
It's interesting to note that according to the Chinese zodiac, the upcoming new year, beginning on Jan 29, marks the Year of the Snake, often referred to in Chinese culture as the "dragon minor". This connection stems from the snake's physical resemblance to the dragon, as well as its revered qualities — grace, mystery and power — which mirror those of the dragon, a symbol of might and virtue in Chinese culture.


1月3日，蔚县剪纸国家级代表性传承人周淑英在河北省石家庄市新华区名家工作室展示生肖蛇作品。春节临近，河北蔚县剪纸国家级代表性传承人周淑英以蛇为主题，创作系列生肖蛇剪纸作品，表达对新年的祝福，迎接蛇年的到来 新华社记者 王晓 摄

在苏轼的《守岁》诗中，他描绘了在整夜守岁时，“坐久灯烬落”后，“起看北斗斜”的情景。
“北斗”是北斗七星——它们是大熊座中最为耀眼的七颗恒星，组成的图形宛如一把镶嵌在天幕上的勺子。在北半球的夜空中，北斗七星无疑是最引人注目的存在。
自古以来，中国一直借助它们来感知时间的流转。当北斗星渐渐倾斜，向地平线缓缓沉去，那便预示着漫漫长夜即将结束，崭新的黎明正悄然降临。
Later in his poem, Su Shi, having sat for the whole night, "rose to peer at the slanting Northern Spoon". For those who don't know, the "Northern Spoon" here refers to the shape of the Big Dipper — a prominent group of seven stars that form part of the constellation Ursa Major (the Great Bear). As one of the most recognizable star patterns in the night sky, especially in the Northern Hemisphere, the Big Dipper often used to mark the passage of time. Their tilting toward the horizon signifies that the night is drawing to a close and dawn is near.
仰望星空——这是古代中国人在守候新年第一缕曙光时的共同仪式。在这片浩瀚的天幕下，他们追寻时间的奥秘，探索自然的秩序。在笃信“天道”的古代中国社会，自然的和谐运转被视为最高合法性的体现。而将天文学与数学完美结合的传统历法，深深植根在中国的文化土壤之中，与农业、政治乃至人们的日常生活紧密相连。
Star-gazing — that's what people in ancient China almost certainly did while waiting for first ray of the new year. In fact, at the core of the tradition Chinese calendar was the persistent advances in the art of astronomy and mathematics, integrated with the cultural, agricultural, and political life of a society that believed the rule of heaven was the rule of law, with ultimate legitimacy resting in the reign of the natural order.



春节的庆祝活动在农历正月十五日元宵节达到尾声，这一天恰逢农历新年的第一轮满月。这一天，人们会点亮精巧的手工灯笼，有些灯笼上还附有谜语，灯光装点着每一个角落，将夜晚映衬得如梦如幻。
Spring Festival usually concludes on the 15th day of Chinese New Year, corresponding to Feb 12 in the solar calendar. This final day, marking the first full moon of the new year, is traditionally illuminated by delicately handcrafted lanterns — some bearing riddles — that adorn every corner.



苏轼，这位始终与月亮保持诗意共鸣的大文豪，曾在月下写出千古吟诵的句子：
“人有悲欢离合，月有阴晴圆缺，此事古难全。”
Su Shi, whose poetic instinct was forever in tune with the moon, once wrote:
"Life brings both joy and sorrow, union and separation.
Like the moon's phases, in constant fluctuation.
Imperfect it's been since the dawn of creation."
过去的一年对许多人来说或许并不完美，新的一年也依然充满未知的挑战。然而，正是面对逆境的勇气与坚持的力量，使那些看似不完美的时刻，最终化作完美的回忆。


2014年2月24日，广东顺德龙江，村民在生菜宴上举杯庆祝 郑俊彬/China Daily

至于除夕之夜和每一个即将到来的日日夜夜，不妨像苏轼在《守岁》诗中所说——“努力尽今夕”。今夕，就是最美的时光。
For many of us, the past year has been far from perfect, and the year ahead may hold its own trials. Yet, it is the courage to face adversity and the strength to carry on with grace that transform all the imperfect moments into perfect memories.
As for Chinese New Year's Eve and every night and day to come, do what Su Shi recommended in his Shou Sui poem — "Make the most of your time."