中國春節拜年風俗Pay a New Year Call

　　An important activity during the Spring Festival is bainian (to pay a New Year call). People start to pay New Year calls from the lunar New Years Day, that is, the first day of the first month of the lunar calendar. Ever since the Ming Dynasty in the 14th century, ordinary people have begun to exchange greeting cards on this day.

　　春節期間的重要活動是拜年。人們從農歷新年，也就是，農歷的第一個月的第一天就開始拜年了。自從十四世紀明朝開始普通人在這一天也開始交換賀卡。

　　On the morning of the lunar New Years Day, people get up very early and call on others. The earlier one does so, the more sincere he is. Moreover, people wear new clothes and a new cap, symbolizing that a new year has begun.

　　在農歷新年的早上，人們起得很早拜訪別人。越早越有誠意。此外，人們還會穿上新衣服，戴新帽，這象征著新的一年開始了。

　　The younger generation should call on their elders first, such as the grandfather, grandmother, father and mother, wishing them Good health and Long life. Then the elders give children some money in a red envelope as a New Year gift. After that, people call on their relatives, friends and neighbors. As big tangerine is a homonym for very lucky in Chinese, so people often present red big tangerines as a gift while paying a New Year call.

　　年輕的一代去拜訪他們的長輩，如爺爺，奶奶，爸爸，媽媽，祝他們健康、長壽。然后，長輩會給孩子們紅包作為新年禮物。在那之后，人們給親戚，朋友和鄰居拜年。由于大橘子是很幸運的中文諧音，所以人們常常把紅色大橘子作為拜年禮物。

　　Nowadays, besides greeting cards, people also use telephones and e-mails to pay New Year calls.

　　如今，除了賀卡，人們還用電話和電子郵件進行拜年。