It’s a tradition to prepare in advance all staple food for the whole family to eat during the first week of Zheng Yue (the first month of the Lunar New Year). Usually, the staple food is flour-made because it’s easy to store. The activity starts from 28th and may last for one or two days.
按照传统人们会提前准备好正月第一周全家人要吃的所有主食。通常这些主食都是用面粉做的，因为易于储存。人们从腊月二十八开始制作主食，可能会持续一两天。
People from the north make steamed buns with leavened doughs, while people in the south prefer Year Cake, or Nian Gao, made by glutinous rice. The steamed buns can be in various shapes, including cute animals, flowers, etc.
北方人会用发酵面团蒸馒头，而南方人会用糯米做年糕。馒头可以做成多种形状，包括可爱的动物、花朵等。
People in most of the areas get up early to sweep tombs for their ancestors and burn incense and joss papers in memorial of them. This is also a reflection of the traditional value “Xiao,” or filial piety, in China.
腊月二十九这天，很多地区的人们都会早起为祖先扫墓，焚香烧纸祭奠。这反映了中国传统价值观中的“孝道”。
Finally, it’s the Spring Festival Eve. This day is regarded as the most important day for family reunion throughout the year. Children who work or study outside the hometown, return home to celebrate the festival with their family.
终于到除夕了。这一天是一年中家庭团聚最重要的日子。在外工作或学习的孩子们都会回家和家人一起过除夕。
The whole family enjoys a big feast at night while watching the Spring Festival gala. They stay up late and wait to ring in the New Year. A must-eat food is dumplings. Elders give kids red packets, or red envelopes, with cash in them.
全家人一边观看春节晚会一边享用盛大晚餐。人们会熬夜等待新年钟声敲响。饺子是必吃的食物。老人会给小孩发红包。
In the days between 28th and 30th of La Yue, people also put on couplets on the gates, paper-cutting decorations on the windows, and New Year pictures on the walls of their homes to express their best wishes.
从腊月二十八到腊月三十，人们还会在大门上贴对联、在窗户上贴剪纸、在室内墙上贴年画，来表达美好祝愿。
