假如有一批外賓要在中國過春節(Spring Festival),他們很想了解關于我國春節的一些情况,請你根據下列要點寫一篇文章,以作介紹.(字數100-120)
要點(1)春節就是中國的新年,一般在二月份.
(2)中國的年份是按12生肖命名的,如狗年,猴年等.今年是鶏年.
(3)春節前人們要大掃除,給孩子買新衣.大年夜家人在一起吃年夜飯.
(4)年初一走防親友.孩子們會得到壓歲錢.
(5)人們在春節常常過得很愉快.
注:(高一英語)

The oldest and most important festival in China is the Spring Festival, more commonly known in the West as Chinese New Year. Like all Chinese festivals, the date of the new year is determined by the lunar/solar calendar rather than the Western calendar, so the date of the holiday varies from late January to mid February. The Spring festival celebrates the earth coming back to life, and the start of ploughing and sowing. In the past, feudal rulers of dynasties placed great importance on this occasion, and ceremonies to usher in the season were performed.

Preparations for the New Year festival start during the last few days of the last moon. Houses are thoroughly cleaned, debts repaid, hair cut and new clothes bought. Doors are decorated with vertical scrolls of characters on red paper whose texts seek good luck and praise nature, this practice stemming from the hanging of peach-wood charms to keep away ghosts and evil spirits. In many homes incense is burned, and also in the temples as a mark of respect to ancestors.

On New Year’s Eve houses are brightly lit and a large family dinner is served. In the south of China sticky-sweet glutinous rice pudding called nian gao is served, while in the north the steamed dumpling jiaozi is popular. Most celebrating the festival stay up till midnight, when fireworks are lit, to drive away evil spirits. New Years day is often spent visiting neighbours, family and friends.

The public holiday for New Year lasts 3 days in China, but the festival traditionally lasts till the 15th day of the lunar month and ends with the ‘Lantern Festival’. Here, houses are decorated with colourful lanterns, and yuanxiao, a sweet or savoury[4] fried or boiled dumpling made of glutinous rice flour is eaten.