为虎年新春做好准备

为了庆祝春节这个重要的节日，中国政府规定春节放假七天，这是中国人一年中最长的休假。其实，早在春节前半个月左右，人们就开始忙碌着做各种准备。

In order to celebrate this important festival, the Chinese government now stipulates people have seven days off for the Chinese Lunar New Year. In fact, half month before Spring Festival, people are already busy with all kinds of preparations.

我们从腊月初八，就是每年的（农历）十二月的初八是腊八节，腊八节过了以后就开始忙年了，就忙着来准备过年。

On the 8th day of the 12th lunar month, many families make laba porridge, a delicious kind of porridge. After that, people begin to prepare for the coming new year.

老北京过腊八 红红火火闹中国

准备年货，农村来讲就是杀猪宰羊，各家都是买肉，准备这些个过年的年货。

Special purchases for the Spring Festival in the rural area mean to slaughter pigs and sheep. Each household will buy meat and other goods to celebrate Spring Festival.

不是快过春节了么，给家里买一些过年准备的一些吃的呀，还有一些糖果什么的。

The Spring Festival is coming. We will buy something to eat for the celebration and also some candies.

物质匮乏的时候只能买二两花生，瓜子和水果糖。现在物质是极大的丰富了，人们买的东西非常丰富，鱼肉就不用说了，有饮料、保健品、蔬菜等等，买得很细致。

In the days of material scarcity, we could only afford to buy 100 grams of peanuts, some sunflower seeds and some fruit candies. Nowadays, we enjoy all kinds of goods. People can buy a variety of things, such as drinks, health care products and vegetables. People like to choose carefully.

我们买了很多红色的东西，红色的衣服，代表红红火火嘛。

We bought a lot of things of red color, such as red clothes. Red symbolizes prosperity.