当暮色漫过街巷，红灯笼次第亮起，远方的脚步奔赴家园，中国的“岁末盛宴”——除夕，便在烟火与欢笑中登场。它不是单纯的节日，更是中国人刻在骨子里的团圆约定，是旧岁的收尾，更是新年的序章，藏着东方文化中“相聚”与“感恩”的深层密码。

As dusk spreads over the streets and red lanterns light up one by one, footsteps from afar head home, and Chinese New Year's Eve, the "year-end feast" of China, takes the stage with fireworks and laughter. It is not just a festival, but a deep-rooted reunion promise for the Chinese people—a conclusion to the old year and a prologue to the new, embodying the profound oriental values of "gathering" and "gratitude".

什么是除夕？

What is Chinese New Year's Eve?

作为农历一年的最后一天，除夕固定在腊月三十（若当月无三十则为腊月二十九），是连接过往与未来的特殊节点。2026年的除夕落在2月16日，恰逢丙午马年到来前夕，人们在这一天扫去一年的疲惫与阴霾，为新年积蓄福气与力量。

As the last day of the lunar year, Chinese New Year's Eve falls on the 30th day of the 12th lunar month (or the 29th if there is no 30th), serving as a special link between the past and the future. In 2026, it falls on February 16th, right before the Bingwu Year of the Horse. On this day, people sweep away the tiredness and gloom of the year, accumulating blessings and strength for the new year.

除夕的传统：每一项习俗，都是一句祝福

Traditions of Chinese New Year's Eve: Every Custom is a Blessing

1. 年夜饭（New Year's Eve Dinner）—— 舌尖上的团圆

年夜饭是除夕的灵魂，无论相隔多远，一家人总会围坐餐桌，共享一席盛满吉祥的菜肴。这不仅是味觉的盛宴，更是情感的交融：鱼象征“年年有余”，寄托对富足生活的向往；北方的饺子形似元宝，寓意“招财进宝”；南方的年糕软糯香甜，代表“步步高升”。每一道菜，都是中国人对美好生活的具象化祝福。

The New Year's Eve dinner is the soul of the day. No matter how far apart they are, the whole family will sit around the table to share a meal full of auspicious meanings. It is not only a feast for the taste buds, but also a blend of emotions: fish symbolizes "having surplus year after year", embodying the longing for a prosperous life; dumplings in northern China look like ingots, implying "attracting wealth and treasure"; glutinous rice cakes in southern China are soft and sweet, representing "making steady progress". Every dish is a concrete blessing for a better life from the Chinese people.

2. 守岁（Shou Sui / Staying Up All Night）—— 共赴新年的约定

守岁，是除夕最具仪式感的环节。一家人围坐在一起，看春晚、话家常、赏烟火，熬夜等待新年的到来。古人认为，守岁能为长辈添福寿、为晚辈驱灾祸，如今，这份习俗早已变成陪伴的象征——在辞旧迎新的时刻，与最亲近的人相伴，便是最温暖的幸福。当零点钟声敲响，烟火漫天，所有的期许都在这一刻绽放。

Staying up all night (Shou Sui) is the most ritualistic part of Chinese New Year's Eve. The whole family sits together, watching the Spring Festival Gala, chatting, appreciating fireworks, and staying up to welcome the new year. The ancients believed that staying up all night could add longevity to elders and drive away disasters for younger generations. Today, this custom has long become a symbol of companionship—being with loved ones at the moment of bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new is the warmest happiness. When the midnight bell rings and fireworks fill the sky, all expectations bloom at this moment.

3. 贴春联、贴福字（Pasting Spring Couplets and Fu Characters）—— 把美好写进烟火里

红色，是除夕的主色调，也是中国文化中的吉祥色。家家户户都会贴上红彤彤的春联与福字，为家园添上喜庆的底色。春联上的笔墨书写着对新年的期盼，福字常倒贴，谐音“福到”，寓意福气临门。挂起的红灯笼照亮街巷，也照亮了中国人对新年的憧憬。

Red is the main color of Chinese New Year's Eve and a symbol of good luck in Chinese culture. Every household pastes red spring couplets and Fu characters to add a festive touch to their homes. The calligraphy on the spring couplets expresses expectations for the new year, and Fu characters are often pasted upside down, homophonic to "blessings arrive", implying that good fortune comes to the family. The hung red lanterns illuminate the streets and lanes, as well as the Chinese people's longing for the new year.

4. 发压岁钱（Giving Lucky Money）—— 藏在红包里的疼爱

当零点过后，长辈会将压岁钱装入红色信封，递给晚辈。这份“压祟钱”，承载着长辈对孩子的疼爱与期许，寓意压住邪祟、守护平安健康。对中国人而言，红包里装的不仅是钱财，更是跨越代际的温暖与祝福。

After midnight, elders put lucky money into red envelopes and give them to younger generations. This "Ya Sui Qian" (money to suppress evil spirits) carries elders' love and expectations for their children, symbolizing suppressing evil and protecting safety and health. For the Chinese people, the red envelope contains not only money, but also cross-generational warmth and blessings.

团圆之外，是刻在血脉里的文化根脉

Beyond Reunion: The Cultural Roots Etched in Our Blood

对中国人而言，除夕是一场奔赴家的约定，是无论走多远都要归来的牵挂。它用最朴素的方式，将“团圆”“感恩”“祈福”的理念传递下去，成为东方文化中最动人的符号之一。当烟火升起、家人相聚，这份温暖与美好，便是除夕最珍贵的意义。

For the Chinese people, Chinese New Year's Eve is a promise to return home, a longing to come back no matter how far away. It passes on the concepts of "reunion", "gratitude" and "prayer for blessings" in the simplest way, becoming one of the most touching symbols in oriental culture. When fireworks rise and families gather, this warmth and beauty are the most precious meanings of Chinese New Year's Eve.