English:

Happy year of the ox! Chinese New Year is right around the corner, beginning on February 12th! The festival is China and many other country’s most important holiday, celebrated by millions. A unique part of each new year is the zodiac animal–there are twelve in total. In 2021, it is the year of the ox. 

Many legends seep into Chinese New Year, but one of the most known is the legend of Nian. The legend states that Nian, a mythical beast, would come every year around the same time in winter to eat the village’s food and belongings, and sometimes even children. But one day, an old person wandered into the village and scared Nian away using the color red and firecrackers. To this day, it has become a well-known tradition to scare away Nian using the color red, firecrackers, and more.

Dumplings symbolize good fortune and are a particularly authentic food consumed during the Chinese New Year. There are many different ways to make dumplings varying from filling to cooking method. An easy way to make cabbage-filled dumplings is: cutting cabbage and mixing it with soy sauce and vinegar. Then, fill the dumpling and seal, and finally, either steam or pan-fry them.

The new year is celebrated in various ways, but the celebration is most commonly grounded in ancient tradition from myths and legends. One of the first things to happen during the two-weeks is cleaning and buying new items in order to prepare for a fresh, brand-new year. It is also common to gather with family to enjoy a nourishing dinner complete with traditional foods such as dumplings, fish, glutinous rice balls, noodles, etc. Red envelopes filled with money are given to children because according to the legend of Nian, the color red scares away evil spirits, and money symbolizes good fortune. Similarly, people light firecrackers to scare away evil spirits, also derived from the legend of Nian. Additionally, a common sight in the cities of China is dragon and lion dances. Ultimately, Chinese New Year is rich with unique cultural traditions, and notably, is a time that brings families together.

Mandarin:

春节是从二月十二日到二月二十六日的节日。韩国、越南、新加坡等等都过春节。除了这些国家以外，中国也过春节，而且春节是中国最重要的两个星期。虽然今年春节是从二月十二日到二月二十六日，但是每年春节的日期不一样。春节每年有不一样的动物。一共有十二个动物；有：老鼠、牛、老虎、兔子、龙、蛇、马、羊、猴子、鸡、狗和猪。今年是牛年。

一个所有的人都知道的故事是年的故事。很久以前，有一个坏的怪物叫年，而且它每年一次冬天的时候去人的家吃他们的食物和动物。人又难过又失望因为他们怕年吃他们的东西。而且人不知道应该做什么。有一天别人不认识的老人来帮他们。这个老人不怕年，因为知道年怕什么。年怕红色、吵闹声和鞭炮。老人让年很害怕以后，所有的人都非常高兴因为他们知道年怕什么，所以年不会回来。

饺子是特别地道的和幸运的菜。所有的人做饺子都是不一样的。比方说：里面放各种各样的菜，也可以蒸或者煎饺子。比方说，你可以：先把白菜切成丝，再拌白菜，酱油，醋，和辣椒酱。然后，在饺子的里面放白菜。最后，煮或者蒸饺子。

各种各样的国家和人过春节，所以人做各种各样的活动过春节，但是挺多的人先打扫他们的家。打扫以后，人通常再去购物动心买新东西，然后人跟家人一起吃很大的晚饭。最常吃的食物是：饺子、鱼、汤圆、面条等等。吃这些菜会很幸运，但是每个菜会有不一样的幸运。除了做菜以外，人也通常每个春节给孩子有钱的红包，而且这些红包孩子会又高兴又幸运。这些红包对孩子特别高兴因为红色和钱是中国最幸运的东西，所以他们想新年会很幸运。最后人做鞭炮因为鞭炮让坏的怪物很害怕；比方说年是一个坏的怪物。鞭炮也会让坏的怪物很害怕。在中国和别的国家很多人喜欢看龙舞和狮舞。你也会看得到比较多的红色因为是春节的重要和幸运的颜色。虽然春节有很多不一样的活动，但是人过春节的时候有比较多的时间可以跟家人一起。人跟家人一起过春节是特别兴奋和好玩儿的。

今年的春节人还会有红色、吵闹声和鞭炮让年很害怕。

Works Cited:

Edited by:  狄老师 (Di lao shi)/ Ms. Di