春节不仅是我国的传统节日，还随着一代代的华人移民，扩散到了世界各地。
The year of the pig is coming
by Maggie Hiufu Wong
When the clock strikes midnight on February 5, wishes of good fortune will be expressed, fireworks will explode into the sky and red envelopes filled with money will be exchanged as millions of people around the world ring in the Lunar New Year, also known as Spring Festival.
strike /straɪk/ v. （钟）敲、报时
fortune /ˈfɔːtʃuːn/ n. 运气
express /ɪkˈspres/ v. 表达
firework /ˈfaɪəwɜːk/ n. 烟花
explode /ɪkˈspləʊd/ v. 爆炸
red envelope 红包
exchange /ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒ/ v. 交换
ring in 庆祝…的开始
lunar /ˈluːnə(r)/ adj. 月亮的（Lunar New Year就是阴历新年）
In other words, it's basically one big overnight party. But unlike the manner in which much of the world celebrates on December 31, Lunar New Year is a lengthy holiday marathon filled with traditions and rituals (and much family drama) that lasts well beyond the Lunar New Year day.
in other words 换句话说
basically /ˈbeɪsɪk(ə)li/ adv. 基本上、大体上
unlike /ʌnˈlaɪk/ prep. 不像（由like加上表示否定的前缀un-）
manner /ˈmænə(r)/ n. 方式
celebrate /ˈseləbreɪt/ v. 庆祝
lengthy /ˈleŋθi/ adj. 漫长的（由length加后缀-y变成形容词）
marathon /ˈmærəθ(ə)n/ n. 马拉松
tradition /trəˈdɪʃ(ə)n/ n. 传统
ritual /ˈrɪtʃuəl/ n. 仪式、礼节
family drama /ˈdrɑːmə/ 家庭剧（这里指家里发生的大事，比如结婚、做寿等）
well /wel/ adv. 远远（表示强调）
Here's a quick guide to what just might be the most challenging and laborious festival in the world.
guide /ɡaɪd/ n. 指南
laborious /ləˈbɔːriəs/ adj. 耗时费力的
Preparations for the Lunar New Year usually begin at least a week before the Spring Festival begins. On the 26th day of the last lunar month, rice cakes are made. The big cleansing is done on the 28th day. Lunar New Year fortune banners are hung on the 29th day. The year ends on a high note with a big family reunion dinner on the 30th day, or Lunar New Year's Eve – on February 4, this year.
preparation /ˌprepəˈreɪʃ(ə)n/ n. 准备、准备工作
rice cake 年糕
cleanse /klenz/ v. 清洁（big cleansing就是大扫除）
banner /ˈbænə(r)/ n. 横幅（fortune banner指过年时贴的福字之类的东西）
high note 巅峰、高潮
reunion /riːˈjuːnjən/ n. 团聚、团圆（由union加上表示再次的前缀re-）
eve /iːv/ n. （重要事件、节日等）前夕、前夜
The Lunar New Year menu is carefully chosen for its lucky meanings, including fish (the Chinese word for it sounds like the word for "surplus"), rice cakes (symbolizes advancement) and foods that look like gold ingots（锭） (like dumplings). After the feast, families will stay up past midnight to welcome the new year.
surplus /ˈsɜːpləs/ n. 盈余、剩余
symbolize /ˈsɪmb(ə)laɪz/ v. 象征（由symbol加后缀-ize变成动词）
advancement /ədˈvɑːnsmənt/ n. 进步（由advance加后缀-ment变成名词）
dumpling /ˈdʌmplɪŋ/ n. 有馅儿的面食（比如饺子、包子、锅贴等，这里指饺子）
feast /fiːst/ n. 盛宴、大餐
stay up 不去睡觉、熬夜
While most countries that observe Lunar New Year offer three to seven days of public holidays, celebrations don't end until the 15th day of the first lunar month, also known as the Lantern Festival. (Lunar New Year in 2019 lasts from February 5 to February 19.)
observe /əbˈzɜːv/ v. 欢庆
celebration /ˌseləˈbreɪʃ(ə)n/ n. 庆祝（celebrate加后缀-ion变成名词）
lantern /ˈlæntən/ n. 灯笼（Lantern Festival就是元宵节）
During the festival, people will travel around to visit relatives, who will prepare snacks and fill up candy boxes for the visits. There is a list of superstitious（迷信的） dos and don'ts for the new year but the rule of thumb is to say a lot of "gong xi fa cai," and avoid saying things that may sound like a less auspicious（吉利的） word. Married couples have to give out red packets filled with money to children (and unmarried adults) to wish them luck.
relative /ˈrelətɪv/ n. 亲戚
snack /snæk/ n. 零食
dos and don'ts 指要做的事和不要做的事
rule of thumb 经验法则
red packet 红包
unmarried /ʌnˈmærɪd/ adj. 没结婚的（由marry的过去分词加上表示否定的前缀un-）
The highlight comes on the last day, during the Lantern Festival. Being the only day when young girls in ancient Chinese society could go out to admire lanterns and meet boys, it's also been dubbed Chinese Valentine's Day. Nowadays, cities around the world still put on massive lantern displays and fairs on this day.
highlight /ˈhaɪlaɪt/ n. 亮点、最精彩的部分
ancient /ˈeɪnʃ(ə)nt/ adj. 古代的
admire /ədˈmaɪə(r)/ v. 欣赏
dub /dʌb/ v. 起别名
Valentine's /ˈvæləntaɪnz/ Day 情人节
massive /ˈmæsɪv/ adj. 巨大的、大量的
fair /feə(r)/ n. 展览会、博览会
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