大年初一天不亮，爆竹声便响成了一片，噼噼啪啪似炒豆一般。父母为孩子们煮好饺子，让他们美美吃一顿。小家伙们吃完一抹嘴，便箭一般冲出去了。小朋友们聚集在大街上点各种各样的“炮”，有的叫“冲天响”“滚地雷”，有的叫“天女散花”“红衣骑士”，等等等等，名堂多得很。大人们则走东家访西家地“拜年”。单位的领导此时体现出“与民同乐”的风范，到部属的家里说些“春节快乐”“恭喜发财”类的祝福话语。

【参考译文】Even before the dawn of New Year’s Day comes, firecrackers crack everywhere, as noisily as bean frying. Parents boil dumplings for their kids, who will clean their mouths and dash out when having eaten enough. The little ones gather in streets, setting off all kinds of firecrackers, named Rockets, Rolling Mines, Fairy Scattering Flowers, Knights in Red and so on. There are so many of them! The adults, however, are busy paying New Year calls from door to door. Leaders of companies will carry on the tradition of “enjoying with the mass”, paying visits to his men, saying blessing words, like “happy Spring Festival” and “wishing you prosperity”.

拜年的习俗古来有之。传说在很久以前有一种“年”的怪兽，每逢腊月三十便冲下山来，张着血盆大口寻人吃。惊恐的人们便把各种肉食放在门口请它吃，而他们自己闭门躲在家中。第二天人们打开房门，相互庆贺未被“年”吃掉。后来，人们拜年不仅说些祝福的话，还互赠贺年卡，卡片上或印着精美的图画，或写些警言妙句。

【参考译文】The custom of paying New Year’s visits comes from ancient times. As the legend goes that there was a monster called Nian, who would come out of the mountains in search of people for food. People were so scared that they put meat at door for the monster, and they themselves hid in houses. The next day they’d open the doors and congratulate each other on being alive. Later they’d not only say blessing words when they paid visits, but also change New Year’s cards printed with beautiful pictures or smart words.