和中国人一起过节

Traditional Practices of Spring Festival

又一个春节过去了，家家户户门旁的春联告诉我们，新年的工作开始了。每年春节的内容都差不多。但是，每年春节都有自己独特的方式。过去的几个春节，我是在不同的地方和不同的朋友一起过的。他们的家庭庆祝春节的方式都有自己的特色，这也是我愿意在这个时节呆在中国和中国人共度春节的很重要的理由。有些人对我在一年之际的这个时候从不回“家”过年感到很惊诧。但是，我觉得在这个时节回到英国，会错过中国一年当中最重要的事情。

So the Spring Festival has passed once again and the new couplets on the doors on the doors tell us that a new year of work has begun. Every spring festival has the same essential ingredients but each is in its own way unique. Looking back over several spent in different places with different friends and their families it is the way that each celebration has its own charm that makes this an important reason for spending this season in China and sharing it with the Chinese people. Some people are surprised that I never consider going ＂home＂ at this time of year but I would feel that doing so would involve me in missing out on the most Chinese thing there is in China.