用英语写的春节的作文精选20篇

There is a legend about the origin of the lucky money.

Once upon a time, there was a little monster called "chong" who came to the world on the eve of the great New Year. It came to the head of the sleeping child and touched it, and the child began to cry aloud, and when he woke up, he began to talk.

Then all these clever children became fools, and only knew how to play madly every day. "Chong" is afraid of bright light, therefore, people on the night of every big year, all lights, keep at the childrens side, dare not sleep, this is called "shouchong".

There was an old couple who got a child when they were very old. On the evening of the great New Year, the couple lit candles and stood by their children. Suddenly a gust of wind blew and the candle went out. "Chonghu" floated to the childs head, ready to touch, under the pillow under the red envelope flashing a bright red light.

"Chong" cried, and ran away. The next day, the couple handed out red envelopes to their children and told them what had scared them away.

It turned out that the eight copper COINS had become a fairy, and he was secretly helping the children.

Tell such a story you know the origin of the lucky money! On the evening of the big year, children will receive red envelopes from their elders, which represents the wishes of the elders.

A scratching of firecrackers, fireworks filled the air, and came to the annual Spring Festival. Early in the morning, the mother is busy in the kitchen, I decided to go around the streets.

Ah/each streets, there are so many colorful figure shook, like a colorful river flowing merrily, saw the head, after see the tail.

In busy supermarket, all kinds of exquisite candy and assistant cordial smile together, make the person feast for the eyes. Customers holding the bags in the crowded out of the supermarket, a smile on each face, bleeding heart honey. Every family cleaned the house and yard, as the Spring Festival couplets and New Year pictures, everywhere look brand-new.

Ah, New Years eve finally came/town everywhere decorated, in some places across the hung with colored lights series, some place to put the colorful fireworks, where there are flocks of wearing a beautiful child in the play.

12, when the melodious bell sound through the streets firecrackers exploded. "Double bang firecracker" up, "ZuanTianHou" screaming and up into the sky. The stars shone in the night, festival of fireworks colourful, the ground laughter, the joy of the people. Such as Fried bean firecrackers ring after, of the people on to the street happy New Year to each other, "I wish you a long life/" "I wish you a happy Spring Festival/" these words as peoples laughter, as from time to time off firecrackers to fly out of the streets, in a festival in the night sky.

一阵噼里啪啦的鞭炮声传来，空气中弥漫着烟火的气息，一年一度的春节又来到了。一大早，妈妈就在厨房忙个不停，我决定去街上转转。

啊/每条大街小巷，都有那么多五颜六色的身影在晃动，像一条彩色的河欢快地流淌着，前不见头，后不见尾。

在热闹的超市里，各色精美的糖果和售货员亲切的笑容融为一体，使人赏心悦目。顾客们抱着大包小包拥挤着走出超市，个个脸上挂着笑容，心里淌着蜜。家家户户都清扫了房屋和庭院，贴上了春联，年画，到处焕然一新。

啊，除夕之夜终于来临了/全镇各处都张灯结彩，有的地方横着竖着挂着五色的灯串，有的地方放着五光十色的烟花，还有的地方一群群穿着漂亮的孩子在尽情的玩耍。

当悠扬的钟声响过12下，大街小巷上鞭炮齐鸣;“二踢脚”腾空而起，“钻天猴”呼啸着蹿入夜空。夜空星光闪耀，节日的礼花五彩缤纷，地上欢声笑语，欢乐的人们三五成群。如炒豆般的鞭炮响过以后，人们拥到街头互相拜年，“祝您长寿/”“祝您春节愉快/”这些话语随着人们的欢声笑语，随着不时响起的鞭炮声飞出了大街小巷，飘荡在节日的夜空中。

winter vacation is coming.were happy to welcome the holidays.usually,winter vacation is funny because spring festival is during the vacation.

spring festival is a excellent day for every chinese,especially for children.during the festival,relatives go to visit each other and give presents to each other.then its the happy moment for children,children are given some lucky money.

but im not a child any longer.i want to make the festival a little bit different. i plan to have a different day.im going to sell some toys in the flower market.i will ask my friends to join me.if i earn some money,ill buy some presents to my parents.well,its my turn to give back to my parents for their love.

More than 10 days before the Spring Festival, grandma just get busy preparing something for the Chinese New Year, and kill the chicken, and duck slaughter, and cooked the meat, and cooking, busy trying. Grandma said: "now is no New Years day, better than New Years day !" Dad said: "now is Chinese New Year still busy!" But as for me, although is welcome, not participate in discussions, but has been realized in the harmonious society people overjoyed when!

By year, every household lights, very busy. We eat a good meal in a hurry, picked up a firecracker quickly ran to the designated place, for fear of being robbed the first. We can be more firecrackers, there are "flowers" "double bang firecracker" "cuckoo cybele" BaiZiBao "..." Lets put the "flowers", firecrackers like a fire ball shot on the blue sky. All of a sudden, its not rise, but suddenly burst, formed a colorful flower, have a plenty of gold to red, have a plenty of yellow and green, or blue and red. Then we put the "double bang firecracker", it is also good, listen to "bang" a loud noise, a Mars for a moment, its a "bang" sound, golden fireball exploded in the sky, but not immediately. "BaiZiBao" two thousand multiple, how much more enjoyable enough. "Cuckoo crow spring" is my favorite, after burning up a clump of flame, the above quote pieces of colorful flowers, each flower so bright, so bright!

Look at the beautiful fireworks in the sky, listening to all round the loud firecrackers, I want to, and came to the New Year, our motherland will present a new atmosphere.

春节前十几天，奶奶就开始为过年的事忙活了，又是杀鸡，又是宰鸭，又是煮肉，又是烧菜，忙的不亦乐乎。奶奶说：“现在真是‘不是过年，胜似过年’啊!”爸爸说：“现在真是比过年还热闹呢!”而我呢，虽然是旁听者，没有参与讨论，但是已经体会到了和谐社会中人们的高兴劲!

到了大年三十，家家户户都灯火通明，热闹非凡。我们匆匆吃好饭，拿起鞭炮便飞快的奔向指定地点，生怕被别人抢了先。我们放的鞭炮可多了，有“百花齐放”“二踢脚”“布谷啼春”“百子炮”……我们先放“百花齐放”，鞭炮像一个带火的小球一样蹿上蓝天。突然，它不在上升，而是猛然间炸开，形成了一朵五颜六色的花：有的是金转红，有的是黄加绿，还有的是蓝加红。然后我们放“二踢脚”，它也不错，只听“砰”一声巨响，一个火星闪了一下，又是“砰”一声响，金黄的火球在天空中炸开了花，可一下子就没了。“百子炮”有两千多发，要多过瘾有多过瘾。“布谷啼春”是我最喜欢的，点着后冒出了一丛火焰，上面开出一朵朵五颜六色的小花，每一朵都那么鲜艳，那么耀眼!

看着天空中那美丽的烟花，听着四周那响亮的鞭炮声，我想，新的一年又来到了，我们的祖国又会呈现出一片新气象。

Spring Festival is the most important and popular festival in China. I was very happy during the Spring Festival. Before Spring Festival, My grandmother, mother and father cleaned and decorated our houses. And they went to the Flower Fairs to buy some flowers. They also bought new clothes for me and my sisters.

On the eve of the Spring Festival, my father and I had the red antithetical Spring Festival couplets on our doors. My families got together and had a big meal at home. We had chatting each other. We had chicken, duck, fish, pork and such as. And we ate dumplings and watch the Spring Festival party on television. During Spring Festival,my parents gave us lucky money. I and my sisters played the fireworks in the open air. We had many fireworks. They were very beautiful. They run into the sky and broke into pieces. They looked like flowers in the sky. We were very happy and excited. After that, I made a wish. I hoped that that we could have a happy and healthy life next year and everyone in my family could be happy.

During the Spring Festival, we visited relatives and friends with the words “Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!”

The lunar New Year holiday, I stayed at home and not go out, really upset, and then left a telephone, right a phone call my aunt and cousin. The grown-ups package dumplings and after they come to my cousin and I have closed the door to play computer, heard mother and young aunt whispering in the outside. After a period of time, I and my cousin go out, hot dumplings already on the table. I use chopsticks to pick up a jiaozi, bite, immediately spit it out again, hot chocolate got burned inside me. "Strange, how can have chocolate?" I asked myself, to eat the one, and pick up a bite open look, one point one was preserved egg fillings. We are more strange, eat up one by one: egg yolk, candy, sausage, big jujube, apple... A wide range of a plate without a weigh appearance. A little later, a small dumpling is our "destroy".

As we gorge, mother and young aunt before hiding in the side smile keep not waist. Such as we had finished, they went out of the to say: "how, our colorful dumplings good!" "Well, well." I said, to wipe tears in eyes. "Whats wrong with you? Dont in" the lottery "?" Is "yes, I got the bag with red pepper dumplings!"

This is my colorful winter vacation, mixed, laugh youlei. ? Not bad!

This winter holiday I stayed at home. I am happy because my father and my mother could spend more time with me during the Spring Festival. Besides, on the eve of the Spring Festival, we had a great family reunion dinner and then we watched Spring Festival Party on CCTV1. Sometimes, I reviewed my lessons. I had a very wonderful holiday.

整个寒假我都呆在家里，我很高兴因为春节期间我的爸爸和妈妈能够花更多时间和我在一起。而且，在新年前夕，我们一家吃了团圆饭，然后我们看中央电视一台的春节联欢晚会。有时，我复习功课。我度过了一个非常愉快的假期。

There are many festivals in china. And among them, I like the most is the Spring Festival. Because of it, not only is the biggest holiday of the year, but the start of a new year, but also all of us all the people, come together festival.

Before the Spring Festival, people go home, no matter where they are. Usually, we in the new years Eve dinner. Then the family sat together to share their lives or aircraft. Some people play games or go out to play. On New Years day, people get up early to meet people who say. Children can get lucky money from relatives. In the coming days, we will visit relatives to pay New Years call, give them. In a word, it is the family reunion and we all the time to enjoy it.

This is our happy Spring Festival, Do you feel happy?

译文：

在中国有很多节日。其中,我最喜欢的是春节。正因为如此,不仅是一年中最大的节日,但新的一年的开始,也是我们所有的人,聚在一起的节日。

在春节之前,人们回家,无论他们在哪里。通常,我们的年夜饭。然后一家人坐在一起分享他们的生活或飞机。有些人玩游戏或出去玩。在元旦,人们早起人说。孩子可以从亲戚那里得到压岁钱。在未来几天,我们将拜访亲戚支付新年的电话,给他们。一句话,这是家庭团聚,我们所有的时间去享受它。

这是我们的春节快乐,你觉得快乐吗?

In fifteen-day Chinese,we have the biggest festival yue - the Spring Festival,allison hang red lantern,beaming,affix red couplets,busy...

The first day of the first month,is a happy yue son.

The street not the kui is a street,play of eat everything taste.See the most is that some children,I looked,count spicy noodles in business is the best.

Today is really play too happy!Be seen two full the luck to eat STH delicious three full hand blessed.Most luckily those vendor,today but business is thriving?

Sincerely hope today the children in the New Year,happy,no annoyance.

翻译：

在爆竹声中,我们迎来了中国人最盛大的节曰——春节,家家喜气洋洋,挂上红红的灯笼,贴上红红的春联,忙忙碌碌……

正月初一,又是一个快乐的曰子.

街上不愧是街上,玩的吃的样样俱全.看到的大多数是一些小孩,我瞧了瞧,就数麻辣摊的生意最好.

今天真是玩得太痛快了!算是一饱眼福二饱口福三饱手福了.最为幸运的是那些卖主了,今天可是生意兴隆?

真心希望今天全国的小朋友在新的一年里快乐乐,没有烦恼.

[春节英语作文及翻译

我的名字是大明。我去叔叔家过春节。今天早晨，我和我的朋友玩游戏。我想要放鞭炮，但是晓玲组织了我。我说：“过节了，怎么还不让放鞭炮?”晓玲说：“你看看宣传画就知道了。”宣传画上描绘了放鞭炮灰带来的危害,例如会引起火灾、造成环境污染、炸伤人。看完宣传画后，我想：是应该禁止放鞭炮。

My name is DaMing.I go to my uncles to enjoy the Spring Festival.This morning,my friend and I played games.I wanted to set off fireworks,but XiaoLing stopped me.I wondered why cant I set off fireworks when festivals.XiaoLing asked me to have a look at the picture posters.The picture descrided that setting off fireworks will cause dameges,such as causing fires,making environment pollution and injuring others.After reading the picture posters I think:It is nesserary to be forbidden setting off fireworks.

[春节放鞭炮英语作文

"New Years day, New Years day!"The children were grinning from ear to ear on the grass.

The children in the square had some firecrackers and some around the fire.

At night, the sky becomes a colorful kaleidoscope.There are all kinds of firecrackers on the ground, red and red lanterns.From a distance, ah!It is more beautiful than spring, hotter than summer, richer than autumn, and more magnificent than winter.

There was a tray of candy and reunion dinners.Everyone happily gathered together, happily ate the reunion dinner, said to each other: "happy New Year to you!"I also say to everyone: "happy New Year!"

“过年了，过年了!”孩子们在草地上高兴得合不拢嘴。

广场上孩子们有的放鞭炮，有的围着火炉团团转。

夜晚，天空变成一个五彩缤纷，光彩夺目的万花筒;地上有各种各样的花炮，红红火火的灯笼。从远处一看，啊!比春天还美丽，比夏天还红火，比秋天还丰富，比冬天还壮观!

家里摆着一盘盘糖果和团圆饭。大家开开心心地聚在一起，高高兴兴地吃团圆饭，互相说声：“祝你新年快乐!”我也跟大家说：“新年好!”

Home in accordance with the custom of the Chinese New Year Spring Festival home, the Spring Festival is in the first month late start, home of the spring festival. The saying goes: the wax is seven Laba, and the chin is frozen out. Its the coldest time of the year. A month to wax at the beginning of eight, the atmosphere of Chinese New Year day than a day. The day before the day of the Laba, the grandmother made the big Baiyun bean in the basin in advance; the white lotus seed was raised with hot water and then the green core was removed. In the second day, the beans become round and big. The white beans congee first under the boil for 20 minutes. Then, put some rice, glutinous rice, wheat kernels, Nostoc and jujube, beans and chestnuts. Its not porridge, its as if its showing a years harvest. Composition network

After that, there were vendors selling things on the street, all kinds of vegetables, all kinds of toys, different colors of clothes and all kinds of fireworks and fireworks. Its dazzling. In the eyes of the boys, the most attractive thing to attract them is the firecrackers and fireworks. Composition network

In the first month of the twenty-three year Spring Festival seems to be the prelude. On this day, the whole family is going to clean the house. Small is the folk people day. It is said that this day, the kitchen must report to the Jade Emperor God that one family of good and evil, let the emperor punished. People, but also the fire melted candy, painted the kitchen gods mouth, so that he would not be in the Jade Emperor said before.

After twenty-three, everyone gets busy. The blink of the new year comes. Before the new years Eve, the family must stick the Spring Festival couplets well and have to clean up the couplets once. The meat, the chicken, the fish, the green vegetable and the rice cake will be prepared enough, at least enough for a week. Red lanterns were also hung on the street. According to grandmothers words, the new years Eve all the cut out of the things to be cut out, save in a month is beginning to the fifth and the knife, knife cut is unlucky. It contains the meaning of superstition, but it also shows that we are really peace loving people who do not want to move a kitchen knife at the first year of the year.

The new years Eve is the last day of the year. This day is the day for people to eat, drink, play, and enjoy. This day, even in relatively small staying-up late on new years Eve, children, people are awake. The legend of ancient times, there is a fierce monster, scattered in the dense forests in the deep mountains, the people they called "years". Its appearance is fierce, ferocious, eats birds and animals, 62 worms, a day for a taste from kowtow to eat large insects has been living, people talk about "the" colors. Later, people gradually mastered the "year" activity, it is every three hundred and sixty-five days across the areas where people taste a fresh mouth, and the haunt of the time after dark, until dawn crowing, they will return to the mountains to go.

The lunar new year is a great occasion to the chinese people. it lasts about the first four days of the year,during which people do not work except for the workers on duty. students do not go to school,and shops are closed.

several days before the new year,people begin to prepare. farmers kill pigs,sheep,cocks and hens. city dwellers buy meat fish and vegetables. houses are cleaned; coupletsare posted on the doors. colourful lanterns are hung at the gate.

On the eve of the new year,each family has its members gatherd together and eats a family reunion dinner. after the meal they watch tv until the clock strickes twelve. then every family sets off long strings of small firecrackers and other fire works to welcome the new year. on the first day of the new year,almost everyone is dressed in his or her best. when people meet on the way,they say to each other “happy new year”. friends and relatives pay new year calls and gives presents to each other. children indulge themselves in games.

On the thirty night, my cousin and cousin to the playground and fireworks. My brother came to the playground, the playground is the station without grounds, men and women, young and old alike. The fireworks, which were gradually lifted up, dressed the night sky in colourful.

I was watching a daze, suddenly someone hug me, I turned to see the original is my cousin, he said: "dont care, we have to put a few pieces!" Then, I will take a "aircraft", light line, I quickly ran away, suddenly, the fireworks turned into a "aircraft" out to the sky and spread, red, yellow, green, blue, white, purple, and pink, a riot of colours, very beautiful. Then I took out a pair of "parachute", my cousin hurriedly said: "I havent put it, this should be for me." After that, he grabbed the parachute and lit the lead. Suddenly, a fireball rushed to the sky and spread to all sides, and became the shape of the flower. It was colorful and colorful. The next moment fireworks king "," king of fireworks "is the Rockets, I put the first line of fire, there is no movement, suddenly call - a smoke like off the Xinjiang Mustang quickly rushed to the sky spread, a total of five rockets. Looking at the full of fireworks, I seem to have entered the fairyland. It is really beautiful.

I was attracted to this riotous with colour fireworks, connected I put a "missile", "rolling thunder" and "Chrysanthemum", "green bristlegrass", Im really happy tonight! I didnt sleep at 12:30. Its fun to put up the fireworks. Ill put it next year.

Origin of the Spring Festival

Spring Festival is the lunar Suishou, is also our ancient traditional festivals. Ancient-off "year" is not in the twelfth lunar month on the 29th or on the 30th, but in the "wax on", that later, "Laba." Southern and Northern Dynasties later, the "wax Festival" to the end of the year. To the Republican era, the switch to Gregorian calendar was only then that the lunar year is called "Spring Festival", because the Spring Festival is generally in the "Spring," both before and after.

翻译：春节，是农历的岁首，也是我国古老的传统节日。古代过“年”不是在腊月二十九日或三十日，而是在“蜡日”，即后来的“腊八”。南北朝以后，把“蜡祭”移至岁末。到了民国时 ，改用阳历，才把阴历年叫“春节”，因为春节一般都在“立春”前后。

After the Preliminary Eve， people begin preparing for the coming New Year。 This is called "Seeing the New Year in"。

Store owners are busy then as everybody goes out to purchase necessities for the New Year。 Materials not only include edible oil， rice， flour， chicken， duck， fish and meat， but also fruit， candies and kinds of nuts。 Whats more， various decorations， new clothes and shoes for the children as well as gifts for the elderly， friends and relatives， are all on the list of purchasing。

Before the New Year comes， the people completely clean the indoors and outdoors of their homes as well as their clothes， bedclothes and all their utensils。

Then people begin decorating their clean rooms featuring an atmosphere of rejoicing and festivity。 All the door panels will be pasted with Spring Festival couplets， highlighting Chinese calligraphy with black characters on red paper。 The content varies from house owners wishes for a bright future to good luck for the New Year。 Also， pictures of the god of doors and wealth will be posted on front doors to ward off evil spirits and welcome peace and abundance。

关于春节的英语作文(The Spring Festival)

The Spring Festival, Chinese New Year,is the most important festival for all of us. All family members get together on New YearEve to have a big meal.At the same time, everyone celebrates to each other.At about 12 oclock,some parents and children light crackers.The whole sky is lighted brightly. We may watch the fireworks excitedly.How busy it is!

On the first early moring of one year, many senior citizen get up early and they stick the reversed Fu or hang some couplets on the front door. Some houses windows are sticked on red paper cutlings.

The Chinese New Year lasts fifteen days. So during the fifteen days, we always visit our relatives from door to door. At that time, children are the happiest because they can get many red packets form their parents,grandparents, uncles, aunts and so on. The last day of the Chinese New Year is another festival. It names the Lantern Festival.

So the Chinese New Year comes to the end.

In China, every year the Spring Festival every household this paragraph of time is the most busy time. My house is no exception.

On New Years eve the day before, and I will help with the preparation of the New Years eve: mothers and grandmothers made cleaning, reception guests, making dumplings, etc. Although the work is very tired, but it can be fun, especially when making dumplings.

The freshness of color of beautiful dumpling seems very simple, actually it can be complicated. Want to ready before the first flour and water, and together, hard rub, rub, pressure, and then roll them with a rolling pin into sheets thin wrappers. I am after some efforts, finally rolling out the first doing the wrappers! I gently lay it in my hand, lest it accidentally broken. The wrappers already all finished! Should now start to prepare the dumpling stuffing. Mother used to hide minced meat chopper hemp slip, grandma washing at the celery. My task, at the end of the eighteenth pork with celery and celery to make pork filling. In a short time, the stuffing dumpling also completed. The work are done by those who experienced the aunt, we only waiting for the second day of New Years eve children taste the delicious dumplings!

Finally the long-awaited New Years eve! The grandmother home is full of relatives and friends, you gather around the big round table, eat family reunion dinner and our dumplings package yesterday. Men drink, women watch Spring Festival gala, the children are clamour to set off firecrackers in the courtyard, been very busy.

In the day, because of last night, shou sui, I the whole morning in bed asleep and wake in the mind still thinking about last night and friends to play.

This is a full of the flavor of traditional culture is very happy New Years eve!

在中国，每年春节的这段时间正是每家每户最热闹的时候。我家也不例外。

在除夕的前一天，我就帮着妈妈和外婆做除夕的准备：打扫卫生、接待客人、包饺子什么的。这些活儿虽然很累，但是做起来可好玩儿了，尤其是做饺子的时候。

那些色鲜味美的饺子一个个看似十分简单，其实做起来可复杂了哩。先要把之前预备好的面粉和水和在一起，使劲儿的揉、搓、压一番，然后用擀面杖把它们擀成一张张薄薄的饺子皮儿。我经过好一番努力，终于擀出了第一张自己做的饺子皮!我把它轻轻地摊在手上，生怕它一不小心破掉。饺子皮已经全部完工!现在应该开始好好地准备饺子的馅儿了。妈妈用菜刀麻溜地躲着肉末，外婆则在一旁洗着芹菜。我的任务呢，十八猪肉末和芹菜和在一起，做成猪肉芹菜馅。不一会儿的工夫，饺子馅儿也全部完工。剩下的工作就由那些经验丰富的舅妈们来完成，我们小孩子只等着第二天除夕品尝美味的饺子了!

终于到了期盼已久的除夕夜了!外婆家里聚满了亲朋好友，大家围在大圆桌四周，吃起了团圆饭和我们昨天包的饺子。男人们喝酒，女人们看春晚，小孩子们都吵着闹着要到院子里放鞭炮，真是热闹极了。

到了大年初一，由于昨夜守岁的原因，我整个上午都赖在床上睡着懒觉，心里还想着昨晚和小伙伴们打闹的情景。

这真是一个充满传统文化气息的十分快乐的除夕夜!

in the spring festival ，Iam so happy，because Ican eat delicious food and wear new clothes， they are beautiful，I can play games with my sister， my family are very busy。

I love spring festival。

在春节我特别高兴，因为我可以吃好吃的食物穿着新衣服，很漂亮，我和我妹妹可以玩游戏 我家人很忙碌

我特别喜欢春节.

Once a year the Spring Festival is coming, everybody busy couplets, everybody is bursting with happiness atmosphere, very happy, our family is no exception, on the twenty-nine, I just got up, my mother called to my sister and couplets, we posted a big character in the central door, on both sides of the door posted couplets on the "Fu born Xi annual music" the second line is "rich suisui Tim Choi Huan" streamer is "Happy New Year" soon we posted a good, I look at my work very happy.

On New Years Eve, we put on new clothes and set off firecrackers with our sister. A "crackling" sound from our ears through, like thousands of households to send blessings, we are very happy. On the eve of new years Eve, we had dinner, and I watched the Spring Festival Gala with my father, mother and sister. That wonderful performance made my mood open, there was a cross talk, there was a sketch and a song and dance... Very pretty. But I like Xiao Shenyang? Ya egg? Zhao Benshan and the old finished "no money" is so fun.

Lunar New Years day I just woke up and found a gift money pillow, sister, we laugh, and we ate dumplings, went to grandmas home after worship, pay New Years call, grandparents, give us the gift money, but also to eat out, we eat, we are very happy.

I like the new year. Its good for the new year.

It was the Eve of the Spring Festival.

Dusk was just falling as I slurped up the last bit of rice and laid down my chopsticks.

“Theyre starting!” cried my friend excitedly. “Quick! Quick!”

Outside, children were running everywhere. Their happy voices and faces made me warm inside, despite the cold wind that greeted me. My friend thrust a bundle of straw in my hands. “Come!” he cried. I giggled as I ran to catch up to him; the childrens excitement was a fever that spread to even the big kids like us.

I soon joined a rowdy bunch of children and teenagers who were building a bonfire in the middle of a path that ran through the wheat fields. “Here,”said my friend, handing me a long bamboo pole. “Put some of your straw in the fire. Then tie the rest onto your pole like this.” He demonstrated with his own materials, and I followed his example. Then he thrust both our torches into the fire and handed me mine. “Now run!”

And run I did----we all did. For miles and miles around, as far as I could see, there were small orange specks scattered about, and I could hear the distant screaming and laughing of other children running up and down the rice field path. For several hours into the night I helped build fires and keep an eye on the younger children. Occasionally I, too, lit a torch and ran around like a mad man, screaming and waving a flaming bamboo pole.

This festival, which occurred six days before Chinese New Year, was just one of the experiences during the visit to my friends over the Spring Festival. As it was explained to me, the purpose behind this festival was to allow the children to have fun burning up all the straw leftover after the harvest. Later, the ash is used for fertilizer.