如果足夠重視儀式感，春節的過法可不止年夜飯、對聯、燈籠和紅包。我們的祖先們在漫長歲月裡將春節傳統凝練成了內涵豐富的各項民俗。今時今日，有些習俗動手實踐起來已經不太容易，但了解一下也是頗有趣味。
首先，讓我們來看看這個古老的傳說↓
（視頻來源：騰訊視頻@NANA）
According to tales and legends, the beginning of the Chinese New Year started with a mythical beast called the Nian. Nian would eat villagers, especially children. One year, all the villagers decided to go hide from the beast. An old man appeared before the villagers went into hiding and said that he's going to stay the night, and decided to get revenge on the Nian. All the villagers thought he was insane. The old man put red papers up and set off firecrackers. The day after, the villagers came back to their town to see that nothing was destroyed. They assumed that the old man was a deity who came to save them. The villagers then understood that the Nian was afraid of the color red and loud noises. When the New Year was about to come, the villagers would wear red clothes, hang red lanterns, and red spring scrolls on windows and doors. People also used firecrackers to frighten away the Nian. From then on, Nian never came to the village again. The Nian was eventually captured by Hongjun Laozu, an ancient Taoist monk. The Nian became Hongjun Laozu's mount.
據傳說記載，過年的起源與一隻叫作"年"的吃人怪獸有關，它尤其愛吃小孩。有一年，所有村民決定外出躲避年獸，一位老人在大家出去避難之前出現在村裡，稱他將在此守夜，找"年"復仇，人們都覺得他瘋了。這位老人掛起紅紙，燃放爆竹。次日，村民們回到家中，發現一切安好，就認為那個老人是拯救他們的神。後來人們知道"年"害怕紅色和噪音，於是新年到來之前，村民們都會穿上紅衣服、掛起紅燈籠、在門窗上掛紅條幅，並且燃放爆竹把"年"嚇跑。從那時起"年"再也沒有來過村裡，最終被洪鈞老祖抓住，成為他的坐騎。
在今天，"春節Spring Festival"已成了全球華人最重要的節日。
Chinese New Year, known in modern Chinese as the "Spring Festival", is an important Chinese festival celebrated at the turn of the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar. Celebrations traditionally run from the evening preceding the first day, to the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first calendar month.
中國新年，即現代漢語中的"春節"，是傳統農曆歲末年初更迭之際一個重要的中國節日。慶祝活動從大年初一前一天夜裡開始，一直持續到正月十五元宵節。
The New Year festival is centuries old and gains significance because of several myths and traditions. Traditionally, the festival was a time to honor deities as well as ancestors. Chinese New Year is considered a major holiday for the Chinese and has had influence on the lunar new year celebrations of its geographic neighbours.
春節已延續數個世紀，因眾多相關神話傳說和傳統習俗而變得舉足輕重。傳統中的春節是敬拜神靈和祖先的日子。對中國人來說，春節是一個重大的節日，對地緣近鄰的農曆新年慶祝活動也產生了影響。
Within China, regional customs and traditions concerning the celebration of the Chinese New Year vary widely. Often, the evening preceding Chinese New Year's Day (New Year's Eve) is an occasion for Chinese families to gather for the annual reunion dinner. It is also traditional for every family to thoroughly cleanse the house, in order to sweep away any ill-fortune and to make way for good incoming luck. Windows and doors will be decorated with red color paper-cuts and couplets with popular themes of "good fortune" or "happiness", "wealth", and "longevity". Other activities include lighting firecrackers and giving money in red paper envelopes.
中國各地的年俗和傳統差異很大，一般來說，一家人在大年初一前夜（即新年除夕）團聚在一起吃團圓飯。大掃除也是所有家庭過年的傳統，以此掃除晦氣，迎接即將到來的好運。門窗要貼上紅色的剪紙和對聯，表達"好運""幸福""財富""長壽"等受歡迎的主題。其他過年活動還包括放煙花、送紅包。
In Chinese mythology, a monster called nian would come out to harm people on New Year's Eve, so people get together, staying up and chatting, hoping for a peaceful passage of time. The custom of staying up (Chinese: shou tai sui) symbolizes the warding off of all diseases and disasters and wishing good luck in the New Year.
中國神話裡，一頭叫"年"的妖怪會在新年的前一夜跑出來傷害人類，因此人們聚在一起，守歲聊天，祈禱能平安度過這一晚。因此，中國人將新年前夕熬夜的習俗稱為"守太歲"，意味著遠離疾病災禍，祈禱新年好運。
Chinese people attach great importance to the Spring Festival Eve, when all family members eat dinner together.
中國人十分重視除夕（即新年前一夜），彼時闔家團圓，共享團圓年夜飯。
The first day of Chinese New Year, also known as the "day of chicken", officially begins at midnight.
午夜零點時分，人們正式跨入新年第一天，也叫"金雞報曉"。
It is traditional to light firecrackers and make as much of a din as possible to chase off the evil monster nian.
傳統習俗是，人們會燃放鞭炮，儘可能製造大的喧鬧聲趕走邪惡的妖怪"年"。
Most importantly the oldest and most senior members are visited with the visits strengthening family kinship.
最重要的習俗是，人們會拜訪家中最年長的長輩，以加強家人之間的親情。
Senior members of the family hand out red envelopes containing cash(Chinese: ya sui qian), a form of blessing and to suppress aging and the challenges of the coming year, to junior members of the family, mostly children and teenagers.
而家中的長輩會給晚輩（主要是兒童和青少年）紅包（中國人稱之壓歲錢），代表著對晚輩的祝福，也是祈禱自己在來年身體康健、萬事如意。
On the second day, married daughters usually go back to their own family to visit parents, relatives and close friends. Traditionally, married daughters didn't have the opportunity to visit their birth families frequently.
初二，出嫁的女兒會回娘家給父母、親人和密友拜年。舊時，女兒出嫁後拜訪娘家父母的機會並不多。
Some believe the second day is also the birthday of all dogs and remember them with special treats.
還有一些人認為初二是所有犬類的生日，因此要給它們好吃的以示慶祝。
On the third day, an old saying goes: "A fat pig at the door", meaning the arrival of good luck and happiness.
初三，有一句俗語"肥豬拱門"，預示著好運和幸福的到來。
Traditionally, the third day is known as "Chigou's Day". Chigou literally means "red dog", an epithet of "the God of Blazing Wrath", and it is considered an unlucky day to have guests or go visiting.
初三還有一個傳統俗稱是"赤狗日"。赤狗的意思是紅色的狗，是熛怒之神的綽號，因此人們認為這一天不宜接客或出訪。
Folklore says the 3rd day is also "rat marriage day" (Chinese: lao shu qu qin), so people often go to bed earlier to give rats time for their wedding.
民間還傳說初三是老鼠娶親日，所以人們晚上會早早上床歇息，騰出時間給老鼠們成親。
The old saying "three rams bring bliss" is connected with the fourth day, which says that by making a good beginning a happy end comes.
初四則和俗語"三羊開泰"有關，意思是歲首吉利就預示著歲末幸福。
According to folklore, it is also the day to welcome back the Kitchen God. On this day, the Kitchen God would check the household and therefore people should not leave home.
民間還傳說這一日是迎回灶神的日子。這一天灶神會清點每家的人數，所以切忌外出離家。
The fifth day is also called the "day of cow". According to Chinese folklore, the first seven days of the 1st lunar month are respectively called "day of chicken", "day of dog", "day of pig", "day of sheep", "day of cow", "day of horse" and "day of man". When creating all living beings on earth, Nu Wa, a goddess in Chinese mythology, created the six creatures before human beings.
初五也被稱為"牛日"。民間傳說正月頭七天分別是"雞日"、"犬日"、"豬日"、"羊日"、"牛日"、"馬日"和"人日"。中國傳統神話中的女神女媧在創造凡間生物時就是遵循了這個順序，在創造人類之前先創造了這六種生物。
The fifth day is also the God of Fortune's birthday and people will celebrate this day with a large banquet. This day is also commonly known as the Festival of Po Wu, literally breaking five. According to custom, it is believed that many New Year taboos can be broken on this day.
初五還是財神的生日，人們會舉辦盛宴以示慶祝。這天也被稱為"破五日"，字面意思是打破數字五。根據習俗，許多新年禁忌過此日皆可破。
On the sixth day, people make wishes for "ma dao cheng gong", win success immediately upon arrival.
初六，人們祈禱"馬到成功"，意思是成功馬上就會到來。
According to tradition, families usually send away the Ghost of Poverty on this day. To send away him, Chinese people will usually throw away their ragged clothes, rubbish and other dirty things.
各家各戶在初六有送"窮鬼"的傳統。人們會扔掉破爛的衣服、垃圾和其他髒東西，預示送走窮鬼。
By doing this Chinese people wish to send away poverty and welcome the beautiful days and good luck in the New Year.
這個習俗寓意趕走貧窮，新的一年迎來好日子和好運氣。
The seventh day is commonly referred as the "day of man", and in most parts of China people will eat noodles as they symbolize longevity in Chinese culture.
初七是"人日"，中國各地人民都會吃麵條，因為麵條在中國文化裡寓意長壽。
（圖片來源：全景視覺）
The eighth day is believed to be the birthday of millet, an important crop in ancient China.
初八被認為是中國古代一種重要糧食——谷的生日。
According to folk proverbs, if this day is bright and clear the year will be a harvest year; however, if this day is cloudy or even rainy, the year will suffer from poor harvest.
根據民間俗語，這一天如果晴朗明亮就預示著大豐收，而如果多雲甚至下雨就預示著今年會歉收。
Meanwhile, people also set free captive animals on this day, with a blessing for all living beings to flourish in the New Year.
此外，這一天人們還會放生動物，祝福新的一年裡所有生物都繁榮興旺，生生不息。
The ninth day is called Ti Kong Dan, or the birthday of the Jade Emperor. There will be grand ceremonies in Taoist temples on this day, and ordinary families also offer sacrifices to the Jade Emperor.
稱為"天公誕"，即玉帝的生日。這一天，道家寺廟會舉辦華麗隆重的慶典，尋常人家也會祭祀玉帝。
The 10th day is believed to be the birthday of the God of Stone which played a very important role in the agricultural society of ancient China.
初十被認為是石頭神的生日，在古代中國的農業社會佔有非常重要的地位。
On this day, people are forbidden to move any stone, including stone rollers, stone mills and herb grinders, and should not cut into a mountain for rock or build a house with rocks, otherwise bad things will happen to the crops.
這一天切忌移動石頭，包括石碾、石磨、研磨器具等等，也不能開山採石或用巖石建房子，否則這年莊稼就會遭殃。
People also burn incense and candles for the stones and offer pancake to the God of Stone.
人們還會焚香、點蠟燭以供奉石頭，向石頭神上貢烤餅。
People make offerings to Zi Gu, the guardian angel for weak women, on the 11th day.
正月十一，人們供奉紫姑，紫姑是可憐女子的守護神。
This day is also for Yuefu (fathers-in-law) to entertain Nuxu (sons-in-law).
這一天也是嶽父宴請子婿的日子。
In many areas, after this day, people will start preparing for the upcoming Lantern Festival which is on the 15th day of the 1st month.
許多地方在這天之後會開始準備即將到來的燈節——正月十五。
Families buy lanterns and build a lantern shack on the 12th day.
家家戶戶會買燈籠，然後在正月十二建一個燈籠棚。
On the 13th day, preparations for Lantern Festival continue.
正月十三，繼續準備元宵節。
The 14th day is the birthday of the Goddess of Linshui, who is believed to protect women from dying in childbirth. People make offerings to the goddess on this day.
正月十四是臨水娘娘的生日，臨水娘娘是拯救難產婦女的神仙。人們在這一天供奉臨水娘娘。
The 15th day of the 1st lunar month is commonly celebrated as Yuan Xiao Jie, or Lantern Festival. The festivities of the Chinese New Year reach a climax on this day.
正月十五一般被稱為元宵節或者燈節，中國新年慶祝活動在這一天達到頂峰。
Since early morning, dragon and lion dancers parade on streets crowded with people. In the evening families go out together to enjoy the full moon and appreciate colorful lanterns and also solve lantern riddles.
一大早，街上就擠滿了人群，觀看舞龍舞獅。晚上，全家人會一同外出享受滿月，欣賞繽紛多彩的燈籠，一起猜燈謎。
Chinese people also eat yuan xiao, a traditional food made of glutinous rice flour which symbolizes family togetherness and reunion.
人們還會吃一種由糯米做成的傳統美食——元宵，寓意闔家團圓。
This day officially marks the end of Chinese New Year celebrations.
這一天往往為中國新年慶祝活動劃上句點。
貼春聯
Paste up/stick spring couplets/scrolls
貼福字
Paste up/stick the character of Fu
年夜飯
The Spring Festival's family reunion dinner
看春晚
Watching the CCTV annual Spring Festival Eve Gala
放煙花/鞭炮
Set off fireworks/ firecrackers
拜年
Pay lunar New Year's calls/visits; give Spring Festival greetings
壓歲錢/紅包
Lucky money/ red envelop
Words can reflect New Year taboos. People tend to, for example, avoid negative words, such as "failing", "dying", and "illness" during New Year's celebrations.
過年雖然是一個放鬆的時候，但是也不是百無禁忌。首先一點就是語言上忌諱。過年的時候像"死"、"失敗"、"病"這樣比較晦氣的話不能說。
Breaking a dish is another taboo in some places, because it implies that you will not have a thing to eat.
打破碗碟也是忌諱，因為它暗示著你將丟了飯碗（如果不小心打破了，在場的人必須以迅雷不及掩耳盜鈴兒響叮噹之勢，說上兩句吉祥的順口溜，如"歲（碎）歲平安"，"打發（大發，發財之意）"等來彌補）。
People do not carry the garbage out or clean the house on New Year's Day or for the rest of the Spring Festival holiday, for fear of sweeping away good luck.
很多地方過年的時候不能掃地，或者掃地時只能往屋內掃，不能往屋外掃，因為這樣會把"財氣"掃出去。春節期間也不能扔垃圾，因為同樣有可能扔掉"財運"。
People usually get a haircut before the lunar new year's eve because it is said that getting one's hair cut in the first lunar month puts a curse on one's maternal uncles.
人們通常在農曆新年前夕剪頭髮，因為據說正月裡剃頭的話會"死舅舅"。
（據說這個習俗來源於清朝，滿清入關要求所有男子剃掉前額的頭髮，在腦後扎一條辮子。當時許多人把遵從傳統習慣和懷念明朝的情感結合起來，約定每到正月裡大家都不剃頭，並將這個行動定名為"思舊"，意思是"思念過去的歷史"。但隨著時間的流逝，口耳相傳，以訛傳訛，"思舊"的諧音附會成了"死舅"，於是有了流傳至今的民俗。）
知道了這些，小編頓時覺得過年更有年味了呢！最後，給大家送上一些新年祝福，請大家收好喲~~
恭喜發財
Congratulations and be prosperous !
歲歲平安
Wish you everlasting peace year after year !
金玉滿堂
May your wealthcome to fill a hall !
大展宏圖
May you realize your ambitions !
迎春接福
Greet the New Year and encounter happiness !
萬事如意
May all your wishes be fulfilled !
吉慶有餘
May your happiness be without limit !
一本萬利
May a small investment bring ten-thousandfold profits !
福壽雙全
May your happiness and longevity be complete !
招財進寶
When wealth is acquired, precious objects follow !
來源：譯世界