[中华传统文化]大年三十：除夕守岁

Chinese people are supposed to stay up the whole night on the 30th day of the 12th month in the Lunar Calendar
腊月三十，人们熬夜守岁。

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.
中国神话里，一头叫“年”的妖怪会在新年的前一夜跑出来伤害人类，因此人们聚在一起，守岁聊天，祈祷能平安度过这一晚。因此，中国人将新年前夕熬夜的习俗称为“守太岁”，意味着远离疾病灾祸，祈祷新年好运。

Chinese people attach great importance to the Spring Festival Eve, when all family members eat dinner together.
中国人十分重视除夕（即新年前一夜），彼时阖家团圆，共享团圆年夜饭。