农历新年的7个有趣事实

1 A fifth of the world's population celebrates the lunar new year. It falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice ['sɒlstɪs].

全球有近五分之一的人庆祝农历新年,日期是冬至后的第二个新月。

2 Each year is represented by one of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac['zəʊdɪæk]. 2018 is the year of the dog.

每一年都用12生肖中的一种动物来称呼。2018年是狗年。

3 The Chinese word for fish sounds like abundance. So having fish on new year's eve signifies abundance and prosperity[prɒ'sperɪtɪ].

汉字的鱼和多余的余读音一样. 因此除夕夜吃鱼表示年年有余。

4 Two-line poems are hung vertically on doorways. These couplets ['kʌplɪt]express new year wishes.

门口会贴对联，对联多写上对新年的愿望。

5 Red envelope containing money are given as gifts. They are often decorated with the character luck 福 written upside down， which means good luck arrives.

过年也会发红包作为礼物, 上面会有倒贴的福字, 代表福到了。

6 New year artworks often feature symbols of longevity, like the sun, water, pine trees and cranes [kreɪn]. Cranes mate for life and represent everlasting love. 

新年的吉祥物一般表示长久, 像是太阳，水，松树和鹤。鹤代表生命和长寿。

7 On the final day of the lunar new year celebrations, millions of lanterns are lit, making the end of winter and the start of spring.

在农历新年的最后一天会挂红灯笼，代表冬天的结束和春天的开始。