613th article 第613期双语推文
The soul of the Spring Festival is the festive atmosphere. What is this festive atmosphere? Folk custom, traditional etiquette, steaming soup, melon seeds, peanuts, and candies piled high on the table…
过年，最讲究“年味儿”，那什么是“年味儿”呢？是民俗、是老礼儿、是灶台上咕嘟咕嘟冒着的热气，也是茶几上摆得满满当当的瓜子、花生和糖果……
Some say that the atmosphere of the Spring Festival is contained in the Chinese red: red couplets, red paper-cuts on the windowpanes, red lanterns, red Fu characters, as well as red envelopes containing money.
有人说，年味儿蕴含在中国红里，红色的对联儿、红色的窗花、红色的灯笼，红色的福字儿，当然，也少不了长辈发的红包。
Others say that the atmosphere of the Spring Festival is hidden in the smiling faces of children. They think it fun to do Spring Festival shopping and paste up Spring Festival couplets on both sides of the door. They make dumplings in creative ways and plan how to spend their gift money next year.
也有人说，年味儿藏在孩子的笑脸里，对他们来说，买年货是好玩儿的，贴春联是有趣的，包饺子是带着创意的，收压岁钱是要好好规划来年零花钱怎么用的。
Others say that the atmosphere of the Spring Festival is reflected in the downtown area: busy parks, lively temple fairs, and crowded street markets. Deafening sounds of gongs and drums resound in the city, and everybody has a smile plastered on their faces.
还有人说，年味儿就在闹市里，热闹的公园、热闹的庙会、热闹的街市，处处锣鼓喧天、人潮如织、喜气洋洋。
In Zhengzhou, the folk culture and local specialties attract thousands of tourists to feel the New Year atmosphere every Spring Festival.
在郑州，每年春节，那浓郁的传统民俗文化和特色美食小吃，都会吸引人们来寻找年味儿。
Doing Spring Festival shopping
办年货
Zhengzhou residents are used to purchasing necessities for the New Year after Laba Festival, the 8th day of the 12th Lunar Month, which lasts until one week before the Spring Festival. The streets are thronged with New Year shoppers. On weekends, the whole family is out shopping. Grandparents pick wall calendars and Spring Festival couplets, parents buy vegetables and meat, and children are busy choosing toys. For consumers of all ages, shopping can quickly boost happiness and satisfaction.
老郑州人有个习惯，过了腊八就开始慢慢囤货，这年货一直要置办到春节前一周。集市上天天都是人山人海，每逢周末更是一家老小全体出动，爷爷奶奶挑挂历春联，爸爸妈妈买菜买肉，小孩子忙着选玩具。无论对于哪个年龄层的消费者来说，购物都能迅速提升幸福感、满足感。
Photo: Ma Jian
Now Zhengzhou boasts the Erqi Business District, the CBD Business District and the Huayuan Road Business District downtown, and there is Zhongdamen Bonded Commodity O2O Shopping Center, Outlets and duty-free stores around the city. It can meet your various demands for affordable and fashionable New Year goods. Here, you have access to international brands and tailor-made services. Of course, you can also revel in the joy of the lively Chinese New Year.
如今的郑州，市区里有二七商圈、CBD商圈、花园路商圈，周边有保税直购体验中心、奥特莱斯、免税店，办年货既实惠又不失时尚。在这里，你可以找到国际大秀的感觉，也可以体验私家定制的愉悦，当然更可以尽情感受热热闹闹中国年的温暖。
Making sausage
灌香肠
Many places in Henan have the tradition of making sausage and preserved meat, popular local Spring Festival dishes, to prepare for the coming festival. Zhengzhou, of course, is no exception.
快过年了，大部分河南人都有灌香肠、腌咸肉的习惯，郑州当然也不例外。
Photo: Ma Jian
With the Lunar New Year around the corner, you can see sausages and bacon hanging on the balconies of every household in the old town of Zhengzhou, adding to the festival atmosphere. People still go to temple fairs and eat snacks when celebrating the New Year today just like our ancestors did before.
尤其是郑州老城区，年味儿最浓，不仅家家户户阳台上都会挂着香肠、腊肉，而且至今保持着赶会、吃小吃的习俗。
The most authentic local dishes are hidden in the old city areas, e.g. He's stewed noodles, Cai's steamed dumplings & wontons, Ge's braised pancakes, Zhengzhou roast duck, Fang Zhongshan spicy soup, Shan's meatball soup, Guo's braised chicken, Tie's beef and Qi's pastries.
合记烩面、老蔡记蒸饺馄饨、葛记焖饼、郑州烤鸭、方中山胡辣汤、闪记丸子汤、郭记烧鸡、铁记牛肉、齐记糕点……老城里藏着最地道的郑州美食，值得去寻觅。
Hanging lanterns
挂灯笼
The streets are decorated with red lanterns, and every household pastes up Spring Festival couplets, vividly displaying the Spring Festival atmosphere in Zhengzhou.
大街小巷挂灯笼，家家户户贴对联，郑州的年味儿尽在这红彤彤的光影之间。
Photo: Ma Jian
Lanterns of different sizes, fiery-red Chinese knots and colorful string lights adorn the streets of Zhengzhou, symbolizing unity, family reunion and a successful career.
大小不一的灯笼，红红火火的中国结，还有各种彩色的藤球，装点着郑州的街道，寓意着同心同结、阖家团圆、事业兴旺。
The couplets posted on the doors are generally written by respected elders.
再说家门口贴的对联，一般是请身边德高望重的长者亲手书写，贴出来才气派。
Wearing new clothes
穿新衣
People put on new clothes, from head to toe, from underwear to outerwear, in festival red to be blessed with good luck in the New Year.
很多年轻人过年最期盼的是穿新衣服。从头到脚，一身儿新，连内衣都是新换的大红色，图个新年新气象的好兆头呗。
Around the 27th day of the 12th lunar month, the Big Corn, a landmark in Zhengzhou, is also dressed in Chinese red, shining brightly in the night sky.
每年的腊月二十七左右，郑州的地标建筑“大玉米”也会穿上新年装，身披中国红，在夜空中格外亮眼。
Watching lantern shows
赏灯会
Lantern shows are a Chinese folk custom, usually starting from around the Spring Festival to the Lantern Festival (the 15th day of the 1st lunar month). According to written records, at the beginning of the Southern Dynasties, Nanjing, the then capital city, held a lantern show during the Lantern Festival, which was the earliest recorded lantern show in China. Later, people adorned the streets with colorful lanterns, hoping for good weather, family happiness and world peace.
灯会是中国一种古老的民俗文化，一般从春节前后至元宵节。根据文献记载，早在南朝伊始，国都南京城内就举办过元宵灯会，这是中国最早记载的灯会。为了祈求风调雨顺、家庭美满和天下太平，张灯结彩的景况，开始从深宫禁苑、宗教场所走向民间大众，“灯火满市井”的场景颇为壮观。
In the 1980s, the lantern shows in Zhengzhou were mainly held near the Zijingshan Park, later in the People's Park. Now the streets are decorated with colorful lanterns, creating a strong festive atmosphere. Here, you can find childhood happiness in the colorful world and feel the charm of traditional culture.
20世纪80年代，郑州的灯会主要集中在紫荆山附近，后来以人民公园为主。现如今张灯结彩的大街小巷，让留在这里过年的人们感受着红红火火的年味。在郑州，我们透过流光溢彩找到年味儿乡愁，零距离感受传统文化的魅力。
Photo: Ma Jian
Visiting the Zhengzhou Confucius Temple
逛文庙
The Zhengzhou Confucius Temple was founded during the Yongping Period of the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 58 to AD 75). Having witnessed the continuation of the history of Zhengzhou, it is an important place to experience the beauty of humanity, and it pays homage to the scholars reaching back more than a thousand years.
作为郑州文脉的重要载体之一，作为品读郑州历史、感受人文之美的重要场所，始创于东汉永平年间（公元58年至公元75年）的郑州文庙，承载着千余载学子的情感记忆。
Every Spring Festival, the Temple holds a cultural temple fair. Inheritors of intangible cultural heritage, and masters of arts and crafts in Henan will be invited to present dozens of intangible cultural heritage projects such as paper cutting, micro-carving, clay sculpture, sugar figurines, and facial makeup. There are also dragon and lion dances and traditional Confucius-commemorating rituals.
每逢春节文庙都会有文化庙会，邀请河南非遗传承人、工艺美术大师，现场进行剪纸、微雕、泥塑、糖人、脸谱等数十个非遗项目展示，更有舞龙舞狮表演和传统的祭孔仪式。
The Temple is the most representative tangible symbol of Confucian culture. It gives a special meaning to its water, doors and plaques. Its historical and cultural value lies in its being the symbol and sustenance of Confucius' thought and culture, showing the unique festive atmosphere of the ancient city.
文庙作为儒家文化最具代表性的物化象征，作为讲述儒家文化最具代表性的视角，它的一池水、一道门、一块匾都有讲究。文庙历史文化价值在于其是孔子思想文化的象征和寄托，透着古城别样的年味儿。
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