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Chinese New Year is a major celebration in Chinese culture.
春节是中国文化中一个重要的庆祝活动。
This holiday marks the beginning of the new year in the ancient lunar calendar that is based upon the moon’s cycles.
这个节日标志着以月亮周期为基础的古代农历新年的开始。
Full of customs and traditions, the origins of Chinese New Year contain a number of legends and folk tales.
充满了习俗和传统的中国新年，其起源包含了许多传说和民间故事。
One such legend circles around a terrifying creature called Nian.
其中一个传说就是关于一个叫做“年”的可怕生物。
This is where our story begins.
我们的故事就从这里开始。
A long time ago there existed a quiet village.
很久以前，有一个宁静的村庄。
The villagers lived simple, peaceful lives and were generally quite happy.
村民们过着简单、平静的生活，到处都洋溢着幸福气息。
Things would change, however, on the eve of the lunar new year,
然而，在农历新年前夕，这一切都会发生变化，
as the villagers began their preparations to hide from what was soon to come.
村民们会开始准备躲避即将到来的灾难。
High in the mountains lived a horrible demon creature called Nian.
在高山上住着一个可怕的妖怪，它的名字叫“年”。
This monster resembled a lion with sharp horns and menacing teeth!
这个怪物形似一头狮子，长着锋利的角和尖锐的牙齿！
Throughout the year he would sleep soundly, until the lunar new year arrived, when he would descend upon the village.
它一整年都在沉睡，只有在农历新年来临前夕，它会来到村子里。
Nian would devour crops, gobble up livestock, and any child it found would disappear.
“年”会毁灭庄稼，吞食牲畜，并且让它找到的孩子都会消失。
In fear, the villagers would lock up their homes and hide until Nian had passed.
出于恐惧，村民们会锁上自己的房子，躲藏起来，直到“年”过去。
One year, as the fateful day approached, an old beggar entered the village.
有一年，当那灾难性一天临近的时候，一个老乞丐来到了这个村子。
Seeing everyone locking up their homes, he asked if anyone was willing to offer him a place to stay.
看到大家都锁上了自己的房子，他于是询问，有没有人愿意给他一个地方住。
The villagers, however, were too concerned with protecting themselves that they paid no attention to the old man.
然而，村民们的精力都集中在保护自己上，并没有人注意到这位老人。
An old woman from the east side of the village saw the poor man.
只有一位居住在村子东头的老妇人看到了这个可怜人。
She brought him some food and explained why everyone was in such a panic.
她给老乞丐拿了一些食物，并向他解释了为什么大家都这么恐慌。
She pleaded with the beggar to leave as soon as possible or else he may suffer a terrible fate.
她恳求老乞丐尽快离开，否则就可能会遭到无妄之灾。
He requested that if she offered him a place to stay for the night he would reward her by banishing the evil creature.
老乞丐则表示，如果能给他提供一个过夜的地方，为了报答，他就会把这个邪恶的生物赶走。
Not convinced, she continued to plead with the man,
老妇人并不相信，继续苦劝老乞丐尽快离开，
but in the end, since she feared being left out when Nian arrived, she had no choice but to agree to his proposal.
但最终，由于害怕在“年”到来时自己还在外面，所以她别无选择，只好同意了老乞丐的提议。
Once midnight arrived, so did Nian.
到了午夜，“年”果然来了。
Normally, the village remained completely silent and dark, however, this year there was something different.
往常村子里是一片的寂静和黑暗，但今年有些不同。
At one end of the village, Nian could see lights in the distance.
在村子的一头，“年”可以看到远处的灯光。
Approaching cautiously, Nian drew closer to the home.
于是“年”蹑手蹑脚地靠近了这家住户。
Once Nian arrived, it found the home of the old woman had been covered with red papers and bright light was coming from inside.
到了近前，“年”发现老妇人的家已经被红色的纸覆盖，明亮的光从里面射出来。
It began to tremble and growl in fear.
“年”开始恐惧地颤抖和咆哮。
Enraged by such unusual and irritating things, Nian charged the front door,
它被这种不寻常且令人恼火的东西激怒了，于是冲进了前门，
but was met by a barrage of loud intimidating practice and flashes, stopping Nian in its tracks.
但随即，它的脚步被一连串响亮吓人的声音和闪光给震慑住了。
Through the smoke, the old man emerged in a bright red gown,
这时，老乞丐身穿鲜红的长袍，从烟雾中走出，
who was loudly beating a drum and roaring with laughter at how scared Nian appeared.
他大声地敲着鼓，笑着看着“年”惊恐的样子。
Overcome with fear, Nian fled away through the dark night.
最终，“年”鼓起勇气，趁着黑夜逃走了。
The next day, the villagers emerged from their locked homes and were surprised to discover the village remained untouched.
第二天，村民们从上锁的房子里出来，惊讶地发现自己的村庄没有受到任何影响。
At this moment, the old woman remembered the message from the beggar.
这时，老妇人想起了乞丐的话。
She beckoned to the other villagers to examine her home to see what the old man had done to save their village.
她示意其他村民去她家看看老乞丐为拯救他们的村庄做了什么。
They were interested to see all of the red papers, lanterns and burnt bamboo.
看到红纸、灯笼和烧掉的竹子，所有人都惊讶不已。
(the cause of the cracking sound and inspiration for modern-day firecrackers)
（这就是爆炸声的成因以及现代鞭炮的灵感来源）
They were quickly enlightened by the fact that these seemingly simple objects have been the same that had scared away Nian and kept their village safe.
村民们很快就意识到，这些看似简单的东西，正是吓跑“年”并保护他们村庄安全的东西。
To celebrate their triumph over the beast,
为了庆祝战胜“年”这个怪物，
the villagers darned similar bright red outfits and visited neighbours to share the joy.
村民们身着类似的鲜红色衣服，拜访邻居，分享喜悦。
The news quickly spread and soon after, Nian was no longer a threat to anyone.
消息很快传开了，不久之后，“年”就无法对任何人构成威胁了。
As the years passed these traditions were formed
随着岁月的流逝，相关的传统也逐渐形成，
and the fears that the new year had once caused was replaced with the excitement and celebration
新年曾经引起的恐惧，也被兴奋和庆祝所取代，
and everyone would stay out late to welcome the new year.
所有人都会在外面待到很晚来迎接新年。
