中国春节（五）：变化 Chinese Spring Festival （V）

许多禁忌，年轻人都已淡漠了，实际上，春节的许多习俗也都在变化。

Many young people pay less and less attention to taboos during the Spring Festival. In fact, many customs during the Spring Festival have also changed.

原来到过年啊，蒸馒头，包包子，现在不是，什么也不做，如果来了人，都想好了，上大街上，楼下就有饭馆，到那儿点几个菜。

In the past, people would steam Mangtou and make baozi for the Spring Festival. But now people do not make them anymore. If a guest comes, they will go out and have a nice meal in a restaurant.

小时候就是吃好吃的，放鞭炮，穿新衣服。现在呢，也无所谓了吧，这个好吃的也老能吃，新衣服想什么时候穿什么时候穿。

In my childhood, we can enjoy delicious food, fire crackers and wear new dresses during Spring Festival. Nowadays, these things are not so special. We can always eat delicious food and wear new clothes anytime we want.

现在过年其实也就是图个团圆，图个热闹。

Now to celebrate the Spring Festival is to get together and have a great time.

以前八十代初，到年末，一定要看春节晚会，这个是我们过春节的一个很重要的一项，可现在呢，这个春节晚会，电视台的，有时也看，看挑挑，有时候就不看了。

In 1980s, at the eve of the Spring Festival, one must watch Spring Festival Party by CCTV. It was a very important part of our celebration. But now, sometimes we watch it on television. Sometimes, we don’t.

1983年中央电视台第一次播出了“春节联欢晚会”，汇聚了国内最知名的艺术家，代表着最高的节目水平。从那以后，除夕夜全家人吃着年夜饭，看春节联欢晚会，成了一个新的习俗。春节联欢晚会也成了每年电视台最重视的节目之一。

In 1983, Spring Festival Party was broadcast on CCTV for the first time. It gathered the most renowned artists all over China and represented the highest level of a TV program. Since then, a new tradition came into Beijing. At Spring Festival Eve, the whole family will have dinner together and watch Spring Festival Party. Spring Festival Evening also becomes one of the most important TV program for CCTV.

为什么会形成这个习俗，很多专家也在研究。也许是因为它可以通过电波把全国甚至全世界的华人联系在一起，营造一个“举国同庆”的时刻，让每个电视机前的人分享共同的快乐吧。

Why this new custom came into being? Many experts carry research on it. Maybe it can connect Chinese people all over the world together and create a moment of nationwide celebration, and let everyone in front of TV share this moment of joy.

现在孩子们，不怎么愿意在家过年。三十弄完了，初一就踮了，就跑了，就跟朋友旅游去了，去玩去了。

Nowadays, children do not like to celebrate the Spring Festival at home. When the Spring Festival eve is over, they will get out and go travelling with friends.

过年的那个内容吧，它好多是亲情吧，（大家）凑在一起。现在啊，好多人，我周围好多人，都觉得现在过年的味儿怎么越来越淡呢？

The celebration of the Spring Festival in the past contains a lot of family affection. People would get together. Now many people, many people around me all feel that, why the flavor of Spring Festival is not as strong as before?

城市的人呢，这种无论是这种工作的节奏、生活的水平有很大的提高，所以这种感觉只是说城市的人感觉到。这个年的味道越来越少了，那么另一方面就要看农村，中国的城乡差别还是比较大的，所以我们看到农村里边去过年呢，你就不感到那个年味好像是有多淡了。

This feeling is only sensed by urban citizens, no matter how fast working pace goes and how good the life condition improves. On the other hand, we should look at the countryside. There are a lot of differences between rural area and urban area in China. If we look at the celebration of the Spring Festival in the countryside, you will not feel the flavor of the Spring Festival is weakened.

不管形式怎么变化，春节的意义对于中国人来说都始终没有改变。对于幸福生活和美好生活的憧憬也是不会变的。春节假期过后，人们在各自忙碌的生活中，期盼着下一个春节的到来，再次挤入返乡的人流，回家过年。

Now matter how the forms change, the meaning of the Spring Festival for Chinese people still remains unchanged. Their wishes for happy life are also unchanged. After the Spring Festival holiday, people will go back to their busy life. They are looking forward to the next Spring Festival. They will join the returnees to go back to their hometown and celebrate it with their family.