摘要：
TheTraditionofChineseNewYearPreface:AsoneofthemostimportanttraditionalfestivalsinChi... TheTraditionofChineseNewYear
Preface:
AsoneofthemostimportanttraditionalfestivalsinChina,ChineseNewYear,orSpringFestival,isatimeforfamilyreunionandwell-wishing.Itusuallyfallsonthefirstdayofthelunarcalendar,whichisbetweenlateJanuaryandearlyFebruaryintheGregoriancalendar.Thefestivallastsforfifteendays,duringwhichpeoplecelebratewithvariouscustoms,suchascleaningthehouse,decoratingwithredcoupletsandlanterns,cookingdeliciousfood,andsettingofffireworks.Inthisstory,wewillfollowafamily'sreunionjourneyandwitnesshowtheyexperiencethejoyandwarmthofChineseNewYear.ItwasachillywinterafternoonwhenMr.Zhangarrivedatthetrainstation.Helookedaroundandsawmanypassengersrushingtocatchtheirtrains.Hefeltalittleanxiousbecausehehadnotseenhisfamilyforalongtime,andhehopedtoarrivehomebeforetheNewYear'sEvedinner.Mr.Zhangtookhisseatonthetrainandsighedashewatchedthesceneryoutsidethewindow.Herememberedthedayswhenhewasalittleboy,whenheusedtocelebratethefestivalwithhisparentsandsiblings.Butnow,hisparentsweregone,hischildrenlivedindifferentcities,andhiswifepassedawayseveralyearsago.Hefeltlonelyandsad.
Meanwhile,inMr.Zhang'shometown,hisdaughter-in-law,Mrs.Li,wasbusypreparingforthefestival.Shecleanedthehousefromtoptobottomanddecorateditwithredlanternsandcouplets.Shealsocookedavarietyofdishes,suchasfish,dumplings,chicken,andvegetables.Shehopedtomakethereuniondinnerasfestiveandjoyfulaspossible.Mrs.Li'shusband,Mr.Zhang'sson,wasalsoonhiswayhome.Hehadtotakealong-distancebusbecausethetrainticketsweresoldout.Hefeltabituncomfortableandtiredbecausehehadbeenstandingforhoursduetothecrowdedbus.Butheknewhehadtoendurethehardshiptoseehisfatherandotherfamilymembers.Astheduskfell,Mr.Zhang'strainfinallyarrivedatthestationofhishometown.Hegotoffthetrainandwasgreetedbyhissonanddaughter-in-law.Theyhuggedeachothertightlyandexchangedgreetings.Mr.Zhangfeltrelievedandhappytoseehisson,whohadgrownuptobearesponsibleman.Theywalkedoutofthestationandtookataxitotheirhome.Ontheway,theychattedabouttherecentnewsandsharedtheirexpectationsforthefestival.Mrs.LitoldMr.Zhangthatshehadpreparedhisfavoritedishesandthathisgrandchildrenwouldperformadragondanceforhimafterdinner.
Athome,Mr.Zhangwasamazedbythetransformationofthehouse.Itlookedsovibrantandcolorfulthathefeltasifhehadenteredadifferentworld.HethankedMrs.Liforherhardworkandfeltgratefulforhavingsuchacaringdaughter-in-law.Thefamilymembersgatheredaroundthetableandstartedthedinner.Theydrankwarmwine,atetastyfood,andtalkedhappily.Mr.ZhangenjoyedeverydishandpraisedMrs.Li'scookingskills.Healsolistenedattentivelytohisgrandchildren'sstoriesandwatchedthemperformthedragondancewithexcitement.Afterdinner,theywatchedtheSpringFestivalGalaonTVandplayedsomegames,suchasmahjongandcards.Theylaughedandjoked,forgettingalltheirworriesandtroubles.Mr.Zhangfeltyoungagainandcherishedeverymomentofthereunion.Thenightwentbyquickly,andthefamilymemberswenttobedlate.Theyweretiredbuthappy.Mr.Zhanglookedattheceilingandrememberedhiswife,whousedtobehispartnerincelebratingthefestival.Heshedsometears,butheknewthatshewouldbehappytoseehimbeingsurroundedbyhischildrenandgrandchildren.
Thenextmorning,Mr.Zhangwokeupearlyandwentforawalkinthepark.Hesawmanypeopledoingmorningexercises,flyingkites,andplayingmusic.Hefeltthefreshairandthewarmsunonhisface,andherealizedthatlifewasstillbeautifulandmeaningful.Whenhecamebackhome,hesawhissonanddaughter-in-lawbusymakingdumplings.Theyinvitedhimtojointhem,andhehappilyagreed.Theytalkedandlaughedwhilewrappingthedoughandfillingwithmeatandvegetables.Mr.Zhangfeltlikeachildagain,learninganewskillandenjoyingthecompanyofhisfamily.Asthedaypassedby,morerelativesandfriendscametovisitthem.Theyexchangedgifts,atesnacks,andsharedtheirstories.Mr.Zhangmetsomeoldfriendswhomhehadnotseenforyears,andtheyhuggedeachothertightlyandrecalledtheiryouth.Atnight,theyhadanotherbigdinnerwithmoredishesandmoreguests.Theydrankmorewine,sangmoresongs,anddancedmoredances.Mr.Zhangfeltthatthefestivalwasnotonlyabouteatinganddrinking,butalsoaboutbuildingrelationshipsandcreatingmemories.
Thenextfewdayswerefilledwithvariousactivities,suchasvisitingtemples,watchingliondances,playingfirecrackers,andhavingapicnic.Mr.Zhangfeltlikehewaslivinginadreamland,whereeveryonewasfriendlyandcheerful.Onthelastdayofthefestival,theyhadtosaygoodbyetoeachother.Mr.Zhangfeltabitsad,butheknewthattheywouldalwaysbeconnectedbyloveandmemories.Hehuggedhissonanddaughter-in-lawtightlyandwishedthemgoodhealthandhappiness.Asheboardedthetrainbacktohiscity,helookedoutofthewindowandsawthesnow-coveredfieldsandmountains.Hefeltasenseofpeaceandfulfillmentinhisheart.Herealizedthatlifewasnotaboutaccumulatingwealthorfame,butaboutcherishingthepeopleandmomentsthatmatteredmost.Whenhearrivedhome,heunpackedhisluggageandfoundasmallredenvelopefromhisgranddaughter.Insidetheenvelopewasahandmadegreetingcard,whichhadapictureofasmilingfaceandamessageof"HappyChineseNewYear,Grandpa!Weloveyou!"Mr.Zhangfelttouchedandtearedupagain.
Heputthecardonhistableandsatdownonhiscouch.Helookedaroundhisemptyroomandrealizedthathewasnotaloneanymore.Hehadabigfamilywhocaredabouthimandwouldalwaysbethereforhim.Heclosedhiseyesandsmiled.HefeltblessedtohaveexperiencedthetraditionofChineseNewYear,whichwasnotonlyafestival,butalsoaspiritofunity,harmony,andcompassion.Hewhisperedtohimself:"Thankyou,mydearfamily.Thankyouforbringingmehome."Andhefellasleep,dreamingofthenextChineseNewYear,whentheywouldmeetagainandcreatemorebeautifulmemoriestogether.
