戈戈:
It is the time to celebrate the New Year.
要过新年咯。
MM:
I know the New Year is read as 'Nian' in chinese.
我知道新年用中文读“Nian”。
戈戈:
You are right, but today "Celebrate the New Year" may come from "Survive the Nian".
对的,不过现在的“庆祝新年”可能来源于“幸免于年”。
MM:
Is there some historical origins?
有什么历史渊源吗?
戈戈:
The word "Nian" was originally the name of a monster that started to prey on people the night before the beginning of a new year.
“年”原本是一种在新年前夜开始出来捕食人类的怪兽。
MM:
Why are you putting up red paper and firing fire-crackers to celebrate it?
为什么还要贴红纸,放鞭炮来庆祝新年到来呢?
戈戈:
An old man subdued Nian and told people to put up red paper decorations on their windows and doors to scare away Nian.
有个老人降服了年,并且告诉人们用红色的纸来装饰门窗可以吓跑年。
MM:
So that was it!
是这样啊!
戈戈:
People today have long forgotten why they are doing all this, except that they feel the color and the sound add to the excitement of the celebration.
现在人们早就忘了为什么这样,只知道这种颜色,这种声音能增添他们过年的兴奋。
MM:
It doesn't matter. Red, with warm feeling, possesses the actions of making people excited and joyful.
没关系,反正红色本来就有温暖的感觉,有让人兴奋、喜乐的功效。