春节了，学点儿英语过年用

烟火

This evening all Chinese are bidding farewell to the Year of the Monkey and the world will usher in the Year of the Rooster. I was born in FK, a small town in Jiangxi Province. Every Lunar New Year my mum made New Year dishes for the big family and gave me red packets(lucky money). There were sometimes Lion Dance or Dragon Dance during the day and fireworks display in the evening. After dinner, all family members would get together and watch Spring Festival Gala. When thinking back to my childhood every Lunar New Year , I still have very fond memories of those happy days. Lunar New Year in my hometown gives me a very special feeling.

The word “bid” has many meanings but the phrase “bid farewell” is an old-fashioned and literary way of saying goodbye. The word “usher” also has many meanings but here “usher in” means to bring in the start of a new period, such as a new year. For example, we can also say "ushered in the new year with merrymaking". Red packets, Lion or Dragon Dance and fireworks display are all typical Lunar New Year traditions. As for Spring Festival Gala, it has also become a kind of tradition, though it is not as appealing as before. To have fond memories of sth/sb means to remember someone or something with great pleasure.

Almost every year I go back to my hometown to recapture the special feeling of Lunar New Year that I had. The word “recapture” here means to bring back the same feelings or qualities that you experienced in the past. However, the rice fields I used to play have been replaced by concrete buildings; my school friends have either left for big cities or have families of their own. The hometown has changed so much these years that it is not possible to fully recapture the past feeling of Lunar New Year that I had. If you ever grew up in a small town, you know what I am talking about.
All we can do is to keep the nostalgic memory and carry on.
Wish you have wonderful memory in 2017 and Happy New Year to all of you.

新年快乐

春节英语:

• bid farewell to: 告别
• usher in (the new year): 进入(新年)
• red packets/envelop: 红包
• lucky money: 压岁钱
• Lion Dance or Dragon Dance: 舞狮、舞龙
• fireworks display: 烟火表演
• Spring Festival Gala: 春晚
• fond memories: 美好记忆
• recapture the past feeling: 追忆往日情怀
• nostalgic memory: 对往事怀恋的回忆