春节习俗盘点：三十儿晚上熬一宿

　　Chinese people are supposed to stay up the whole night on the 30th day of the 12th month in Lunar Calendar.

　　在年三十晚上，中国人一般都会整晚通宵守岁。

　　The folk saying goes like: 三十儿晚上熬一宿。

　　俗语叫做“三十儿晚上熬一宿”。

　　In ancient times, there was a monster called 年 (nian, or year) that would harm people。

　　在古代，有一只害人的怪兽叫做“年”。

　　Later, people found out that the monster routinely came out on New Year’s Eve, so people began to get together on this day, staying up and chatting, hoping for peaceful passage of the time。

　　后来，人们发现怪兽会在每年的除夕出来，所以人们在那一天聚在一起，通宵聊天，希望安全度过这段时间。

　　The custom of staying up symbolises the warding off of all diseases and disasters, wishing for good luck in the New Year。

　　熬夜的习俗，寓意着在新年远离疾病与灾难，期许着好运到来。

　　Nowadays, Chinese people will rush back home and have reunion dinner with family members on this day。

　　如今，中国人会在除夕夜回家，与家人团聚，吃团圆饭。

(沪江英语)