2. Erecting the egg（立鸡蛋）
In China, it is said that the egg can be set upright on the first day of Beginning of Spring, Spring Equinox day（春分） and Autumn Equinox day（秋分）. It is believed that if someone can make the egg stand on the first day of the Beginning of Spring, he will have good luck in the future .
3. Wearing fabric swallows（佩燕子）
Wearing fabric swallows is a custom in some regions in Shanxi. Every Beginning of Spring, people like to wear a swallow made of colorful silk on their chests. The custom originated during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). The swallow is a harbinger of spring and a symbol of prosperity and happiness.
胸前佩戴一只织成的燕子是陕西一些地区的习俗。每当立春，人们喜欢在胸前佩戴一只用五彩丝织成的燕子。这个习俗起源于唐代(618-907)。燕子是一种报春鸟，是繁荣和幸福的象征。
4. Biting the spring （咬春）
In many parts of China, people observe the custom of "biting the spring" on the first day of Beginning of Spring. They eat spring pancakes, spring rolls, or a few mouthfuls of carrots.
在中国许多地方，人们都遵守着立春第一天要“咬春”的习俗。人们吃春饼、春卷，或者咬几口胡萝卜。
5. Making a Spring Ox（糊春牛）
This custom in Shanxi is practiced right before the Beginning of Spring. The local government hires some skilled artisans and gathers them to build the frame of an ox out of bamboo strips and the legs with wood. Then they paste some paper and paint onto it. The image of an ox is complete. It is said that if more red and yellow paper is used, then there will be a good harvest in that year; if black paper is pasted, then they will be poor in that year. When the paper ox is ready, there is a ritual to paint its eyes. After that, people will set up an altar for it and worship it.
陕西的习俗是要在立春之前就开始做春牛。当地政府会雇佣一些熟练的工匠，召集他们用竹条做出牛的骨架、用木头做成牛的腿。然后他们就会糊上纸、刷上颜色。一头“牛”就这样做好了!据说如果多用红色和黄色的纸，那年就会有个好收成；如果糊上了黑色的纸，那年的收成就会不好。当纸牛做好了之后,会有一个“做牛点睛”的仪式。在那之后，人们会给它修个祭坛，敬拜它。
6. Appreciating Plum Blossoms（赏梅）
Plums blossom from the 12th lunar month to the second month of the next year. The plum blossom, as it fights against the cold, is the most highly regarded. In China, the plum blossom, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum are praised as the four gentlemen of Chinese flowers.
梅花会从农历腊月一直开到第二年二月。梅花因为能够抵抗严寒，所以在中国最受重视。在中国，梅、兰、竹、菊被誉为花中四君子。
7. Welcoming Spring（拜春）
Three thousand years ago, Chinese people began to hold the Welcoming Spring Ceremony. People worship gou mang, the god of spring who rules agriculture. In the Qing Dynasty, Welcoming Spring became an important folk activity. In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Jingzhaoyin and other government officials had to go to the "Spring Farm" which is five miles away from Dongzhimen in the "eastern suburbs" to welcome spring.
三千年前，中国人就开始举行迎春仪式了。人们拜祭主宰农业的春神“句芒”（拼音为gou mang）。清朝时，“拜春”成为重要的民间活动。明清时京兆尹和各府衙官员，都必须去“东郊”的东直门外五里的“春场”去迎春。
严寒的冬日逐步离我们远去，和暖的春风即将迎面吹来。人随春好，春与人宜！愿一切美好如期而至，你我共迎春暖花开！
（文/王芳，图/王芳，编辑/苏秀娟，审核/王俊华）
