中国年味Chinese festival atmosphere

过年，这个节日对于中国人来说是十分喜庆的节日，代表一年生活、工作的结束，迎接新的一年开始。在外工作、学习的人们都要回家与家人团聚，过年。大家聚在一起过节，对中国人来说最重要的就是吃了，而过年的吃颇为讲究，制作的年菜都要给来年讨个好的意头（祝福）。在中国的年菜裏少不了有鱼。鱼代表中国谒语“年年有鱼”谐音“年年有余”，表示每一年都有富足剩余，祝福来年物质丰富。 饺子，在中国古代就认定饺子外形像元宝（中国古代的钱币）一样，有钱财的意思，所以饺子也是一道必不可缺少的年菜。 腊味（腊肠、腊肉等），代表“热辣（腊）红火。（就是生意、工作都十分热闹的意思）鱼头，用红椒制作，代表“鸿（红）运当头”。（就是好运会降临在自己身上）虾，代表“云游四海”。（自由与快乐）猪手，代表“财运就手”。（赚钱又快又容易的意思）

Chinese New Year is a very jubilant festival for the Chinese people. It represents the end of a year’s life and work, and the beginning of a New Year. People who work or study outside have to go home to spend the Spring Festival with their families. The most important thing for Chinese people when they get together to celebrate the festival is to eat. However, the eating during the Spring Festival is quite exquisite, and the New Year dishes are all made to give a good start (blessing) to the coming year.Fish is indispensable in Chinese New Year dishes. Fish represents the Chinese saying "every year has fish", which is similar to the word "every year has enough things to spend ". It means that every year has abundant surplus.In ancient China, it was believed that the appearance of dumplings  was like ingot (ancient Chinese coin), which had the meaning of money. Therefore, dumplings was also an indispensable New Year dish.Preserved meat (sausage, bacon, etc.), represents "hot and red". (That is business and work are very busy.)Fish head, made with red pepper, represents "hong (red) yun dang tou". (That is good luck will come to you.)Shrimp, which stands for "travel from coast to coast ". (freedom and happiness)Pig’s hand, stands for "fortune". (meaning to make money quickly and easily)