TheSpringFestivalisveryimportanttoChinesepeople.Inthepast，peoplecouldnotoftenhavemeat，riceorotherdeliciousfood.TheycouldonlyeattheseduringtheSpringfestival.SoeveryyeartheyhopedthattheSpringFestivalwouldcomesoon.Now，althoughpeople‘slifeismuchbetter，andwecaneatthedeliciousfoodseveryday.Peoplestilllikethefestival.Becausemostpeoplecanhavealongholiday，andwearefreetogoonatriporvisitourfriendsorhavepartieswithourfamily.Intheevenings，wecanhaveabigmealintherestaurantorstayathomewithfamilyandwatchtheTVprograms.
Anewyear，anewstart，whenIstandontheedgeofanewyear，Ican'thelpthinkingaboutmyplanofnextyear。
Justastheoldsaying：“Wellbeganisthehalfofthesuccess。”SoIdecidethatIshouldbeatworkwhiletheothersarestillrelaxing，andthen，atthebeginning，I'mquickerthantheothersandofcourseIwillgetbetterresultthantheothers。
But，whatIreallydecidetodoisthatImustmakegoodofanytimeIcansparethoughitseemsimpossible。While，IwilldomybesttoliveupwithwhatIhaveplanned，andtheresultwillproveit。
FarandawaythemostimportantholidayinChinaisSpringFestival，alsoknownastheChineseNewYear.TotheChinesepeopleitisasimportantasChristmastopeopleintheWest.ThedatesforthisannualcelebrationaredeterminedbythelunarcalendarratherthantheGREgoriancalendar，sothetimingoftheholidayvariesfromlateJanuarytoearlyFebruary.
TotheordinaryChinese，thefestivalactuallybeginsontheeveofthelunarNewYear'sDayandendsonthefifthdayofthefirstmonthofthelunarcalendar.Butthe15thofthefirstmonth，whichnormallyiscalledtheLanternFestival，meanstheofficialendoftheSpringFestivalinmanypartsofthecountry.
SpringFestivalisthemostimportantandpopularfestivalinChina.BeforeSpringFestival，thepeopleusuallycleananddecoratetheirhouses.AndtheygototheFlowerFairstobuysomeflowers.DuringSpringFestival，theadultsusuallygiveluckymoneytochildren.Peopleoftengettogetherandhaveabigmeal.Somepeopleeatdumplingfordinner.
TheSpringFestival，ChineseNewYear，isthemostimportantfestivalforallofus.AllfamilymembersgettogetheronNewYear'Evetohaveabigmeal.Atthesametime，everyonecelebratestoeachother.Atabout12o'clock，someparentsandchildrenlightcrackers.Thewholeskyislightedbrightly.Wemaywatchthefireworksexcitedly.Howbusyitis!
Onthefirstearlymoringofoneyear，manyseniorcitizengetupearlyandtheystickthereversedFuorhangsomecoupletsonthefrontdoor.Somehouse'swindowsarestickedonredpapercutlings.
TheChineseNewYearlastsfifteendays.Soduringthefifteendays，wealwaysvisitourrelativesfromdoortodoor.Atthattime，childrenarethehappiestbecausetheycangetmanyredpacketsformtheirparents，grandparents，uncles，auntsandsoon.ThelastdayoftheChineseNewYearisanotherfestival.ItnamestheLanternFestival.
SotheChineseNewYearcomestotheend.
WillChristmasReplacetheSpringFestival?
ChristmasarousesincreasingattentionyearbyyearinChina.Christmascardsbecomepopularwithstudents.PeopleholdChristmaspartiesandexchangeChristmasgirts.AlotorTVandradioprogramsaboutChristmasareon.MeanwhiletheSpringFestivalislessappealing(有吸引力的)toyoungsters.ThussomepeoplewonderwhetherChristmaswillreplacetheSpringFestival.
Thisworryisfairlyunnecessary.Why?OnereasonliesthatChristmasonlyaffectsChristians，collegestudentsandjoint-venture(合资企业)workers.AnotherreasonisthatChristmasismostlycelebratedincities.Fewpeopleincountrysideshowextremeinterestinthisexotic(带有异国情调的)festival.Bycontrast，theSpringFestivalisthemostinfluentialtraditionalfestivalineveryfamily.
Ithink，itisnaturalthatwithincreasingexchangeswiththeWest，alotofWesternholidayshavebeengraduallyintroducedintoChina.ForusChineseweshouldneverneglectorevendiscardourowntraditionalfestivals.ForcenturiesChinesehaveobservedthistraditionalholidaytowelcomethebeginningofanewyear.AndwewilltreasuretheSpringFestivalforever.