Preparations for the Chinese New Year in old China start well in advance of the New Year's Day. The 24th of the twelfth month is set aside for the annual housecleaning. Every household will give a thorough cleaning to their houses, clothes, bedclothes and all utensils,(器具) to bid farewell to the old year and to usher in the new. It is believed the cleaning sweeps away bad luck and makes the house ready for good luck to enter. All brooms and dustpans are put away on New Year's Eve so good luck cannot be swept away.
Spring couplets, written in black ink on large vertical scrolls of red paper, are put on the walls or on the sides of the doors. These couplets, short poems written in classical Chinese, are expressions of good wishes for the family in the coming year. In addition, symbolic flowers and fruits are used to decorate the house. Animated(活生生的) door gods, scrolls of happiness, beautiful window flowers, colorful New Year paintings and flower-decorated red lanterns, all gives a happy and prosperous atmosphere of the Festival.
Storeowners are busy as everybody goes purchasing for the New Year, from edible(食用的) oil, rice, chicken, fish and meat, to fruit, candies and nuts, and to various decorations, new clothes and shoes for children as well as gifts for friends and relatives.
参考译文
春联，用黑墨水写在垂直滚动大红纸上，是贴在墙壁上或在门边。这些对联和短诗是用繁体字写的，都是表达了对家庭在新的一年里的良好祝愿。此外，象征性的鲜花和水果是用来装饰房子。（活生生的）门神，充满幸福的卷轴，美丽的窗花，丰富多彩的年画和用花装饰的红灯笼，都展示出了一个喜庆和热闹的节日气氛。
在旧中国，元旦之后就开始提前准备过年的东西了。十二月二十四是留给年度大扫除的。家家户户都会彻彻底底的打扫他们的房子，衣服，被褥和所有的器具，来辞旧迎新。据说，打扫可以赶走坏运气，使房子有好运气。在除夕夜，所有的扫帚和簸箕都会被放在一边，免得好运被扫走了。
店主正忙着给大家进行新的一年的采购，从食用油，大米，鸡肉，鱼，肉，水果，糖果和坚果，到各种不同的装饰，新衣服和给孩子们的鞋子以及给朋友和亲戚的礼物。