Eve是evening的缩写形式，除夕本来就是除夕夜，而eve是前夕的意思。New Year's Eve 是【新年前一天的晚上】新年的前夕。故为"除夕夜"

New Year's Eve, or the last night of the year in Chinese lunar calendar, is called Chuxi. It is an extraordinary day in China because the old year and new year meet during this night. Since Chuxi in Chinese means removing the old, most of the activities during New Year's Eve centers on removing the old and evil and pray for the best.

中国农历新年的最后一个晚上，叫做“除夕”。在中国，这是一个不平凡的日子，因为旧年和新年在这一夜之间相遇。中文里“除夕”是指除旧，所以大部分除夕夜里的习俗也是和除去旧恶、祈求幸福相关。

In Chinese mythology, a monster called nian would come out to harm people on New Year's Eve, so people get together, staying up and chatting, hoping for a peaceful passage of time.

中国神话里，一头叫“年”的妖怪会在新年的前一夜跑出来伤害人类，因此人们聚在一起，守岁聊天，祈祷能平安度过这一晚。

The customs on Chuxi Day in different districts are almost the same; while in some places, the customs are quite special, such as in Suzhou, Beijing and Taiwan. When staying up late in Suzhou, people always wait for the bell ring from the Hanshan Temple, which is a sign of the coming year;Beijing people hold Caisui activity by stepping on the sesame straw paved in the courtyard; In Taiwan, people will put a firepan under the table when have dinner and the daughters-in-law will stay up late in the New Year's Eve, the later, the better (It is said that the elders will enjoy longevity by this way).

不同地区的除夕的习俗几乎相同;在一些地方很特别，比如在苏州、北京和台湾。在苏州，人们会等候寒山寺里的钟声，因为这是新年来临的标志;在北京，人们会“踩岁”，用脚踩踏铺在地上的芝麻穗；在台湾，人们把火盆放在年夜饭桌下。做儿媳妇的要在除夕夜里守岁，越晚越好。

There are many activities on New Year's Eve / Chuxi Day, which mainly include sticking New Year scrolls (spring scrolls), enjoying family reunion   dinner, Shousui (stay up late at night), sacrifice offering and setting off fireworks.The custom of staying up (Chinese: shou tai sui) symbolizes the warding off of all diseases and disasters and wishing good luck in the New Year.

其他在除夕夜的习俗还包括贴春联、吃团圆饭、守岁（熬夜）、拜祭和放烟火。中国人将新年前夕熬夜的习俗称为“守太岁”，意味着远离疾病灾祸，祈祷新年好运。

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