CCTV9英语新闻：23rd of last lunar month marks "Little Spring Festival"_在线英语听力室

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Thursday marks a traditional Chinese festival, called Xiao Nian, or "Little Spring Festival", which is celebrated¹ on the 23rd day of the last lunar month.

According to Chinese tradition, Xiao Nian is a day for people to offer sacrifices to the Kitchen God, clean their houses and eat melon-shaped candies. In Chinese legend, this god watches over people's actions and words in the kitchen. Then on Xiao Nian, he returns to heaven and reports back to the mighty² Jade³ Emperor. By offering candies to the Kitchen God on Xiao Nian, people hope he will become sweet-lipped, and say more good things about their home, thus bringing good fortune to the family.

The tradition also requires people to clean their houses, and put up spring festival decorations. But over time, this tradition has faded. While it continues to be observed in certain areas, especially the countrysides of north China, Xiao Nian is mostly now seen as a prelude⁴ to the larger Spring Festival celebration.

scrolls⁵ to citizens at Dongyue Temple, Beijing. " border="0" src="/upimg/allimg/140124/14192MR6-0.jpg" alt="" />

Calligraphers give Spring Festival scrolls to citizens at Dongyue Temple, Beijing.

feast⁶ in Daxing district, Beijing." border="0" src="/upimg/allimg/140124/14192L355-1.jpg" alt="" />

About one thousand people enjoy dumpling feast in Daxing district, Beijing.

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收听单词发音

1 celebrated
adj.有名的，声誉卓著的
参考例句：
He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。 The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

2 mighty
adj.强有力的；巨大的
参考例句：
A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。 The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。

3 jade
n.玉石；碧玉；翡翠
参考例句：
The statue was carved out of jade.这座塑像是玉雕的。 He presented us with a couple of jade lions.他送给我们一对玉狮子。

4 prelude
n.序言，前兆，序曲
参考例句：
The prelude to the musical composition is very long.这首乐曲的序曲很长。 The German invasion of Poland was a prelude to World War II.德国入侵波兰是第二次世界大战的序幕。

5 scrolls
n.（常用于录写正式文件的）纸卷( scroll的名词复数 )；卷轴；涡卷形（装饰）；卷形花纹v.（电脑屏幕上）从上到下移动（资料等），卷页( scroll的第三人称单数 )；（似卷轴般）卷起；（像展开卷轴般地）将文字显示于屏幕
参考例句：
Either turn it off or only pick up selected stuff like wands, rings and scrolls. 把他关掉然后只捡你需要的物品，像是魔杖(wand)，戒指(rings)和滚动条(scrolls)。来自互联网 Ancient scrolls were found in caves by the Dead Sea. 死海旁边的山洞里发现了古代的卷轴。来自辞典例句

6 feast
n.盛宴，筵席，节日
参考例句：
After the feast she spent a week dieting to salve her conscience.大吃了一顿之后，她花了一周时间节食以安慰自己。 You shouldn't have troubled yourself to prepare such a feast!你不该准备这样丰盛的饭菜，这样太麻烦你了！

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CCTV9英语新闻：23rd of last lunar month marks "Little Spring Festival"