There is an interesting tradition that we need to have our haircut before Chinese New Year.
有个有趣的传统,中国新年前,我们必须要理发
But there is more to a traditional haircut than just looking your best.
但这不再是传统意义的理发,比显帅还重要
Because in China we believe that if we have a haircut, in the first month of the New Year,
因为中国人相信如果理发这事安排在新年第一个月
it will do harm to a maternal uncle's health,
会损害舅舅的健康
I do not personally understand why it has anything to do with eight poor haircut!
我不太明白理发跟这有哪门子关系
As the year of the monkey is particularly important to Zhang's family,
由于猴年对张家特别重要
they are having some special decorations handmade.
他们得准备一些特制手作饰品
Paper scrolls are normally put up on both sides of the doorway.
春联一般贴在门的两边
There are certain strict rules to mirror the words,
词的对仗有很严格的规定
like if there is a character on the left-hand side that saying, sky, for example,
如果左联上有一字,比如“天”字
there should be one on the right-hand side saying ground,
右联必须有个“地”字
and if there is rain, there is wind. If there is red, there is green.
“雨”对“风”、“红”对“绿”
So it is kind of a thing that brings good blessing and good wishes for the New Year.
因此是语意万千,希望新年带来祝福和好运
This is the pair for our whole family.
这是我们家的春联
Here, it says: Standing over the old year with three sheep.
上联,辞旧岁三羊开春
And this one says, welcome in the new spring with six monkeys.
下联,迎新年六猴送安