Lichun, or the Start of Spring is the first of the 24 solar terms of the Chinese traditional lunar calendar,     1    brings the atmosphere of a flourishing spring, and this year, coincided (相巧合) with the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games, giving it the charm of starting competitive sports. The opening ceremony began with the countdown of the 24 solar terms. The first program     2    (feature) dancers holding green props, which formed a picture of green grass. It symbolized not only the spring, but also     3    (vital). The program was followed by spring-themed fireworks show,     4    (symbolize) the seeds of spring spreading all over the earth.

In     5     Chinese language, the character “Li” means “start”, while the season of spring     6    (consider) as the beginning of a year. How important is Lichun for the Chinese people? An old Chinese saying gives the answer: “Make your whole year’s plan in the spring and the whole day’s plan in the morning.”

Many of the rituals or     7    (celebrate) have been maintained for such an important day, and taking a bite of the Spring or “Yaochun” is one of them. The spring pancake,     8     a thin wrap and various kinds of vegetables as stuffings, is a     9    (represent) food of the spring. The Chinese people believe that a bite of the pancake is a bite of spring. Along with a cup of “Chuncha” (the spring tea), people     10    (full) emerge them into the scent of the season.

According to a long-history tradition, Chinese make lanterns and rice balls, representing reunion,     1     the Lantern Festival, the     2     (one) full moon of a new lunar year, which falls on Feb. 26 this year.

    3     used to take three days to accomplish all of the 30 plus steps needed     4     (finish) only one lantern, because the bamboo and paper     5     (be) the common materials. Today wire is used. The Lantern Festival marks the end of the Spring Festival celebrations.

Duan from a small village in Shanxi Province. He is one of the 400     6    (villager) who are in charge of taking a group photograph. In 2017, it was the first time the villagers     7    (come) together to have their photograph taken.

As well as lion dances, some other folk performances, and lantern exhibitors, the villagers have prepared a zigzag（Z字型的）pathway with wood sticks. All the villagers have to walk along it, in     8     hope that the road ahead is     9     (smoothly) in the new year.

In Fujian Province where the weather is much       10     (warm), people are preparing to plough（犁）the fields. In some villages, young men parade（游行庆祝）the fields praying for a harvest.