双语年俗｜二十六，割年肉

年俗小知识

 “二十六，割年肉”

December 26th of the lunar calendar used to be the day to go to butcher’s for meat shopping. In the past, people could only enjoy the meat during festivals because of poverty. Some people raised livestock on their own, and they would ask a butcher to slaughter their pigs, oxen, or sheep. Nowadays, people seldom prepare the festival food on a fixed day but buy meat as they wish.

在过去，农历腊月二十六是筹备过年肉食的重要日子。以前由于普通百姓的日子比较穷苦，人们只能在春节期间才能买点肉，满足一下口腹之欲。有些自己饲养牲畜的人则会专门请屠夫上门宰杀。如今，富裕起来的人们已经不必非得等到腊月二十六才能吃上肉食，随时可以想吃就吃。

In Chinese tradition, meat represents wealth, and the most famous meat dish is 'braised pork in brown sauce'. The signature red color of braised pork in brown sauce is one of the most significant reasons for its popularity，because red is the color of fire and is a symbol of good fortune and joy in Chinese culture. 

中国传统习俗中，肉食象征着财富，而最具盛名的春节肉食就是“红烧肉”。因为红烧肉的颜色是红色，而红色在中国文化中是火的颜色，是好运和欢乐的象征，这也是红烧肉广受欢迎的重要原因之一。