The fireworks started around 7 p.m. on the eve of Chun Jie. My friend and I were walking back from dinner (KFC because everything else was closed) when we began to hear loud cracks, fizzles, and booms going off all around us.
“What time is it?” my friend asked. I glanced down at my watch and laughed when I saw that it was only 7 p.m. “I guess it’s going to be a long night,” I replied.
In order to fully enjoy some of the festivities, a friend and I headed to Jinji Lake in Suzhou Industrial Park where a lantern festival/New Year’s celebration was taking place. Families were all around, walking and admiring the lights and float displays. There was a feeling of excitement and anticipation in the air that was familiar to me. I realized after a while that it was the same feeling people have around Thanksgiving and Christmas in the U.S. The feeling of anticipation for the holiday to begin, coupled with excitement of having nothing to do but to eat and enjoy time with family.
Although this was the first time I have celebrated the Spring Festival, I appreciated the holiday spirit and the opportunity to be a part of the celebrations. Fireworks went off on all sides of the lake at different intervals. Unlike other places in China, there was no main display that captivated everyone. Small bouts of fireworks went off in all directions, catching your attention for only a moment.
On our walk home, my friend and I came across some people releasing lanterns over the lake and into the night sky. We watched for a while as the lanterns slowly ascended before becoming small blobs of light, barely recognizable. We decided that we too would send off a lantern – releasing our troubles from the past year and starting this new year off fresh. Watching our lantern float up, I realized I couldn’t wait to see what China and the upcoming year have in store for me! Happy New Year!
除夕的烟火在七点钟燃放，我和朋友在肯德基（因为只有肯德基开门）吃完晚饭正往回走，天空中传来了震耳欲聋的噼噼啪啪声、嘶嘶声和烟花绽放的声音。
“几点了？”我朋友问我。我低头看了一眼手表刚刚七点钟，我笑了。“我估计今晚会变得很漫长。”我回答道。
为了能充分享受庆祝活动，我和一个朋友一起去了苏州工业园区的金鸡湖，这里有一些除夕庆祝仪式。很多家庭聚在这里，边走边欣赏着天空中烟火的光亮和变幻。我过了一阵才意识到，这种感觉跟在美国人们期待着感恩节和圣诞是一样的。大家兴奋地盼望着着节日到来，可以和家人在一起吃大餐，享受快乐的时光。
虽然这是我第一次过春节，我仍然很开心我能感受节日的气氛和狂欢。烟火在不同的时间散向湖边各个方向。这里不像中国其他地方会有主场景吸引大家的注意力。一小束一小束的烟火奔向各个方向，大家被各个方向的烟火吸引。
我们回家的路上，我和我朋友碰到了一些人在湖边向天空放灯笼。我们停留了一小会，看着那些灯笼慢慢的升向天空，变成一个个无法辨认的微弱亮点。我们决定也要放一个灯笼，借这个灯笼让去年的各种不顺心都走开，开始崭新的一年。看着我们的灯笼慢慢飘向天空，我等不及的想要知道中国和新年会给我带来怎样的新生活！新年好！