本书从几十种古籍中选取了一百则有关古代风俗的内容，将它们译成白话，并配以英译，故亦是一本文言白话对照、汉英对照的语言学习读物。一百则由六大方面的内容组成：岁时节日习俗、婚丧孕产育儿习俗、信仰崇拜禁忌习俗、交际娱乐习俗与社会风情、服饰饮食建筑习俗、商贸习俗。虽限于篇幅，还有许多资料未能使用，然一斑可窥全豹，中国古代人们的物质及精神生活在这一百则中仍可给我们许多启迪。

中国民间风俗大部分沿袭了数百至上千年。尽管历史变迁、地域差异，但是，这些风俗在主要内容及形式上并无大的改变。本书精选了一百种民间风俗，其中包括日常生活习惯、节日风俗、婚丧产育风俗、信仰祭祀礼仪、社会商贸习俗等等，尽显古代中国的物质及精神生活面。本书的原文选自数十部自两汉至清代的文献古籍，除英译外，还设有白话翻译及注释。

前言 Preface

贴春联　Putting up the Spring Scrolls

除夕　Chinese New Year’s Eve

合家欢、守岁　Happy Family Reunion Dinner and New Year’s Eve Vigil

辞岁　Ringing out the Old Year

分压岁钱　Distributing Ya Sui Money

新年放爆竹　Firecrackers on New Year’s Day

贺新年　Sending New Year’s Greetings

拜年　Paying New Year’s Visits

新年禁忌　New Year’s Taboo

剪纸迎春　Papercuttings to Welcome Spring

鞭春牛　Whipping the Ox in Early Spring

元宵张灯　The lantern Festival

清明节　The Clear Brightness Festival

端午节划船比赛　The Dragon Boat Festival

端午节吃粽子　Eating Rice Dumplings in the Dragon Boat Festival

端午节驱五毒　Driving away the Five Poisonous Pests

乞巧节　The Double Seventh Festival

放河灯　Floating River Lanterns

中秋赏月　Admiring the Full Moon during the Mid—Autumn Festival

中秋拜月　Worshipping the Moon during the Mid—Autumn Festival

重阳节　The Chong Yang Festival

冬至大如年　The Winter Solstice

送灶神　Seeing the Kitchen God Off

娃娃亲　Infant Matrimony

下财礼　Betrothal Gifts

新娘蒙首　Bridal Veil

传袋求子　Passing over Bags for an Offspring

拜堂—撒帐—合髻—喝交杯酒　BaiTang，SaZhang，HeJiand Drinking JiaoBeiWine

闹新房　Teasing the Newlyweds

回门　Returning Home

抛彩球　Tossing Colourful Balls

闹丧　Clamorous Funeral

做七　Doing the Sevenths

鬼婚　Ghost Marriage

做冥寿　Ce(ebratingtheNetherBirthday

摸秋求子　Touching the Autumn for a Son

催生礼　Gifts Expediting Child Delivery

满月洗儿会　Child Bathing at One Month Old

抓周试儿　A Vocational Inclination Test for an Infant

寄名神鬼　Dedicating to Deities and Spirits

指腹婚　“Belly-Pointing”Marriage

过房　Transfer of House

十二生肖　Twelve Animals Representing Twelve Earthly Branches

观音生日　The Birthday of Guanyin

舍缘豆　Distributing Predestination Beans

香汤浴佛　Bathing Buddha in Aromatic Water

求雨　Begging for Rain

关公诞　TheBirthdayofGuanGong

香市盛况　The Grand Occasion of Offering Joss Sticks

送寒衣　Sending Clothes for the Winter

中元节祭祀亡灵　Offering Sacrifices to Ghosts in Zhong Yuan Festival

扫晴娘止雨　The Sao Qing Girl Stopping the Rain

桃木驱邪　Peachwood to Repel Evil Influence

翻经转男身　Leafing through Scriptures to Be Transformed into Males

石敢当　Stone Gandang

喷嚏兆灾　Sneezing Portending Disaster

忌戴绿头巾　Green Scarf Taboo

蚕禁　Silkworm Taboo

看骨相　Reading Bone Structure

傩舞驱疫　Nuo Dancing to Dispel Epidemic Diseases

月光纸　Moonlight Paper

祈子摩喉罗　Praying for a Son from Mohouluo

沏茶待客　Making Tea for Guests

下茶为礼　Sending Tea as a Gift

上茶馆　Going to a Teahouse

茶肆景观　Scenes of Famous Teahouses

猜拳　Finger—Guessing Game

金兰会　Gold Orchid Sororities

斗蟋蟀　Cricketfight

放风筝　Kiteflying

清晨遛乌　Morning Walk with Birds

上浴室　Going to the Public Bath

观潮　Watching the Tide

弄潮　Playings with the Tide

暖房　Housewarming

僧人报晓　Monks Heralding Daybreak

手影戏　Hand Shadow Drama

抽陀螺　Whipping a Top

踏歌　Stomping Songs

踩高跷　Walking on Stilts

傀儡戏　Puppet Drama

猴戏　Monkey Drama

名帖交际　Socializing by Means of Calling Cards

唱喏礼　Saluting by Re

雀竿之戏　“Sparrow on a Bamboo Tip”

盲人卖唱　Blind People Singing for a Living

行善　Doing Good Works

贴花子　Wearing Beauty Spots

戴柏子　花Wearing Cypress Flowers

染指甲　Dyeing Fingernails

点燕脂　Putting on Rouge

百事大吉　“All is Well”

吃斋　Practising Abstinence

腊八粥　Rice Porridge for December Eighth

天井　“Sky Well”

鸥吻　“Sparrow Hawk’s Kiss”

店幌　Shop Signs

吟叫　Crying One’s Wares

卖冰　Selling Ice

接财神　Receiving the God of Wealth