中華春節吉祥物"春妮"和"年娃"正式亮相

Chinese cultural exchange groups unveiled the country's first ever official mascots for the all-important Chinese lunar New Year.

中國文化交流組織爲最重要的春節公佈了全國首批官方吉祥物。

The two mascots, named "Nian Wa" and "Chun Ni", meaning New Year Boy and Spring Girl, are based on characters form traditional woodblock prints widely seen as symbols of good luck and happiness.

兩個春節吉祥物分別被定名爲"年娃"和"春妮"，寓意爲新年男孩兒以及迎春女孩兒，其設計基於傳統木版印刷中象徵幸運和幸福的人物形象。

Chun Ni and Nian Wa also symbolize a balance of yin and yang, and the patterns on their costume – a bat and two fish respectively – are signs of longevity and prosperity according to Chinese folklore.

"年娃"和"春妮"還象徵着陰陽平衡，它們的衣服上分別裝飾着"蝙蝠"、"雙魚"圖案，在中國傳統民俗中意爲"福慶(蝙蝠)有餘(魚)"。

Li Hanqiu, a professor of classical Chinese literature at Peking University, says this could be a way for the world to better understand Chinese culture.

北京大學的中國古典文學教授李漢秋表示，這一方式對於全世界來說能夠更好地瞭解中國文化。

"We are announcing official symbols and mascots for the Spring Festival because we hope to share traditional Chinese culture to everyone through modern communications means and let it take root among all Chinese people. We also hope to attract a bigger fan base among young people, and make the festival more popular and accessible for the global audience."

“我們發佈官方春節符號和吉祥物，是因爲我們希望通過現代的溝通方式與所有人分享中國傳統文化，使其在全體中國人的心中紮根。我們還希望吸引更多年輕人成爲粉絲，使春節更受歡迎。”

The doll-like images stood out among more than 2,000 applications. China Post has released a collection of commemorative stamps featuring the two mascots. The Chinese New Year falls on Feb 8 this year.

據悉，這兩個春節吉祥娃娃是從兩千多件應徵作品中脫穎而出的。中國郵政集團也已發行了"年娃"和"春妮"紀念郵票。今年中國的農曆大年初一是2月8日。