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Spring Festival Words
& g, l$ u9 S( S; K% f( K Greeting Season: . F' ?' G' P4 _
春节 The Spring Festival " _- q7 h5 S" D6 r
农历 lunar calendar
, l4 l- G% O! `- O+ e" ^9 s 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar 3 T' D7 @4 S" j4 V
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year - @0 x/ T D3 W4 h, p
初一 the beginning of New Year 9 H- U+ O; X9 X' S5 ? s1 e
元宵节 The Lantern Festival & G5 A* Q$ j% g4 i6 d
Customs:
, L7 T/ T/ f/ G- u 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival 2 R% J- c" Q* g& o7 l
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry $ y1 W+ Q/ `. K5 O4 W
春联 Spring Festival couplets
2 A0 x) j9 i* C7 l; o F8 y! T 剪纸 paper-cuts
" V; B/ U1 y9 E3 K+ b1 t 年画 New Year paintings
* L: A3 l' h* Y9 ~) L 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
# c( o0 \1 X" z7 X 敬酒 propose a toast 8 e4 U5 `; N U
灯笼 lantern: a portable light 2 B& |0 o; H- Q6 R
烟花 fireworks + T$ ?9 E1 v) O, q
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
* j+ C w0 G& N- L$ y 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) f8 X6 q9 Q# D }# J& D- P) C
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) ; O2 e0 O0 U# h% a! c
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
/ F! Y S8 L0 h8 F' \6 @ 戏曲 traditional opera
7 o H; o$ `4 Q3 l: ]8 r 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville 2 I; J$ M# v4 L
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns 9 c- V) `4 x* c7 D! A6 e' H
灯会 exhibit of lanterns , U' Y7 H3 O" S% Y- I) O
守岁 staying-up , D4 _. S: ~( p5 N4 o. C) ^
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
5 j9 ?: ]% R4 ~- b 禁忌 taboo 6 o; x n' S4 |( H6 }8 T% ]; C$ r5 W! Q
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune ( J2 [! D3 U' e( H' R) ^
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
i( _- b2 ?; {; x' e6 D 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift - V0 | @0 x# J; F5 ?
Culture Note: In the old days, New Year's money was given in the form of one hundred copper coins strung together on a red string and symbolized the hope that one would live to be a hundred years old. Today, money is placed inside red envelopes in denominations considered auspicious and given to represent luck and wealth " i* H# h2 Q& \9 g3 E
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year " _9 V1 @. _! G
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 9 l/ ]3 J& `- x6 M+ z! c
Blessing:
) A: k2 C: _2 |( a& _) J% \3 Q5 s5 V Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
7 C6 M! M# U3 R% I9 f9 M; ? Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace $ e6 P& @" s6 c
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go . ~" I4 n; x, T. F
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
& L7 U0 F' e+ |' J8 T% z 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
9 {- m) }$ w) j F Food names: 2 e& x& F, Q" C
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake ! X. f7 r8 `3 F/ c" w" t/ R
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
, O. ^! A1 P; l j0 C 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
2 c2 s! [5 D: J* F$ E3 [) X1 j! f8 C 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli 4 b9 `2 X" R# i& }' l8 q
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
- n* b" @4 h" z' h 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding 5 G/ I+ D( v5 Z1 C7 _% K9 v
糖果盘 candy tray: . D* a0 A8 Y: m( O
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune & M" a2 {2 _6 }' v$ h9 Y5 t
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health . v2 J8 U" F4 N# @0 t# k) Z
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity , h4 `& [, t% N: ^
金桔 cumquat - prosperity + G+ `2 K8 `. A( C
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 3 M$ {: [4 Z% G* T, I3 C1 i9 j
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
C" o+ b6 A5 z0 M! I8 e7 V 红枣 red dates - prosperity
9 P; @; }# o- |: F 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00
