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Spring Festival Words
( C2 E& B* @0 S/ `# I Greeting Season: / `0 L' X; F: [& _0 S( g
春节 The Spring Festival
, a) m6 c0 N2 x# a 农历 lunar calendar
) M& U' b; W) Q' h/ F; ` 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar 1 d# q8 k+ E+ n; X r
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
8 {& F6 r: O# Z0 g+ N. M+ }$ ] 初一 the beginning of New Year 1 N2 y% \" I, h" J/ I- V
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
/ c( T- y8 \6 r- A$ x Customs:
4 z# P6 C9 s8 I. { H6 E5 {( q 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
2 P# |- `- u! ~ 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
~( S. ]: Y! F: E" p 春联 Spring Festival couplets
; D9 M R" Z- x0 e 剪纸 paper-cuts 9 K/ C% |& v) C, l
年画 New Year paintings , a; Z: b7 z+ Y; o5 c: q
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
0 Q& R; `8 ?4 v7 m Q( q 敬酒 propose a toast 2 j+ ~' N! C2 r1 k$ L7 Y& L! w$ d
灯笼 lantern: a portable light 8 \0 A* X9 l; B- C' X' R1 l5 C
烟花 fireworks
G4 H. B- J- ]& W+ q# b B 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) 0 Y; _. L* _9 X2 \
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
9 v6 s' c, C l- [+ L 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) % j3 b3 H4 u/ n
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) # }9 A+ B# I- e: V o- w: N2 I" ^
戏曲 traditional opera
2 Z- S+ \1 C+ ]' z- l 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville & u8 t' M( u- u4 j. w
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns Z7 b% U6 X, N; d
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
1 Z1 m+ o; S8 C5 P+ d 守岁 staying-up
6 L2 J: M5 N* ?! E; b5 `) s 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit : Y* l, W$ V# E$ a$ e
禁忌 taboo 1 o- z; A, b7 U& Q& y
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
4 X6 v# b8 T9 I* G( i5 @ 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
( U" @0 w2 C% L 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
) W2 f1 j* T0 x1 s 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 . g- `# e! o/ ^& i
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year % z; X9 [& x- I7 m
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning & j7 w2 @( M s2 B& U" X6 U
Blessing: & E% W8 P( c! j
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
- R/ i! u* B7 i1 b) T+ ? Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
+ f) T* ~6 P* q; C! T# V: i Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go ' y9 f5 h2 U/ b* m! R
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
# F9 n1 H S/ s; w T$ V 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
- Z* y# L: V# Y$ z/ s Food names: 3 V$ X7 p& f7 k6 A
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
& J1 W6 |4 L/ u. j; `' M 团圆饭 family reunion dinner - G# f0 v0 k' ~
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 6 \2 {8 @$ f* D$ q. U9 Y# o2 m) M
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
! g; c* d. q/ ^ b8 A2 d 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings a% n, G: Y) j7 s( P1 F
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding ) c1 }% `, S2 O' F3 H/ ?# c" s$ T6 G
糖果盘 candy tray:
o1 K% c d) P N" ~ 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
/ n* @6 w- Z$ O# v 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
6 M3 K% b. G7 x; i; Z! b/ U4 a1 Q 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity 9 _/ a+ c9 n; I
金桔 cumquat - prosperity ' ^2 {+ J9 {! j1 c+ r2 B
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come & Y4 T) ]5 s: j" }) l; d- ]
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
* }7 Z& ~: ?3 q 红枣 red dates - prosperity
0 p& ] R9 W5 o# S1 m 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00