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Spring Festival Words 2 Z. p/ R" ~3 Q. `& U/ G6 C
Greeting Season:
8 I+ ^5 h+ S2 {3 ^ 春节 The Spring Festival
# D4 }& b; u% R 农历 lunar calendar 2 Z' v1 S4 X6 V# ?. F4 d, |' i
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
& J2 C& T' S* y8 l 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year ( T' c2 t! d; g r- p
初一 the beginning of New Year
5 ~4 Y3 z( N$ h& H: C0 ]" r 元宵节 The Lantern Festival 4 L9 S) i8 N) Z. M0 d
Customs:
4 k3 x8 k* n, t( u 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival 7 J/ M# v X; h7 z- p
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry ' ~' F/ F1 n# Z( n$ ?; O
春联 Spring Festival couplets % c1 m+ i/ |# o4 E9 H! I1 X
剪纸 paper-cuts
/ Y U1 C% R( [9 A# U; m 年画 New Year paintings
! V) B8 q$ f1 A F 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping . O" \# E& }# j8 K; l7 e/ h* o2 q- e
敬酒 propose a toast 7 j: f8 j8 W1 |, R& n+ r7 g U" d
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
1 d/ U b# ~/ }9 h* X* o 烟花 fireworks 3 |% q c" P$ o8 [# m+ `# a$ @
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) & O) b; f; K4 F8 Q
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) 2 G4 U! v5 E; z5 m' G* Q
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
% T9 b( Y' F4 b0 n: ]8 {. Y& A; r3 C 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) % |$ t$ a: Z3 Q* o
戏曲 traditional opera ! J: b4 B% T, @) Z8 t* M) ?+ N
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
: s7 C) J& u+ ~- U8 X1 s# o" T. \ 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns 9 E* k; X/ f, ^+ `; S# X% Y' h
灯会 exhibit of lanterns 2 t+ G3 K- b \" p6 L3 y
守岁 staying-up
+ i1 V$ A8 `6 l+ k( }3 e 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
/ @4 ]: _9 t& O1 c 禁忌 taboo
D2 }8 q3 b7 ?3 }, g d 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 2 G! h: o( S4 f4 [5 O0 o
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors : ^9 N3 v& a4 U& Y& f- {4 Q
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
5 _3 B9 d, r$ g: }% X2 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
! Z$ g/ f# b/ [; P 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
9 I7 i9 e( ]. r( H# V# _ 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 7 M. g4 H4 w: V5 b1 f; ~9 M
Blessing:
m0 G n5 \8 } Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
# o2 d$ ~' i# {, Z/ v, g6 o Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace 0 x2 `5 x$ H( n, q9 |6 G- _
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go / d( \5 e2 T) ]6 e/ F2 x
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
8 z: D; R' u6 `6 r) @ 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
* g0 Q$ D4 m% J5 N! Z- U0 ^ Food names: ; P* Q/ x5 A* ~9 M& X0 f
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
4 }" O3 D$ R! l8 C& k- C) C 团圆饭 family reunion dinner ; I3 n: x) Q. L& ^) c6 y
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
# ]! b% a+ _8 Q$ j( X 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
0 B5 X8 {8 m7 @ 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
6 E+ p4 g; V2 V6 X5 E$ \/ U. s 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
& J4 t5 f* \7 m, v" a L 糖果盘 candy tray:
; w$ @; S J" d$ G; k- g' B 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
! S4 R& h: K6 v L% N 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health 6 \' u K3 c+ n9 ` \
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
7 ?# ~8 C- R( m- F/ A 金桔 cumquat - prosperity 4 X+ R& l. r& i6 x! }3 ^
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 2 T' a3 a0 q3 N( G1 Z+ B' ^% t& R
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship , |% ^& p Q0 U$ i
红枣 red dates - prosperity
7 q. W6 W- {3 \8 A V 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00
