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Spring Festival Words . I* s' n+ B% {2 ~% o
Greeting Season:
2 d9 E# U0 T# E! H 春节 The Spring Festival # @8 B/ [6 i U- o& W
农历 lunar calendar * f6 F7 [$ x! K3 m8 f9 v
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar - x; E6 I& L, \
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year 1 }7 F! |* M0 [* P
初一 the beginning of New Year * L. y: W2 v1 b; S
元宵节 The Lantern Festival 9 q) A0 `; O5 _) q
Customs: # K3 n- N' S0 V6 H b: b
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
7 F9 \+ I- y, x6 u& D' q6 C4 D4 ` 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
* l% f" U$ D% G3 d 春联 Spring Festival couplets
4 p' g6 K# J1 r+ y& I0 O9 {8 G 剪纸 paper-cuts
0 T/ l$ S2 g, W 年画 New Year paintings / [! c( d6 j2 l! x' g
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
+ `, d+ A3 F8 F7 B$ j- Z 敬酒 propose a toast 0 L- ] ? @ [: b+ X( V
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
1 l2 j8 x6 [2 l. D) S 烟花 fireworks ) ?. o: Y; e8 _9 n. s+ x* O
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
% P0 \- ^, g s 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
& H& t: Q3 Z1 I$ I& |6 a 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
# X/ ?$ U* j6 {& `' [6 U( B 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) : w3 t9 q0 B/ a! q) y5 _+ P/ h
戏曲 traditional opera 6 B7 D- G5 C; M* q
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
3 s! j0 i9 G" H- p 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns ; O, U8 {- ]- m6 N) s0 ^# L
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
& N5 S/ d8 q; e0 n; t& X6 U 守岁 staying-up % l$ E; Y$ D4 t# v: Q6 S
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit " F& l/ [1 |- F" b. z% G; V: N
禁忌 taboo
- R2 n0 V9 K: l' a3 w' W" \. O$ K 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 9 g$ s6 _9 b/ j& f
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
( U( z( `! b$ p, ^ 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
+ X- u3 }0 y$ ` 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: o/ F5 v5 |% E1 c p 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year ; A) ~; O& x2 T3 v
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
+ S1 P* V T' z9 w Blessing: 7 g( }5 ?/ b4 j, r
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
# Y7 r; t( S8 m! T! k( |7 [: p1 h7 f Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace 5 T4 p x3 N' Z3 }
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
0 X2 }1 v3 x6 B 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! # g0 _; E& D$ N. `
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! ) r5 V. Z* a, D) w3 k
Food names:
0 h: w0 i6 m: b+ b) p: k# ?. m+ n 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake 0 ^0 c5 `7 n# a+ a" o! @" O
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
- t6 K2 r0 B; R- E; q 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve , A) Q: U# n( R d& v$ Y' |3 c
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli ; S# W0 j/ ^# I' `* e
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
% `. t" X9 ^+ W6 {" r* j: r 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
8 |' F! e2 B1 s6 N0 j5 y$ d, c, E 糖果盘 candy tray: " H4 n) i/ J% m1 H% m' E
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune , L6 [* G6 ]/ m v' {
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
; h' m5 R0 U) E/ S. e3 t 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
+ ~$ K4 g# o9 h& @9 o8 d* E 金桔 cumquat - prosperity * Q l$ k* ?+ |
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come y& K# B7 T* m6 s
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship 8 u/ J9 b1 l3 i$ c5 l
红枣 red dates - prosperity
$ F! T1 j2 Y: c 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00
