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Spring Festival Words
! g. q! a$ ]% q0 D! u8 W1 W Greeting Season: 5 Z+ k8 C8 c; W5 U
春节 The Spring Festival
5 e7 h$ N$ K, B1 w: | 农历 lunar calendar # R# l: X& D! i
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar , y1 \. z; Z1 \# I
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year . U6 R4 ^) {, v) y/ h0 n
初一 the beginning of New Year - K$ h1 T5 Z! n9 h% ]& \+ w- W" u
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
/ z; e7 S4 L0 L9 Y( W# F Customs:
, o" q6 X# x+ V6 [ 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival * ?, ^, Q6 w: x" ^+ G, d
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
4 N9 ]7 f& O4 M 春联 Spring Festival couplets ) g! x1 x7 F( [& s8 a- ^2 {% t
剪纸 paper-cuts
2 E! Y+ \* f1 f0 g5 q3 @ 年画 New Year paintings
; U) a' T$ v- P4 i0 n& I/ R 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
: a) [! f9 @# I+ ]1 M$ L( o1 v 敬酒 propose a toast / l* Z- I( T: [! b) b
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
3 H0 Q- O( N" t9 x 烟花 fireworks
$ H) H1 q s- P6 x 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) 2 h* J: c3 n" h; ?
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
X8 [2 W3 }5 [3 d2 R: F; ~ 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
. `/ ^( n3 A4 f( |0 M l 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
# d V. r( ^8 m 戏曲 traditional opera
5 I- Z7 R3 r) |; z 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
& c/ D& W N; U$ F: S$ O 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns 8 ~( N( S5 u8 d& S" W
灯会 exhibit of lanterns * O0 H. y2 J4 [0 o7 O6 ~( y+ f7 s
守岁 staying-up
% E3 J* O5 j' _- W* Q2 J- a 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit + d0 L3 n* ]. Q/ m
禁忌 taboo
@* j }- v$ p$ W0 c 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune & s: V8 S6 h' v6 B
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
% @7 G/ [% r( W 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift 0 A# c5 ~ D/ }4 J2 o" a* j, E* a0 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
% _: |; s: O+ I' K6 H 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
1 H9 [( x( I3 M( |" n$ i0 d 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning , A- h8 \7 \& U' I4 o0 C- G
Blessing: 8 e; b9 b! C' y1 d) H0 K
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
0 ~4 [: {9 ^' [5 x Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace / w. U: S, E* Y) t: V' I" e
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go . r' B. h- \) [, l
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
. P8 A2 y9 ^* g3 H 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
0 e) b* l/ A: c Food names:
' L2 `# c" d! R2 z$ o 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
+ w6 t' v2 W" Y9 A1 ^ 团圆饭 family reunion dinner & U* g w. v2 @* c! b
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 1 ~1 `% Y/ e( ]- R/ K( W" ], `
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
9 S8 F% R2 o& X+ } 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings * ^) } y) i& ?* N8 m# F- s
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
. ^2 c& x- t# Y0 n0 d! }$ d9 ^ 糖果盘 candy tray: 5 O! @; o I3 t/ q( m
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune $ [+ E4 i# G* T
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
% _! J# w" e0 c* |! T: Y 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity . D# z2 a/ b& b! b1 g$ |
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
6 V5 X; p; n- c, f2 U5 k 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
3 z& _! [, c0 d 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship 0 l1 O) u, \# L
红枣 red dates - prosperity 5 B9 o; t# n1 e, O$ l3 ?" Y# x
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00
