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Spring Festival Words / J7 p b; w0 r' Z1 x
Greeting Season:
2 x7 u b- L: W6 z0 x. E$ S) R 春节 The Spring Festival
1 u& ^; K* G' t9 ?' [7 m( g 农历 lunar calendar
( z+ q4 n) H- h; K% k% I 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
: B3 m7 m6 l/ n+ A1 P2 Q' b 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
( ^# B7 ~6 K% | 初一 the beginning of New Year
: k \4 R$ b. n$ F O 元宵节 The Lantern Festival , T! d" l2 K, ~, {% D
Customs:
+ T1 `8 l2 n# {4 N 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival $ P% I2 U/ G8 A9 L
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry * }6 [; I0 _6 Y- h0 Q
春联 Spring Festival couplets
- T. X3 T; S( w/ D6 t; h4 } 剪纸 paper-cuts
, s& P2 M# _+ _! |4 |; u 年画 New Year paintings
, B( j, h0 ~) J9 v 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
- G9 q$ _ D" n1 r9 \ 敬酒 propose a toast 2 ?2 n- M7 g/ n$ J
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
+ q0 P& s) q) s$ h6 u- N 烟花 fireworks 3 r; t1 c; [1 N0 |, U* M/ t; `5 L
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
9 [8 b6 E+ U5 F# {% a9 C 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) 5 z6 k5 S( Y- p; u4 [7 e, h
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
. l @, P, t: R( z6 B4 _% z$ `- u 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
, e% z& F4 n1 c 戏曲 traditional opera
8 N/ f7 t- t( |2 |/ c2 n; b 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
( f7 O. X3 O" q6 ` 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
: o, {8 M: j7 e$ ^) @, T& y 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
- R# i2 ]3 Y! v5 f 守岁 staying-up * w V& O' u, ]. B
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
$ L+ e4 P3 ~& }3 B5 K 禁忌 taboo # |) X* V3 n6 ^7 W/ B! ^, ]+ X
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune / }2 C. G- k$ o1 H' h0 [! Y
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
3 j: n: \: I8 G9 K+ | 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
% G( u' c2 \( A# ^+ W) M% @* V8 i Culture Note: In the old days, New Year's money was given in the form of one hundred copper coins strung together on a red string and symbolized the hope that one would live to be a hundred years old. Today, money is placed inside red envelopes in denominations considered auspicious and given to represent luck and wealth
B+ { J4 g/ `, @1 W S7 N 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
5 Y; ?" _3 V: M2 X% t: ^# G 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
1 T. o# I7 Q4 e9 ?% n Blessing:
6 F# R5 ^- T% D8 ~ Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 6 S9 H5 F7 ]. Y3 J' k
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace ' v1 k' }2 y& l+ c" T
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
9 j, C4 \) \& E$ G0 R6 l8 f8 _ 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
, v) v7 j3 t2 } [0 k$ F 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 3 j( F2 ]. }4 U+ B$ Q! ^0 p5 R
Food names: : c6 x% ^# K6 H) P6 I
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake # A! z7 s- [5 z) R! u
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
- \: f% w& o2 F" Y, q 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
1 ?# r) }8 ?% O) c7 `" U 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
% O, K, M3 a7 {: r$ h$ F1 E; n1 ^ 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
# u" H: Z- N- m, l 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding 0 ~! Q2 N! t& u! V: Y3 M, l
糖果盘 candy tray:
! }4 x3 F# s3 H) L4 u+ w 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune % T) ^7 D7 Q! i" ^: b4 h5 f% M
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health . H6 w. i) ]) Q. \
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity / C" @: `3 e4 h9 P6 d' W1 O
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
; x# H0 Z& Y. r 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
5 T7 t$ P( b: }" X* `& | 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
- E6 |, g% [* @& K: t& D 红枣 red dates - prosperity % V; L* t4 {- k( e
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00