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Spring Festival Words
* g1 k# u& i) C1 _, q; t Greeting Season: * u$ C2 I% F5 Q* q/ A
春节 The Spring Festival
$ e* }9 S4 u1 t4 x+ G 农历 lunar calendar # y' e& `% H8 M6 z4 Q v; d
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar ; C7 e, B* X' Q9 @/ J9 v
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year 8 [2 `$ m8 e* m2 N& G3 U+ h
初一 the beginning of New Year
, ], B8 Q' X6 u) @: R2 J 元宵节 The Lantern Festival 2 V8 y! G/ p, ^, K# x$ n
Customs:
5 S" b# n- M! D4 g; h) E7 [ 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival 3 v9 N! `$ {1 G+ h2 k
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry + @& N5 S a+ v' T0 X0 j
春联 Spring Festival couplets 0 L9 ]" }% t) @/ K5 G1 G$ d
剪纸 paper-cuts
7 ]7 D7 l2 I# |( R& E$ q: E. M 年画 New Year paintings 3 h# K& M" V0 a4 I* X- W
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
' L% s+ H: Q- V- N, Q* D 敬酒 propose a toast : r: v5 C2 z: d! t: l& w+ R
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
% I6 D6 }% l; G4 x! `4 H# u 烟花 fireworks
+ m% j8 {' {8 e$ q 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) ; i4 L9 f. g" M. W8 ^
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) 0 E5 W) z' B& t4 f& j
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) ( i. g3 O0 N+ j; ~) @) ]6 c
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) ( S0 Y8 }5 S4 \# \ p: ^! p
戏曲 traditional opera
7 x3 p" ^8 }) j6 O+ B' ? 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
! F0 V, l8 R: i7 } 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
0 b& a5 k S$ _- d M0 V 灯会 exhibit of lanterns / g5 s* J! c& U- N) m- C
守岁 staying-up
: e! `- |2 ~% ^. D 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
" o) p$ \. X3 U( @- u6 [0 f4 | 禁忌 taboo k- `- @; w; V2 V5 d& G8 z, Z F
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune # v! p7 D8 ?5 ?: Z
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
- S5 n0 E8 }1 R( I. ~- @4 j 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
3 T# b# q1 W4 ] D3 J& K" Q 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 ! ?; O0 X$ o7 c% [- R9 X2 p
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
A0 J6 A, B6 ?) L8 f1 U 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning , q, l- `2 F5 X1 X) g
Blessing:
# S) ^- G& V8 s Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
- E* I: c! ], E3 f4 H2 r: u$ x: Q Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace 4 L( b( C4 i/ s3 n6 a" r3 I
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
& }0 \: X( J* p& }: B 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
/ E7 l6 H* o! p1 p1 B$ e; c 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! : M" {: z8 G1 w0 I$ l9 W: q/ J
Food names:
, H: d5 Q9 P4 L. O' j 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
" _9 Q$ Y/ `9 ^3 t% t) R7 @ 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
$ e+ b8 u( o& G. d- N 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 0 }3 e! f' V4 ]
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli 1 W6 a9 \& j! i& w- E- i4 O
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
% h2 c1 t8 c; {2 Z3 B# d 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding * P+ q1 o+ l5 u0 m2 L
糖果盘 candy tray:
6 ] I* s/ Q+ v2 K 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 9 P% c) ~- @* ]2 }" s0 e2 }
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health O4 P# c) A+ d, n% u" O& o
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
6 y' O7 W: b& {/ r8 s8 K 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
+ s: h& j# H* _) l, M" h- P 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come ' G! d8 |, u9 |- r2 `6 w3 k; {
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
4 ^9 [9 q0 H/ H2 z 红枣 red dates - prosperity ! v0 y9 d7 v; G9 f% a; o! J
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00