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Spring Festival Words 7 s% E) R$ ]! K; ^8 h7 ?8 P- {8 a' r
Greeting Season:
6 Z G! ]& C/ j 春节 The Spring Festival 6 G& t4 L. ]! r. @) n1 _$ q
农历 lunar calendar
# _4 I7 j' d. t 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar 7 S( f9 l, D7 u$ n4 {
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year ! K) A r$ u( t4 F
初一 the beginning of New Year
9 g' Z M* a! c# l; V 元宵节 The Lantern Festival ! `4 B, T2 u, r3 x
Customs: $ e/ K+ s6 r' s% \) J, ^9 L' E
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival % {( e0 X0 N7 y
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 3 V$ I& N' i0 Q1 a
春联 Spring Festival couplets / V% Q# ?8 T3 I8 E- G
剪纸 paper-cuts : m. I3 Y. A4 F9 y
年画 New Year paintings / p+ L9 X2 [, A! N" I1 g( |7 X
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
: e% x" X- G$ T) q+ ~ 敬酒 propose a toast . Y: L# g! j( B/ {/ s- U
灯笼 lantern: a portable light 1 @# B% ^5 z$ q/ j2 w* F
烟花 fireworks ! i9 C' l" G. r& ~0 `
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) " @# o/ T. J) O0 w9 H) d
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) 4 G& t% ^5 u! P: h/ H2 R8 | i/ b
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) . c9 ]- S+ B' v0 I( h1 m |
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) : a7 j* N! e G( B4 W& u
戏曲 traditional opera
7 L& q+ T0 z! D3 s+ ]6 j 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
* Q6 [. u' _9 `( s' f4 p$ L 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns + I. e5 R2 g! ], O; w7 D
灯会 exhibit of lanterns " p5 ?. w9 b a8 r A8 M
守岁 staying-up / N2 a) ~: Y: [. y' }
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
?. \( b5 \% d9 W, M 禁忌 taboo
) H2 U$ y' @4 J& c 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
) g G" k# ~ c7 }8 p 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
; q& g. K$ _4 X' a 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
& s- h: k# }& D& r- e 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
+ p. ~+ y+ C* o) D6 P$ X 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
0 U0 G, r+ W, h& D, x' k 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
; \; {! Q5 i. ]! L& m* e Blessing: ' y$ L/ o: S% x% G4 c+ v
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity / s2 I' _2 h9 Y0 L+ w2 y' _
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace " I( A8 P" }( F/ h3 \
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
6 i X4 `# L* a: j 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
v8 ^& _& W {5 A( W8 D 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
0 d/ \ Y, u3 c; q q. S Food names: ) c3 E, o2 f; M
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake + R& J' Q, c' e
团圆饭 family reunion dinner ; | j& P* T, T: {! o
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve ; b, z& J1 j! m2 P, b
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
f3 h( V, b6 g* H- l) F% g 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
) T4 ]6 v' C1 Z5 ~; B3 v 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
+ @: L$ F1 @" m 糖果盘 candy tray:
* S" z$ y* c$ q8 [: m6 ]; D S 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
" [( l) y# T8 ~; w8 J5 c 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
4 r4 q+ S* p6 { 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity ! P9 f) y# g+ K0 w
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
( T9 S* @+ N# V 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 9 F8 J0 h% H& o4 w
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
1 f A' t" X* K q 红枣 red dates - prosperity
6 R: {8 }3 }9 r8 t+ O2 } 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00