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Spring Festival Words + C' t6 ?, _ `, C: _3 I
Greeting Season:
7 H0 A# g7 R4 \5 u9 b 春节 The Spring Festival
6 h8 K2 \2 @2 C) C/ s 农历 lunar calendar & T( J' ?' n2 q: [6 \) T
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
. u7 E! U; a6 P1 q# X 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
% Y- m y* D% M% b 初一 the beginning of New Year # l i9 d: O6 H( n- t1 l/ g
元宵节 The Lantern Festival " S2 t; W0 b8 e! `, i( F
Customs:
& {9 `( [6 F: ?+ U* p 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
% A! Q# c1 ^( a: b' A 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry : Z- |. z% s$ x4 y
春联 Spring Festival couplets
' ]9 s) A% L' i0 C 剪纸 paper-cuts
9 V2 b8 l+ M `: a 年画 New Year paintings
, |0 C& l2 h- y 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 2 Z, m) L- [0 a. c; Z R5 d- e, \
敬酒 propose a toast % x9 p6 a; D9 z. ^2 u: | V3 K
灯笼 lantern: a portable light + ?0 o% P. A: p8 h2 d1 }
烟花 fireworks
$ G( n4 l4 |2 w# V7 F9 U& P 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
, w, O( w& m( ~9 S' y) v ` 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
6 P9 T& M9 X) O& p- y 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
) e F! U7 @2 g) ^2 [3 l 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) 3 @2 `1 Z# H. U* R) ^
戏曲 traditional opera
$ p/ D. ^7 U& V1 D 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
9 [7 a$ B6 e! o! f 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns / ]5 E V: \. ^, U0 u/ {
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
2 i0 {9 I. \2 a% B7 y3 n 守岁 staying-up 6 _% m; r% @! h. A" E
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
3 X2 o0 ?2 A/ h 禁忌 taboo 8 b: H. A0 z+ i/ I, S% {
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 5 O7 r- W/ U, N: M
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors % z. f5 a4 A8 y9 R+ C8 w
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
; Q& C: W' _ F4 Q& K 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 8 d( ]# B* Q, A) H7 _% O
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year 1 A' m2 X& L8 Y& U8 G
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 0 V. h7 I3 C) e8 G. l' m
Blessing: " y4 ~' S! X' t
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
7 F" w7 I! U/ }5 r4 b7 h ~ Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
, V- X% C* _$ @, d( e2 w' c$ D Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go + v6 E3 z U$ g# ]! {6 b! \9 b
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
1 r! |6 |2 T0 o! R p/ r5 x 事业成功,家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
. M& C6 N% w i' d Food names: - d" `& G2 Z* \- B7 K7 g
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
* D+ r. s9 D2 M1 g, ^; X9 O 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
. v1 ^: r8 q; A6 Z* r! v9 W 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
' U- G3 k$ M) p" V 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli 3 b2 {. |. y+ w; }8 L, M
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings : U/ s* H0 o x+ e9 f
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding ( b+ }( k. r9 I: E; h1 V+ s
糖果盘 candy tray: . r6 I) E8 X0 D) o0 _( S
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
% c% R; A, g% |9 _% N 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
2 ^; @5 g. g$ p3 X2 e 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity " B. j( b0 w0 |( d4 J3 h5 R
金桔 cumquat - prosperity S+ o) h8 R& Q( j3 U
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
- e' S) f; r9 m# z7 {3 u& y+ J 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship 5 T$ z/ ^; e8 G8 v5 g, K
红枣 red dates - prosperity
# g: o u, B) _1 g' [ 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet |