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Spring Festival Words
% P/ O ]9 q5 R5 g Greeting Season: 2 @! Z3 M: g& A- i0 ?4 e
春节 The Spring Festival
; w% n8 S4 P! Y$ c) q p9 z 农历 lunar calendar # |5 k$ M# K( g: u7 d5 e: U6 d4 F2 D/ I
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
/ u' G. z4 P3 q' X7 G( A: S! a 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year 2 j6 }6 _1 \- ~* j$ ]- V* P) V
初一 the beginning of New Year , a) O6 j! ]2 } r3 C- F
元宵节 The Lantern Festival 1 l5 Z: N' l9 l" r
Customs:
6 Y+ t! q" b7 t, x; o) T 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival % P) x. d" |3 @% L, k
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 4 C; C6 u) K% _" S- L1 k" A+ r
春联 Spring Festival couplets
* z* U# a: a3 E5 I. e$ Z1 f 剪纸 paper-cuts 6 w) }- [- p9 x: _+ g5 k
年画 New Year paintings
; _6 L5 ]0 Y. b7 v# A! ^ 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 2 `. x" ]" K3 |' o- r6 l
敬酒 propose a toast
+ b8 O3 k1 s6 w0 l 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
2 F- M$ E) d- }5 K 烟花 fireworks
\3 J) V- {& i5 `& f8 q 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) . F9 E" q8 }* F) M8 ?; P. x
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) ) X+ E2 v% ^8 V2 _0 o
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
: P1 C0 o: F0 Y3 s- B4 x% P: I 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
! B; Q/ d8 P9 {/ K8 U 戏曲 traditional opera $ z7 I5 ^" i" t- t x7 @4 k
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville ( o) s" G* Z7 Z: n% M
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns / n; D. m! U+ ]. w2 |$ @# \
灯会 exhibit of lanterns + _% S5 a' d6 \. f, i J! i
守岁 staying-up
# A8 i6 ^, x& ~' S& x 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
- k* a1 T* ~" q5 S: H 禁忌 taboo
3 @* R( N: W& F 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 0 ^" s7 j% o# T/ k
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors 5 S4 h; _& _& _1 j% i/ b
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
^% E2 H) a9 k; V5 [/ z! x 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 * ?6 r/ `, t, B
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year ( e' U' F4 i# a, [: q
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
9 M$ ^7 X' s/ L1 z2 X Blessing:
" H8 V1 _0 f2 j( D9 j0 y; H x Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
( }0 e7 E6 A9 e! b8 B. H Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
! N) @' [- f8 x! U' T( {& d! f Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
( c) H6 u0 X5 A6 c 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
! i. j# R L. U9 u& l 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
/ i$ l+ @0 |6 b$ z7 _/ i# ] Food names: & _- q5 p9 M3 h4 F
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake 7 n, m) i+ ^6 s4 w* M5 o* {
团圆饭 family reunion dinner * S% k2 `! t* r: y. A% ~& m
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve ( u( C/ {6 \5 ?3 }# P, I
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli 0 S3 ^6 g9 }, @0 l* H5 x
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings ( x, e8 u7 R; ~7 i' J7 }
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding : K7 N N# E$ D
糖果盘 candy tray: / P& w6 h" N$ x4 L
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune ' Y/ L* ?8 t& l7 c
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health 9 j! j4 @8 E# _2 c
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
- W6 O0 @/ ^, [ 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
% d. l9 S* ]9 s1 n3 d, l3 E 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
+ _3 K9 D( q( Z1 b3 ^ 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship & R$ v6 ]' C8 \+ z* C8 }5 P
红枣 red dates - prosperity , [3 I2 f2 f6 i; a
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00