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Spring Festival Words * P5 ^# |- j6 k8 v5 ]
Greeting Season: 5 Q) x' k* l9 w L, g5 i
春节 The Spring Festival
3 A9 m7 x( z3 T6 e, v3 H 农历 lunar calendar 1 _7 S# E; O F2 b0 s8 i- V
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
3 z) x: i- R. B 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
% \, j' w( |# n. Z 初一 the beginning of New Year
% e) v6 E1 N' N! t( d; x! |3 E 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
3 Q2 a4 k; m* `$ D8 d( ] Customs:
7 W6 G6 _- O* S 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
6 i% B4 f' Y# I" Q! X 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 9 F9 H0 u; N* P# y C. h6 b5 o
春联 Spring Festival couplets
! {. w7 J o7 R5 e* M: i V 剪纸 paper-cuts
9 S1 ?' x) M8 ]0 Y. ]# z& ? 年画 New Year paintings
U; {- W. }9 z9 s 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
5 {, e' Z7 E( |! l 敬酒 propose a toast : I- |& {- M. X
灯笼 lantern: a portable light 6 g: ?) d2 e8 G5 R
烟花 fireworks 1 u' w2 ] A9 R$ k
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) 3 c- U* o. Q' }4 O- W$ N& ?
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
8 u! k& _3 b4 E- g5 F 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
% v0 B4 N9 z: C, Q6 y0 G6 u# f$ L# R 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
8 m b+ p$ {3 `5 f& q 戏曲 traditional opera 2 g+ t# `) y1 r" s1 u. n/ I% f, i
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
Q6 [% p1 s, { 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns , c, B+ Q6 l% F$ X# y/ v
灯会 exhibit of lanterns 3 S' R1 F3 m5 N; @" {
守岁 staying-up 0 i. R# g: _* E# f
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit W+ O! \' F3 J9 U
禁忌 taboo 2 m! T+ U( j/ l V* H) K+ @& l
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune ! @5 Y0 c! q- Q
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
* G: S5 o/ P0 \ 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
- E! |, H, }4 @- 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
+ A7 O" N0 }1 p0 v4 H' l) B1 B& _6 O 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year ! V/ o" l# f/ x/ s0 v) y
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
" Y' \) t5 d ~ Blessing:
1 g8 x1 t; w' p- }% H Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity ) L: n3 }) [0 Z
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace * R, X( X$ Y! a" M
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go " v0 {# S8 z: e1 f/ W: s
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! % \+ }' X& c6 z/ [8 i
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
7 Z. e9 Z7 Q0 A8 ?, E% w Food names: , R' J. A" V5 V
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
: _2 A; o. q% L& J- { 团圆饭 family reunion dinner 5 d- w5 G, S; d) r+ q% {
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve " p0 [ J" W3 \
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
$ z& a$ ]+ ?1 }3 T. s4 ]: e 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings 5 d/ u+ c/ W' p A. w. z, A1 z
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding 6 q& p( G/ ^$ g* f* @
糖果盘 candy tray: 1 [$ M3 G) \' r ^
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
' @! S, k n7 s. [ 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health . k: ~2 |! w# c$ f5 Y
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
% ^* q" ^# j# G 金桔 cumquat - prosperity h* \ m4 a3 k: X- a9 I
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come - t9 U$ q2 u$ l% m7 e
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
- C6 ^, @8 b' j( V! L 红枣 red dates - prosperity
3 w( i, y. ?- d7 \9 A$ ? 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00