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Spring Festival Words
& G$ ]- E% M8 U0 O9 i Greeting Season:
$ S6 V- S* I, e 春节 The Spring Festival
: c( X/ R% i6 r5 ~ 农历 lunar calendar
2 `1 o$ c; W( f% Z2 k 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
: _5 E+ Z% h6 o& }$ H 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year : n+ @, ~, u! x. I" ^# T. U1 f1 V
初一 the beginning of New Year # ~7 E) c6 M& |1 G+ R: M
元宵节 The Lantern Festival ! Z% {8 }1 Y( X& b/ h2 g6 a
Customs:
" M" O- r' f% Y' A+ K 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
+ s) O. _7 @1 h' j/ x! Y# Z 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
4 M* B" z: `" G% X2 X 春联 Spring Festival couplets
) k) K3 G& H7 n) H% C% Q 剪纸 paper-cuts ! ~5 n( G, p& u, {1 A% w
年画 New Year paintings $ K: D0 K) G+ X0 s1 l+ y
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 1 Y8 P6 z9 T/ Q0 {; `& z
敬酒 propose a toast & D$ M( h" @1 f' j6 Q6 r
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
) A I7 b" r% L; F 烟花 fireworks
( Q' V. S2 ^& ]$ O5 W( ?' g. a 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
- V, J6 U" Q; D; c# y 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
6 _8 L" ]$ x$ k3 u( x# c1 i- ]7 p6 F 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
+ y+ o- f! u# J2 R% k6 f 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) , H; p9 @& B* H
戏曲 traditional opera
/ t6 c7 m) [# V4 B: O: V8 R 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
: b" C0 I' u: E$ H& _4 c" z( R 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns ; F! ~! I5 I6 ~
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
$ q$ O# Y9 \& b: |, N% i 守岁 staying-up
/ w& _: J9 w/ j9 j& W; ` 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
4 y I! T8 B/ u I# ?# d, Q& E2 h 禁忌 taboo # K1 O, c) l6 n# y. L, g- ~
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
% Y2 O v ^6 q6 M* ~" U6 d4 Z 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
& b M9 z# z+ e6 ~) F) A$ b, n q. p! u 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
( e0 Z5 D4 M( ]" z 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
, E8 ?5 ^% E+ n" q9 \6 C! l 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year * Q6 r# c7 p+ t
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
8 C! |( J+ Z+ [, p Blessing:
1 d$ }# X4 S [ i2 L7 B+ g( m Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
( \, i5 N8 [! } Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace 9 W2 T! m0 }; p+ P% Y
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 7 o8 q! |% ? n6 A) _) |) \8 w* ?
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 7 ]# G. |, H/ ~) u6 g! ?% n! M6 \
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! . i; ]% Z+ K7 H' @7 F- }
Food names: ) k2 D# Y1 N' H( C0 U4 H1 y
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake 2 }: H$ q2 w. z1 ?; H/ B+ D4 j
团圆饭 family reunion dinner " X! Q7 h! n ?: f" }7 I6 y1 ^
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
* X% K( v9 R6 Q7 f 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli ! g) f% p' N- j" t: v( a( ? F+ X
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
5 J# _ W; ?6 w/ U! ? 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
9 E+ l2 R8 Q. O& ~ 糖果盘 candy tray:
4 d6 h% K7 U9 @ 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 9 `0 d, |6 e+ H
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
2 }+ W M) K1 @8 y1 N 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
! q& u" g! b- v 金桔 cumquat - prosperity ( i6 i+ m" u7 o5 J& G
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 5 H) P0 a. }2 R, m T: ?
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
* E- u3 O4 e( W! e9 l 红枣 red dates - prosperity
+ x( l7 q* O( z: `" q 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00