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Spring Festival Words
& k+ b1 a) s$ m2 L/ x! b2 [ Greeting Season: 6 g* ~7 z+ r2 |$ _8 w* X
春节 The Spring Festival / Q. Y4 \4 X0 X+ G& `2 p2 g
农历 lunar calendar
& R7 Z9 I+ ^) V4 K% ~ 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar 6 b8 u+ w8 S- T- V4 E6 F% r
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year / P, m' ?+ R8 ~ `% y
初一 the beginning of New Year
3 d" ]4 C7 W" z1 \2 F8 C 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
) k& V$ |6 n) ^. Z- n" V2 y; }' F Customs:
2 e+ b8 ^8 d9 b7 t0 J m' n 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival " B1 [) x8 K% e- X+ h" V
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
: D' A6 u& H- ^* L 春联 Spring Festival couplets ; l S r4 e0 S+ t% P
剪纸 paper-cuts * u n: q9 H: H. x
年画 New Year paintings " E- O3 B" `+ Q9 J
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
# ~. d* W9 U$ T: z* i; ] 敬酒 propose a toast & d7 ]: o* ?# }' }* f2 |: C. l+ O, m
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
# X" f5 A1 P& Z& d; v6 B: Z 烟花 fireworks 5 _+ F5 P, ^+ k1 B+ O
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) 8 s7 {4 N6 g$ y
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
+ u U. P1 k) A/ F3 w$ C+ h 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
q+ g; g/ g( s2 b7 w1 X: k 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
. V1 S6 x. |9 L5 g 戏曲 traditional opera
9 @( y: ~8 u P 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville + {9 z! U2 G1 W% b$ x' a6 \' E
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
1 U9 l) W& B# r 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
- r& l8 d$ N: z5 Z 守岁 staying-up * j0 W- P" u/ |: g
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
% B' k* q1 Z( s* p 禁忌 taboo
4 ?! Y8 G- m0 {; {" z4 F 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune ' d" x/ T: h# L. h, o9 z
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors , g6 C' J4 @" i
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift : h. k4 \ y) G d% S: ^4 R
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
4 d: W+ m2 `- j7 _2 K. o1 x 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
# m* l4 c& s9 z9 o2 M0 U 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning ; y2 n9 m, g+ E2 f
Blessing:
3 l. u& v: R6 P4 x, O @! a Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 5 a* ~3 C( l5 Q# ~
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace 6 A( ~# |* M5 O1 S
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
m3 U# ~9 {( Y) n 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
m6 `. O4 G: p4 Q! R0 C 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
2 t) [6 A. N3 ]2 E ~. @; y Food names:
9 ]; `$ d3 M" q7 l! N 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake }4 `. D" ^7 u _) {5 x
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
& O5 ~0 y7 G! A: {( I0 T 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve : y1 [( g+ ^, P h- D, K- R
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli & W1 j6 H! ]. q) z7 q
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings ( h! h9 b5 t$ k# Q9 Q
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
* O! w% p- @0 R. E2 ^1 r* } 糖果盘 candy tray:
2 ~, w! s, n. @6 t0 ~! F4 Y0 y 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 9 X0 W' x% l7 K$ v/ v( a9 N
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
; d( ~5 Y+ G+ E1 N 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
6 w: ^. E' x d* G2 U/ Z; @ 金桔 cumquat - prosperity $ y! |7 Q. g; R* N, N7 j( V2 _2 |
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
5 [+ s" V; _( K; U 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship % [3 X- Y$ n3 i2 Z$ e8 u
红枣 red dates - prosperity " C/ K5 w7 V2 l$ d) d
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00