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Spring Festival Words ! V) d5 s u5 S( U) R. @% B% `
Greeting Season: 5 |* P$ p: U" q, ?
春节 The Spring Festival
7 O/ a! N. ~5 ^$ Z; S; K7 A 农历 lunar calendar / s" p7 f/ j5 _ Z. R8 t" j
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
: ^5 C; `5 g0 q% }" e: [ 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
6 g& u- h# c8 S 初一 the beginning of New Year
- z' U, N! z! b" \4 Q3 ^5 B 元宵节 The Lantern Festival % B) T. p" f6 ~: a6 y
Customs:
* J* Z' |& I1 g 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
. c9 { U, A( E* t" ] \ 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry $ g7 @$ t; }4 V3 M
春联 Spring Festival couplets
: |: a5 A9 X& h 剪纸 paper-cuts
0 y7 W6 ~) ?( U2 }) e/ [. ` 年画 New Year paintings 6 ]+ a0 k+ C' {3 ~2 W0 V+ F$ k
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping ! y6 y+ d x2 e9 w4 j% e
敬酒 propose a toast
! h% I% x3 o* f( L: D5 N* ^ 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
- D6 h$ m+ G% y0 o, X$ D( D! H 烟花 fireworks
# u& Y( r3 C$ I k 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
3 v9 G! \+ x3 t: `. n 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
! q3 c5 ~" B; |. P, x) X 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
" U6 T6 p; O9 P, j# u @3 f5 L 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
: [4 y H, z3 l' l3 A2 C7 f 戏曲 traditional opera " j# O/ [/ y- p/ @
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville " V$ T8 d, q/ O% ^# A! E
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
& q( n& N; f- P$ ^' B- L& w. ^ 灯会 exhibit of lanterns ; v% O! u# T, d) V9 t. B, F }
守岁 staying-up
0 a& T; ?! E! e 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit 5 D6 O0 L4 {$ d; t1 t" u
禁忌 taboo ) v; X6 J$ ?$ h7 ]
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
6 U, H+ ` R) i K0 {1 X9 Y" i 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors / e4 _* a' V3 ~0 R& }+ V, ^
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift ( g0 { E, k* e; F
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
X- J- o2 T& O# ? 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
! z# e) J! `, F% X0 ]# @! ]; I 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
7 U1 Y/ f9 h1 ?5 y Blessing:
( ~. q/ {+ n& G$ ~6 q) [. c Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
: x6 }4 _" R$ j; B) { Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace 0 e' f4 F. b F T" Z
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
% q+ X0 \2 G! K c. Z3 {. m1 p9 `) s 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 9 K8 G% z3 S2 m2 M0 C' H2 x) f
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
& u) ?) ?/ A o% x Food names: ; p: x5 l( z J2 ?/ h# X6 `( e4 [0 a
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
- H' F/ S- u: t& t7 n 团圆饭 family reunion dinner , p9 x7 Q8 n1 {" E' H
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve % _7 m0 f; p: Q
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
* X" r- C7 u1 k8 H 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings : i) ^! s% w6 _- l. p) y
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding * r; t4 R$ P) I- Y* T
糖果盘 candy tray: 8 ~$ o7 @& U5 X3 h6 E
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune - h7 j$ m6 w* V8 }+ Y3 y E
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health 1 C7 g& V; l9 n: w: ~
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity 7 m" t T! ]/ M$ z+ H" L+ q
金桔 cumquat - prosperity 4 B* k/ c5 O; |6 M
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 4 o7 y1 L$ Z5 [* I% M4 o
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
4 C+ d: G' }- N& F( {' u2 E! U' Y5 S 红枣 red dates - prosperity
9 L0 _! G: a/ Y, ~4 x 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00