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Spring Festival Words
1 S7 \& |% Y# U, t Greeting Season:
1 E3 Q. F ^# R4 `- c2 X: ?& z' z 春节 The Spring Festival ! M( s6 A0 o& q
农历 lunar calendar
) F( C: p. v2 ? 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar h' X; @; D$ X( |' Y) B/ Y" }5 _
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
: Y( l2 f; Z- c% m# e1 B, o 初一 the beginning of New Year 3 {6 S7 y* A( x) Y
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
5 u" u7 R' r2 X6 k Customs: 9 u2 J5 R6 g; G* q; ?1 h( L0 r% \
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
* N a2 i) @$ I" I% x 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry # U5 a! l ]! V/ e6 i2 x
春联 Spring Festival couplets
; u+ r0 f3 [' X# `& x* i7 ] 剪纸 paper-cuts ; e# u$ @. z/ K$ T9 U- c- ?
年画 New Year paintings
7 f9 ]" t2 s7 Y) J; b- V! v 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 3 p- V- d6 M! j9 @5 E) D
敬酒 propose a toast
! a5 C/ b3 i4 J0 O4 D 灯笼 lantern: a portable light 6 D: p# @9 @* @/ S
烟花 fireworks
+ L, n0 D6 Q5 L$ J; A 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) # p- h" A9 l$ G8 U4 H1 V
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
, Z* ?% a6 p5 o9 f 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) 0 D/ u1 H0 G; b4 W2 d0 R6 s
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) 2 Z8 R X& D: {: M0 U: {8 E
戏曲 traditional opera 2 r, r: I4 s9 ~# B3 O
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
1 R+ h: k9 N, `# F8 Z 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
4 D4 K6 R4 \! o$ R5 _8 p Y" t) A: e8 B! i 灯会 exhibit of lanterns 5 w! d" v& \0 V: [
守岁 staying-up
# N7 L4 t5 L& N 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
' ^( [4 z5 ~, X3 l 禁忌 taboo
" f2 x6 E& z, i9 e1 g: m, f4 G- b 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 6 I8 j H+ h, z6 Q6 k9 ~ {
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
: @) d% o: |3 Y5 e$ A 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift 7 e- w$ ~9 N. 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
9 B' [) [$ @+ X+ j" D7 O! Q( l 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
1 y: y' Y# {; M+ c3 d3 q 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
* @* Y x: G1 J+ M Blessing: 7 x" ^: {* j% [0 E- y' T& O
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity : q7 U) k- i# v) h" `! J, c
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace / l2 x9 C5 Q8 m2 R/ G
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
% S4 G7 S2 j) ` 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
4 ]$ c4 o# x9 J1 A7 s" M/ } r/ V 事业成功,家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
$ e. k. N( d5 u( m- ?+ ?7 } Food names:
e8 R2 L: ]" Q, Q1 y k, ^2 Y6 z 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake " ^! C) }* |* j0 Q3 c& g
团圆饭 family reunion dinner $ m% J6 n2 W K
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve ! p3 D4 U2 h7 R( J5 }
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli , r+ [# T9 o$ k! x3 f
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
& h% _; M$ k3 }2 o" ^ 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
* M7 P7 z: M+ G" g* W 糖果盘 candy tray:
: l9 i2 ^! u* ]0 m1 a, v 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 1 P3 S5 n/ }. q! r; [- T
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health 6 V; }# k; Y s8 j% P2 L! [
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
3 ^# n; \7 ~4 L, w: [ 金桔 cumquat - prosperity : s0 m, m2 S7 R+ q) h
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come # C" g% `! {, W7 b% X- p
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
8 A9 d& ] j7 z7 d/ [/ z/ m5 y: K& K 红枣 red dates - prosperity 0 w" }- d1 E4 c# N
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet |