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Spring Festival Words
# f* T8 x% Q# d9 x6 I, Z+ b; T: W Greeting Season:
: [3 L. k- y" X' i* R- _& x e 春节 The Spring Festival & D7 \ _! K. N) q4 t/ o" V6 ^
农历 lunar calendar
8 }0 f, c2 g4 ~2 l' e" ] 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar 8 q) I2 O, A- R
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
5 a( g0 m/ |$ T) }9 C$ N, [ 初一 the beginning of New Year : ?9 z! J2 U+ {! K
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
. B7 V$ \ P9 o$ M+ l6 U5 K {/ q3 z Customs:
# W: u" c1 A/ M3 [; G4 i 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival ( k1 ^8 a$ h) Z3 d* p* K
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 0 _$ Y0 i# N7 P* e: f# c* ]" [
春联 Spring Festival couplets
+ L v9 P/ H( p. I2 p1 A 剪纸 paper-cuts 4 b3 ~ R9 n, l4 |$ r0 X; f
年画 New Year paintings
$ {5 }+ |% S$ E. M 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
# |) s1 |8 D2 c 敬酒 propose a toast - q9 Z: @) S1 A* e' \ [
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
4 `" }) }) M/ i/ U$ k3 o/ t2 i 烟花 fireworks
4 O& A9 H: ^/ @) o5 Q6 h% X; M) a 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) # {3 [; N7 i6 D9 C
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
9 h2 m( A$ J' Y7 s! B 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
1 D# _( E1 x: X% ~5 ^9 \& T 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) $ R s3 E1 w3 Q
戏曲 traditional opera : A8 y+ c' v$ o# e
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville % R& b4 u# F# S, p5 y% r. {% z
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns 0 U9 B* q% l# L6 }5 k" T2 X
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
- Z2 W; O+ q- i8 x$ k. V 守岁 staying-up , ^$ C( q, f, V: @6 Z7 ?+ h
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
) V+ G5 e! W7 N' F 禁忌 taboo 4 k( l" K1 y& m
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune ' W" J# }/ @+ C/ t. E
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
2 w7 D5 R* F$ e1 } 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
8 F- R& E2 O* x9 S+ C 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 ' [! p u6 Q* S$ e, E
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
& W2 l, S, Z" s3 \ 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
" U4 B3 F- ]$ O Blessing:
* s6 a( e& E. Q- T7 P Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity o q; Y8 C- K; m& D
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace 5 \+ C- q- q, |$ N1 b
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
: G6 d, r+ k9 y+ l3 J( W/ e 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! - ~5 s' ]% r7 `2 S; r
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
' w0 v, i; A d6 } Food names:
9 ~+ j* l' p) Q9 U- q0 I 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake , W. i$ l: g7 {$ r+ w; a7 _
团圆饭 family reunion dinner ! k' h6 A- F: F9 z0 B! U4 v
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
, N- W2 \; r8 V0 {, K* D 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
% _4 L; U! t1 Z P6 F- R 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
* F" n/ f% z9 b0 k 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
2 v( ~/ }! c% o- i2 j( C 糖果盘 candy tray: ( [; _( s, P$ v8 [, n
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
/ ^/ E; I0 W* ~& k8 f* M6 A7 V 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
( Q1 @0 T% Q4 c3 N1 Q 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity $ B, U2 G1 v8 k& Z7 Y0 M
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
# ^' d0 D" R# B6 Y 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 6 O- w$ u" ?9 H; m- k- e
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
( ~) f& z4 q |- o% R! w2 Z5 V 红枣 red dates - prosperity / C4 ^5 z2 t- T" W# B) w9 s) e: [
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00