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Spring Festival Words * R* r0 n& F: R" X* {' e
Greeting Season: $ k, \& v9 F9 @. D3 k( e
春节 The Spring Festival 1 s1 S! a, n( T
农历 lunar calendar & @! }- K6 x1 C+ c; y5 D
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar ) Z& z1 \; z2 O
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year 3 g$ ?; W: e) k- G
初一 the beginning of New Year
& q4 w# o P8 k4 S 元宵节 The Lantern Festival ; Q" Q0 T5 U# m! A
Customs:
/ m: Q& g6 y0 f& c6 ]4 ` 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival ; c9 Z7 _6 D7 ~
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
+ X% n/ {' ]( p& r 春联 Spring Festival couplets / n v. k9 I4 E. m1 ^
剪纸 paper-cuts : C7 i# M" c: T2 F0 P
年画 New Year paintings + ?' E' w' V7 |" t c$ V& v
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
& }8 E3 T2 t5 [- |% d# B% N 敬酒 propose a toast / ]* j7 C% @8 Q& |/ ~/ h% y* B
灯笼 lantern: a portable light - m( K+ _, d! `: z+ s
烟花 fireworks
0 m: M9 }' a1 V& W( t* C/ ? 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) * X" a: p$ u4 _8 u/ u3 h6 Y
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
$ J% R+ e; R6 q: ?, u2 I& X 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
# F! e q! {+ F2 P; ~; }7 ` 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
9 k# T5 D7 u7 Q$ `9 l 戏曲 traditional opera . k* f) u$ x) O$ l# o
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
/ ~7 w+ G2 G) O9 f" t 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
7 A! d: E; h. i) f9 Q8 z 灯会 exhibit of lanterns ) c6 K. A4 I/ \. h9 M
守岁 staying-up 3 \7 O- G4 O5 R4 ~ D& L/ {
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
* i- R' r0 D5 A8 ?1 F- q1 y0 N& ? 禁忌 taboo * r" c! R7 ?, |8 L
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
5 |2 a; l9 ^3 ?, ]8 B$ P# X 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
, c( a3 G' a9 L3 q$ K 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift ' m) ^% P3 L7 _- U( |' s4 u, v
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
# k" Y2 P' O% R! \1 Y& c 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
0 J, {9 M0 d8 P# }; ? 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 8 D6 Y9 [9 K) N% @3 T3 N0 _
Blessing: 2 r* O ?& `- o9 ]+ b7 d
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity * C$ b, L* O8 V# J: K5 ?
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace / T& E4 Y% g+ l& x5 A" n) }$ W
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go # S# D. R' `2 P- K0 v; I9 E; Z7 V5 T3 } x
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! ) T' r, I- ~) U5 X
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! " t, F7 N( A- | d) e
Food names:
- Y+ b8 r0 q' F# M1 e- v 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
4 z0 B, |1 c. w) t% R5 h 团圆饭 family reunion dinner * V/ t/ ^3 F4 c: ^2 L) w5 H
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
0 [. l4 L1 T' ^& w$ J' h7 J/ e0 { 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
" R8 v( M/ [' T( _ 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
8 d7 X/ c/ i" ? 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
; f0 I. i+ V h/ B4 ]) w! ? 糖果盘 candy tray:
/ U |0 P+ d1 I% M8 A$ D 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 0 n& x. Z7 L4 I
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
+ G9 o, U* C5 m* { ~5 Z 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
# l' J& y- t1 c+ A 金桔 cumquat - prosperity / N: L1 B* h/ M% d& E
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come & R* D% Q( v! U- T0 ~; w9 |9 z
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship $ `3 ?) ~1 r+ a" J7 l7 C0 m; o
红枣 red dates - prosperity
2 q( Z" c+ r \2 J5 q# P3 D 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00