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Spring Festival Words 6 `: b6 c; W# b8 K* r' x
Greeting Season: ' J! `& z2 i6 `8 `5 ]4 d( t/ K/ o' |
春节 The Spring Festival $ K& C+ ]1 @! y% P/ E- m; J
农历 lunar calendar
7 E' i" f7 F/ ?7 S+ R, i0 Y 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
* j2 [2 j* Y: ]# K. I, a4 B% S 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year / Y1 C2 U4 o1 `( C
初一 the beginning of New Year
* t7 j0 T8 i) W' Z% z8 ~4 Y 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
p v+ X- I, w+ Q) y. D Customs:
+ J* C7 y9 r6 |5 N4 F9 J 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
: V3 t; `6 R4 e 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 3 {2 I( G5 X9 y
春联 Spring Festival couplets
" L9 B# y$ W4 S k 剪纸 paper-cuts
) B( \+ {8 y) R; s. p 年画 New Year paintings : n8 D! Z! S* w" K
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 1 T; f( |. l! u) Z6 [
敬酒 propose a toast : s u" c" m, ?
灯笼 lantern: a portable light 8 s7 t$ p$ g" N! X j& ~
烟花 fireworks , U; D4 c3 V$ Z, V1 f1 S6 _9 q
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
# R4 O% f! P$ E6 n; ^2 H 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) $ ]2 B3 e: L' O( L1 H( L8 Q- \# i5 w
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
5 m. s% k3 C: [$ e, V0 U, I u: h 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) 4 q' `! x. @* N& w' Z8 a% R
戏曲 traditional opera
3 ~5 M5 c! U# H 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
* k0 `6 ^8 L5 S9 q6 w 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
3 n/ }- q; B9 X# j 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
4 ]' A+ d( v/ B8 o 守岁 staying-up
& c+ L& Z: x G$ w9 v 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
$ o# L) T z- z! n% E8 P7 m 禁忌 taboo 0 W% T4 V$ U6 @) S, {2 n7 U* }
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 5 `+ @( P$ | E1 I! |
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors / u8 f6 D" w1 m/ F. g8 {
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift ) D# ^& D1 O8 O# K. a
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
+ {$ _6 N$ i' g+ V& }; z 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year ' o- a( H4 ^" `
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 5 w9 D) ~$ j+ O( R
Blessing: * b+ |9 v- Q) H
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity . g+ X8 L) o# F& j
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
% m$ @! v' p8 j6 Q; T Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
& m2 O$ y' B, a2 S$ `8 T( S 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! ' A0 F2 N8 b$ u' D# E* H0 Y6 v) R
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
7 u- z( t4 _; f9 m, R7 U Food names:
+ B; x2 j2 N, Q, z 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
9 g3 G* F7 j) `# J7 q. b* }0 F 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
% i- D7 X+ ]0 T4 `8 } 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
' w7 g/ V5 \( F7 Y 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
$ T) b) A+ c1 F; ^ 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings 6 A9 E; ~6 g4 B Z) M6 x/ @
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
+ g$ b0 b9 k' ^ 糖果盘 candy tray: + n8 v9 F8 K% p9 S7 P- Q f, a+ p% |
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
0 k3 D7 o" S0 i2 g 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health " R& G+ O* L, c8 h8 V( }; G
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
9 O. r+ E( q2 z" X% g% B6 @; L1 B 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
& m, [ y$ v; p+ J7 F5 E 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
. U4 @5 K8 i7 _5 C' h" I 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
r( j4 ~2 |+ G# Y) z" E# @! Z9 l 红枣 red dates - prosperity
) j: g3 X: ?9 h( X8 Q4 B" B/ l6 y 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00