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Spring Festival Words
% {! k" Y8 o; g( \) f1 ]/ L Greeting Season:
7 V. H( r/ f$ n: v& n 春节 The Spring Festival
, ~2 i% O6 Z/ G/ w 农历 lunar calendar 5 s1 `. T% d1 y0 I" A, b
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
' J" X' [8 X! m% l D% G! G! z 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year 8 S- m! x* o$ _# E* q* A% |5 ]4 O
初一 the beginning of New Year & G/ M! I$ j) |3 y0 N
元宵节 The Lantern Festival 1 B3 [7 J# d' A* |# ?* V' v
Customs:
9 c0 L" g# e6 B7 O$ ~7 h 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival $ P- U1 ^5 _8 H6 U9 U8 W
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 6 X- d9 l' W) u" Y
春联 Spring Festival couplets
) J7 d' b/ g+ E( ^5 e4 X 剪纸 paper-cuts 5 N3 k( k3 q' j e
年画 New Year paintings
( W% p1 r7 M. R! i* C) w( G 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
# |% V+ Y: Q4 c! U2 i3 W 敬酒 propose a toast
- [' w2 @9 x9 G8 i" e, x4 q9 s 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
. I- u5 D9 `# u) Y | 烟花 fireworks
7 B6 j) k6 A* ?7 r 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
) Q- M2 @3 s9 N) j 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) 4 {; ?! f, P' h/ I1 \+ w
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) ) K) _8 z3 [$ T0 e; ]$ l% ~
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) 3 Q. j8 Z. y8 b7 g ]
戏曲 traditional opera R/ B" w4 W& F, K+ ?2 X
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville " p' l; m+ a+ V0 `( \) ?6 n; ~
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
! K# q* \ [) T' \! g' v 灯会 exhibit of lanterns . V; j4 ~5 p6 n0 B, R
守岁 staying-up
- F5 P0 l* G! z 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit " M. V+ e7 q; ~
禁忌 taboo
; x% \ O$ H5 V% r3 {2 O 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune , t* x) N. R6 C8 [! k1 L
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors 7 n5 ^' n' \. x
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
5 M$ v9 p, N( u- n7 L/ o 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 3 i5 v* c. Q' \8 E1 b
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year 6 I9 s3 H# v' k; m4 F% I5 M9 K5 ~
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
6 O6 }; P1 {5 U6 z4 L Blessing:
8 R9 F# `' i0 m0 f9 t5 { C& Y& h Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
# I: x/ ]% K% X& d9 _ l1 O Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace ) [3 S( \# }) i3 L' I0 Z) @
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go * X7 p3 T) [) [
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
8 o2 L- u+ N( l1 z 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
' y0 P# U6 k. H' C# k3 d, N Food names:
: U! A0 E( D% V ? 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
' @2 I; f) T0 L- |+ C 团圆饭 family reunion dinner 3 o( f Y2 m# _2 b7 r0 a
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
/ f4 ]0 k" }& l+ O 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli " q5 o/ D% Q8 M/ l- Z2 z: F
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
' Z$ |9 f& Y: h 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
9 G! x5 s4 ~+ `* Q 糖果盘 candy tray:
$ }% `- K @) N 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
, K" {1 n/ g' O 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health " J9 I* u+ a' Q, E
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
+ ~" s* O+ K9 R/ }: r' Q 金桔 cumquat - prosperity 3 a* r7 T( ~: P6 R" Y
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
4 k* E8 z/ E6 [ 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
# r4 p& O. I+ @8 v6 D# M- P; @) h 红枣 red dates - prosperity
( @8 x1 n, K' ^7 g9 n2 ~( u4 u# g2 i% @ 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00