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Spring Festival Words 2 x, E) o" G7 y' I9 P: [- J+ F0 O
Greeting Season:
( m1 m% Q; [/ [3 J& p) m! O \$ f 春节 The Spring Festival
& h0 i7 L" _1 S: j1 M# s 农历 lunar calendar
) u; Y3 G M$ u 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar ' f% ^: x; `6 V" Z
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
2 h9 o" d8 A1 T: i2 z/ |3 E' Q$ X 初一 the beginning of New Year
/ D' E7 Y) S$ a# K& k# F 元宵节 The Lantern Festival 0 L: i, n. c: |" a2 b- O+ \# h$ l5 m5 q
Customs:
4 D' h$ H2 b$ `+ t$ i ]8 a9 l 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival + a- j4 O0 @; s+ U* n
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 6 t7 W: r6 O; K6 c' G/ {6 x
春联 Spring Festival couplets
2 T& L: s8 d" R) I6 e. V/ ?7 ] 剪纸 paper-cuts
7 w; m( P! ~+ t 年画 New Year paintings & b V+ b2 l& `) i1 w. B
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
( u' a0 O0 G: j8 P5 w4 V 敬酒 propose a toast $ [5 I3 s' F0 f# @; ]+ c% _
灯笼 lantern: a portable light * m2 a8 q5 N9 j( O R2 F2 s. |; Z3 s
烟花 fireworks
1 V/ }. A) K! H( e; U2 d 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
3 _: E% W& B+ p4 ~% R# W( Q- y 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) 1 i( {# @2 m5 c: d3 z
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) 3 X5 y( H# C. @9 h
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) ) G/ K9 M, }; ^' A7 @0 f$ }6 |
戏曲 traditional opera ) I0 {: ?! {. J0 P
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville 3 {0 ? Q# E. C$ t7 x9 t* |
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
1 _2 ^. F3 I, F3 G9 @ 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
3 F+ o; {6 a4 Q: }4 L6 R 守岁 staying-up
4 J; a& F3 }, m, j& Z 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
& O% d- N4 _3 p: B" N 禁忌 taboo
7 a: p/ F9 |! v2 }# U6 f. s 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
+ i+ ]/ I2 }4 H# p; P6 X 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors - o3 W8 U# k( J% I7 C3 w$ K7 g- S4 [
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
/ ^6 u+ X) f$ v6 c) o1 q 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 ; L/ g& i; F0 ~, Z4 \3 V
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year 1 U& p o$ e+ X0 Y
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
! k" |) q% V) @; N. b" | Blessing:
& l- \4 G, C# j9 U' l7 z0 C7 M0 q Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity / ?) }$ X" ^5 W1 J
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
4 V: R) {2 u( h2 u% Y. a Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
9 @# i. G( w' L- S# @5 d 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
, L( W2 W& u" U9 ~3 s2 l 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
b' t3 S$ p1 e, {" e$ D* |- D* l4 f Food names: & s( [4 O# |2 r& B* m3 T: m& ^, ]) P! w
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
. c* v. ?/ @/ m& I* K$ _ 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
* w5 i" g8 i2 C+ n+ n 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
2 k9 d- t% n7 j, e% b- o1 l1 U 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli ! K( \! H4 ~& _' H4 N1 [
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings 4 C% j) q1 H. C4 r% G9 J
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding I$ X; x- R$ ?! ?7 o! r
糖果盘 candy tray: 9 `0 q* C+ D% }6 g% S
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
/ K R+ ^4 F+ C- K4 r4 u4 B+ y8 P 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health ! T3 d5 g: U1 t7 O9 ]" g
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity & \, G# {* d# p( N- p; [
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
; D. w5 z0 X0 k5 j+ ]/ B) s0 ? 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
7 w) {8 `* s" q O 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship ( s% L2 G8 c( W' t& f1 Y; y2 u
红枣 red dates - prosperity
/ d) z, B. A4 T# m 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00