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Spring Festival Words " [2 B* K7 h7 Y6 _! z6 D5 n8 X% Y7 F
Greeting Season: 1 q. E# r* l R2 b, g& c
春节 The Spring Festival
4 _+ g7 T5 L$ \ 农历 lunar calendar # |3 E: j% F! O6 F1 k% D- d5 E
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
6 }, ~: s9 d0 p8 X* ~9 S% j 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
) m8 c" b7 p( b! }' \, [3 \& i) r 初一 the beginning of New Year
9 }. c+ R) r; \; d4 T! m& O5 B( u 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
$ {4 N( w5 e- g% U6 V* D Customs:
. @: H* U8 e1 l! ?/ O( g, M 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival $ u6 O+ L; {, \2 Q$ F! @0 O3 D
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 5 E/ v2 v! h( X: [
春联 Spring Festival couplets
* E7 W- [7 e- R% J# [7 b+ m$ ^ 剪纸 paper-cuts 0 h+ X8 M9 J/ g, g5 z
年画 New Year paintings 0 E. b+ h4 l4 [' O: R; ~# B
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping ) m7 |8 p3 U$ J
敬酒 propose a toast
: r- w# `; B) e X9 @4 R 灯笼 lantern: a portable light , t5 B+ R* @1 Y9 Z! Z
烟花 fireworks
. l0 Q# I$ V/ ^" I# i; t 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
# O A7 a0 g9 o5 m) g3 f7 ]4 J# |" o 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) $ O. {8 N. i' N4 s) g/ t* j/ K
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
3 C8 X- U3 o; D, |% u$ P l 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
Y2 f% J$ [2 [, W 戏曲 traditional opera $ r0 z1 V/ c& K/ D3 s8 z
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville 7 r' i" r2 ~9 g
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns , L# {# B9 l( \4 R
灯会 exhibit of lanterns & L4 J7 r1 D8 Y$ _- T
守岁 staying-up
0 ^8 N7 T4 W) K! }7 L% o+ N0 l 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit 7 l+ e% G2 ?! |- r8 [
禁忌 taboo
0 d4 f9 l! r8 \0 L5 D 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
8 L1 R& g- p+ h2 U 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
- C/ k& F1 _9 h+ _( c; k; H" E 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift ' s# e4 @) a* u3 T; B1 N
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 " X D4 v3 n* _" Z& C
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
( h4 b9 }- }5 ] 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning # ]: }* I) U6 b- T; C) K4 A
Blessing: % P4 x ~+ H8 R
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
- t- h8 H2 B% m1 C+ }( O) l9 a& G, {! M0 y Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace v- x" v. i4 Q g- e
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go . l, M, a+ J9 \
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
/ i5 ~4 K, k2 e' ?" p# F 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
/ y }( T! X8 G% | Food names: # S+ {: T2 U8 X: I% T7 O& J
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
! h6 P( X6 T' b \. h 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
$ o7 V2 o" o0 T% c0 A- z i 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
! {9 O$ b* f; l& ^; a 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli + x- _2 k; |' D5 \+ f" _
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
5 r3 Q1 H7 f& N8 M5 j4 J 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding - P) n& A3 A9 l, N: f! c5 w5 g3 B1 H
糖果盘 candy tray: + j, R$ |* J5 @# M
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
2 z* }: I9 u2 h) |& c 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
5 S' u% m4 c a9 A 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity ' D+ u1 l. i: e; [2 e* B$ ~5 T
金桔 cumquat - prosperity % }* U+ Z5 g6 h8 T! G) U3 w/ O5 }$ M9 j
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come & `3 {) s, ~. s: S- D7 h. u
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
0 v, K! w: u5 o: g C7 O 红枣 red dates - prosperity
9 L4 x* `, n/ V 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00