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Spring Festival Words ; b' \& H$ E+ T1 `
Greeting Season: 6 g8 y# y$ n( p" _3 l# M! R+ h
春节 The Spring Festival
7 s6 U' U% }# p5 R! c! ]# s 农历 lunar calendar / Q5 \ A- E+ O* j9 d' x# } z9 t
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
% y5 ]9 v: \8 g- p 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year * l1 y. q T4 Q. R# O: F9 s
初一 the beginning of New Year
/ M0 f- A( o# y: d# q4 m 元宵节 The Lantern Festival + `/ d+ B6 N5 I- ?6 n) m2 Z6 } O
Customs:
8 }% T5 o% w- `, P. o4 | 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival 2 s2 x! ^! m4 s! i! L7 x
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry % S O' A: @2 v( N- p& P
春联 Spring Festival couplets , [5 Q3 B: Z I
剪纸 paper-cuts # @# ^* H+ _* p; T- ]9 ]7 k
年画 New Year paintings 9 [! b5 h: g1 M
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
: ^4 H7 h! m) C, M, _# | 敬酒 propose a toast : |/ j2 T* q" T$ M) T
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
U# x: C& h$ s; M- ~ 烟花 fireworks # U! V3 @+ k1 A) [5 q% k; O
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) % ?( e: D6 N+ W. }5 \, h
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) / @" c6 K9 t8 P+ t, e/ F! @
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) + c5 S! }! O j9 m% D
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
4 ^$ A0 w2 B2 ?2 b; m4 o5 u 戏曲 traditional opera
. {. W) c* }9 M7 \' \! s" | 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
; O/ @ A: p2 d- O0 l: ~ 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
- j' K% ~3 g Q; O$ |& j 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
' R5 o2 t4 E6 A8 }0 L4 B2 s1 Z& C1 i 守岁 staying-up
& y3 ?, M5 g6 \8 o7 t4 I 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit 1 ^" x) S) o+ t) g5 t ^
禁忌 taboo
/ }, M- Y/ h4 M4 ^ 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
. {" {0 `) z7 e 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors 6 k% T" Q% I# d7 d* y
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
* b0 Q( }3 N* T( Z! \% p) Z 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 , t F& y3 C3 t( H( t% f$ f
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year ( J% K& ]: s3 T, Z
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
3 i# I. I+ t8 v5 z+ R3 g( T. j Blessing: ) U9 y3 J1 E/ u$ C! S+ J) z
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity . k+ ]- ~+ u$ u# \9 D% k0 a
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
/ A% s1 ^/ J$ x1 l6 s' m Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go / O1 [& [, d$ {7 E4 G
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
J6 i/ ^' t, q+ S! D0 o 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
" ~* f( D1 G' L* |0 ?; o7 F Food names: 6 w7 [, x2 y: Q' W3 B3 s C
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake 0 o1 l+ @. p, X% F9 F5 o
团圆饭 family reunion dinner " W3 T' D8 @, R& r) F/ ~5 Y- o+ O
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
& o& w( s0 O f7 F! E) g* R 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
5 j6 [% R+ Y* @2 A2 ^! t f( O 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
2 `9 F4 P+ R/ _! A( o 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
m1 l5 b* d3 H7 w 糖果盘 candy tray: 1 @1 O/ n- `1 S. Q9 a
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 8 h7 V8 o. \: U. V# i
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
) ]* z6 O% M) E4 f2 X9 s, D 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity 1 ]7 O3 i- w E) \# O! y
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
9 A+ t7 h$ E3 ?# R4 s- z 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come ; i; Q: n8 ?2 A: f/ V/ }6 k
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship ?$ T) f+ W4 E) Y" o6 J
红枣 red dates - prosperity
9 T, E/ H3 l! `$ U# m 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00
