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Spring Festival Words , _: R( E+ z% I9 [( f
Greeting Season: 3 S* T- u0 |* v) N( E
春节 The Spring Festival
8 `( A2 A* A: p$ ^1 B* ^% ] 农历 lunar calendar
1 ^1 f! e$ {5 I- N0 Y6 X3 F N 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar % Z4 Z q& d [5 f& r
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year : n0 Z2 h3 k( t9 Q. F
初一 the beginning of New Year $ ]* C" a) d4 z, a" h( F$ e
元宵节 The Lantern Festival : Q+ |. c) w* q5 q6 O/ L1 e% T
Customs:
/ A+ d9 j/ _7 Y/ E/ H/ m7 c, r 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival 8 W' p8 V; k; R: d4 r8 b9 U' R0 v* \
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
" n- |$ e) @0 @( ~3 u 春联 Spring Festival couplets
- d+ s! `( Y( w! S 剪纸 paper-cuts $ W* B( I9 _6 l6 K$ N9 s
年画 New Year paintings 8 B: q8 ?0 E0 [: V1 D2 A
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 2 ]3 o3 I1 W. Y9 ^5 _4 J
敬酒 propose a toast
% t' ~; a0 t# ^9 _ 灯笼 lantern: a portable light 6 [* }9 T- Z* S* t" w
烟花 fireworks
' |8 D2 M. \6 _4 V+ C 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
0 Z2 {" c! H8 ]3 V7 u/ U- | 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
" o; N( _$ n) u4 ] 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) . D8 p P4 h1 w9 v9 V
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) 1 b. U4 M6 T* }$ W5 _1 d+ O+ F8 q8 L
戏曲 traditional opera # M9 j; B8 e0 \+ b: C% \% h
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville : u) D& l. v3 K0 ` k+ W6 C& x
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
* g' b# B2 T" ~6 v 灯会 exhibit of lanterns 5 J: n" y+ v& M5 R* p9 K
守岁 staying-up
4 A$ K' f, `7 o7 B' Z* ? 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
6 K$ J" N/ x! b3 a4 W% R 禁忌 taboo 6 l* V7 U7 @0 \, U
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
. j1 g5 c% Y& e8 V1 F7 J 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
# G. \" B7 w& e 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
: q6 s+ z7 q( E5 P! q) s 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
* Y) b4 X$ Y, Y: M& x9 d8 p 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year # c. b0 i7 y/ E& z! }' Q! |+ R
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning " R4 o9 v* C$ E. J3 K) c( X! @
Blessing:
& C# n; V& x- `4 `1 [4 m' U Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity * p; y- z5 l- v6 T# r( t8 ]
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace $ y7 Q, S6 k: S. }
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 6 T! l. s3 H' w) c e
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 0 ]' P" B$ H {/ A7 M% y N
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
' d' E) v* x7 R1 b Food names:
: A5 N2 u8 Z) m: y: ?# A4 m' z3 t 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
0 L$ D9 B/ ]( Q3 F8 J2 ? 团圆饭 family reunion dinner , y3 g/ R: M7 u& r9 X6 B' F k. l1 e
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 0 s' _' B/ y- ^' Z4 O' D3 K" K
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
( m0 N0 j* r6 K* d- U# S$ N2 N 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings ) s- x/ n9 `6 R
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding 9 j6 A) S3 c/ r K
糖果盘 candy tray: 2 Z9 m# Q' l* e: O/ e
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
, d# r, R) e1 v7 B/ V3 a 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
0 X( h& _ y, @ E; E7 v9 u 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity # k: `9 _% E# [2 g6 x4 k' ^) G
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
s) |: y. M- f: {. u 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come $ ]' F" S0 |# g4 E. C
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship : v' e4 C! r' n9 d' w9 \
红枣 red dates - prosperity
( s9 J/ {8 R. C0 Z' [# j 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00