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Spring Festival Words + ]$ g; E. r/ I: T
Greeting Season: " M6 Z l' s ]
春节 The Spring Festival ( L( e- D. f! k
农历 lunar calendar S. l b1 j: u" m* d- g1 e+ z# @
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
4 ?) |7 _# D: p7 |1 O0 O y 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
3 r; T+ |8 I( H) v; B; f 初一 the beginning of New Year 3 C. t& `4 Q: [' e
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
8 i- K4 x" ^% ^, `5 I9 c& F# u Customs: 4 ^8 \2 n$ U( n0 K
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
9 L0 U% }0 R- A% O D. T 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
* c! [; w$ ?5 D' ^3 s* m `1 V 春联 Spring Festival couplets
; V9 c/ H, c, r0 n K0 k 剪纸 paper-cuts 3 [# @ w# q% V( D& P8 i
年画 New Year paintings + m" s" L3 s4 c" i- F7 a9 F
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
* z5 `! K8 t+ f6 C2 P+ g2 \. [8 E. ? 敬酒 propose a toast 7 Y/ t& v: |. ^5 g7 m
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
; w( H7 d0 f3 X& Y 烟花 fireworks
; K4 ^( z! F, _9 {, |1 \ 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
! \! {& B: @7 \, l: E9 ^( q2 | 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
' T: w+ n% o$ C! H3 r" o 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
7 y8 `8 O- J' m. `) v7 @ 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) 9 ~+ t9 T) E. H7 a
戏曲 traditional opera 5 B+ n) o( a$ W9 Y0 f9 n! v
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
2 x# m; x1 W0 a) q9 P 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
2 o& n# \% a" Q- \/ f+ k, Q4 t 灯会 exhibit of lanterns # h+ v- }$ y7 e- o( U4 |( `
守岁 staying-up 2 S6 p" g; p0 Z( I
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit & B3 d% s f4 A; t9 e$ [9 ~
禁忌 taboo
0 q+ X. \: Q' q( B: t5 z 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune , z' L% a! ?/ M
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors ; ?% j& z4 H. a6 `& ?
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift ; O! i7 l. V# V( n9 }5 ?4 U& b
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
* z% i; |, G7 t! p9 ~1 e 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year / Z9 [' [( L2 |" z( D
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning * |% ?2 ]+ ]5 z% q4 H8 Z0 V
Blessing: ' f1 [9 \0 ^& u- F& a I1 s
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 9 L8 e. ?; `$ u$ q, s
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace ' h6 \9 s" r6 x6 O
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
1 L' Y8 |' P( B2 t- O7 R 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 1 q0 J- S/ B( ~& H
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
! C& O& w1 i# o) q. _ Food names:
( ]" |# O/ R" I1 T 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
$ n8 {: ^8 j8 i+ h 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
1 |, r0 ^, W* r4 t 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 7 U! z$ @$ M! g' y
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli 5 a2 V! R7 s/ a, P# {; w) w
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings ' V# P P6 x$ r: y* I
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
7 x( [1 w. V" [6 U 糖果盘 candy tray: 0 W9 _) }! O: L2 m
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune % ^1 P* [4 c o5 e
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
, U/ z5 i+ ]: Q* h: K& ]. U% w, y2 @ 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity 0 X ], [. }/ t& W* f
金桔 cumquat - prosperity 2 b# p. h( f9 d7 F( r4 s5 M
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come + P2 U, t7 X2 J4 D; S$ Y
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship ; s8 C9 c* k: l, a; L
红枣 red dates - prosperity . P1 g f0 ?+ p5 P/ G
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00