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Spring Festival Words
- P. g3 Z* [% u5 q4 H# a Greeting Season: 3 E! O+ d: W6 S' m
春节 The Spring Festival
0 l' b0 j& ~% x 农历 lunar calendar , U1 ?, b& D1 I8 G5 T
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
: P- r; } ]8 M, b' O, M r( P 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year 0 ~! U1 v* u! [0 r2 J( D, }
初一 the beginning of New Year & Q2 Z4 H% o4 p" K
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
* V/ O5 e' O: Z8 c Customs: / A+ R6 w9 n9 n [" l# U g1 a: _+ E
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival . O! D* P; k" l2 m# f
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 2 @ p4 @: H4 n% \2 ]5 {% @5 U$ |, \
春联 Spring Festival couplets
; U' i! l! n& L) } 剪纸 paper-cuts 5 @4 K# e# D6 E
年画 New Year paintings # u+ R5 f) M" i$ M. H9 N- j
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping $ f3 | b8 N7 }5 i
敬酒 propose a toast - [% V2 `* m5 V6 M
灯笼 lantern: a portable light 2 f9 O+ X4 X) c
烟花 fireworks
8 N3 R* |7 W) D% a' I- H+ L- { 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
; }5 v. @: a" r 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) % h0 ~( h- F- P1 s
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) 2 S! j1 o/ d% k+ K: a/ W6 z$ k2 f
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) - c( }3 [* \; x G {. O x
戏曲 traditional opera
4 F* W, l& a( z. D0 O! P; q6 X 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
`. n/ j8 B. ^3 ]' h& q( ], X, G2 T/ @ 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
. a2 f" k+ j" L5 l$ {* S6 b; c 灯会 exhibit of lanterns * |5 k, s# Y0 d# Z0 N& R( I, e9 G
守岁 staying-up b' q+ x6 t6 N0 D9 X
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit 3 n; _0 x1 h/ T8 |, A- d
禁忌 taboo
5 n$ p3 {5 x9 Z$ ~' f 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 3 D! C }2 @; X; \
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors : b3 M* b0 o2 S; F
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift $ h, l- T @4 a- Y1 r' H
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
o4 Y9 F/ R3 U. N, ?9 W 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
7 ?! [+ C3 q- \# t8 w 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 1 z" H: b& P' Z2 u3 e/ n, |3 o
Blessing:
: p2 @; u# a8 T0 }9 I$ q- ]2 o Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 3 U/ d8 v5 F0 C0 U" Q1 [% r2 s
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace & z7 ~4 r4 S" g- x& }/ R% [
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 0 P9 }3 z. o1 Z. }
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
3 e: |6 K7 T- v+ H# R( L: u; @ 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! ' x/ Y8 U, m& x# C6 @; |# p' h4 D
Food names:
$ \ {; [% @' I 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
! b/ w" F. _5 _4 A 团圆饭 family reunion dinner , p; Q6 p+ g; V
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
( n. M6 T$ g6 |# O7 j. Q+ Y 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli 0 u1 K6 |) w+ T$ j J; g
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
2 O2 X6 Y1 q! g0 Q* V7 e. ~ 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding " e' i- `& Q# m1 S. K/ G% I" }8 P) I
糖果盘 candy tray:
, @6 k7 F8 h$ F; ~# u0 K 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
5 q8 @3 S4 b" ^8 j5 S 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health W$ `8 q7 m. c
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
2 T2 N; X O- p# \( x" Q* ^: Y, R 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
" T& ^) e8 l6 j% X 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come ! G H+ c' q( C" W
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship # q; A2 H9 H0 i4 w! r5 D% ?/ j
红枣 red dates - prosperity
: X! R7 \4 V2 J) a0 } 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00