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Spring Festival Words
: P# M! b+ O% m0 I4 p- X Greeting Season: - X4 ]1 C( B3 ~" |7 n
春节 The Spring Festival
& k. ?. m5 L! H( Q" i! E; Q& o 农历 lunar calendar 3 i p" p7 t+ R9 h Z, z H
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar $ T3 b+ U V- B9 ]8 I
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year / h& a) L4 H. m' k
初一 the beginning of New Year 1 i/ a9 o1 \6 [
元宵节 The Lantern Festival _ S- F$ f+ _6 [# l
Customs: 0 `# P4 P6 d, W( Z. i; d
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival , n [& q; ~- F# X! E, ^' h
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry . h2 n/ d+ J! a( n" A
春联 Spring Festival couplets
* @8 z2 U- \6 R' m- y 剪纸 paper-cuts
7 z# u; T- ^ K, F- s/ F 年画 New Year paintings X) T: U( \0 D1 r
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
+ i% {1 \ c: [- B$ J P7 q% j 敬酒 propose a toast - w6 W5 U% |0 y' K
灯笼 lantern: a portable light ! r/ J3 N# c0 f# [' n: P
烟花 fireworks
, B# Y7 K/ _6 N7 s 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
9 ]* k- ]! u) y, B 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
3 v7 L, c% @( B+ |* J$ Z- F 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) + B' v2 G" i; O1 ?4 B
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
. U* ?" X4 b+ e 戏曲 traditional opera / i$ B- t5 l. T) f8 M0 u( I7 [- O
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville 0 i% b9 E+ U h: R" `, X
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
8 B9 n3 Z" K9 } c" Z 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
0 f% a, V# u, X# S- f 守岁 staying-up & m6 K% e0 U3 j# I( K
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit , }& z1 D) P* `( e- G: p6 _# K
禁忌 taboo
' h* d6 W: a/ W, ` 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 6 C( U- C; U" I- b
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors 6 y0 d& k5 Z. @
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift ' |; \9 X% b! ?' Z0 R
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 4 K$ J, j5 i( K% q+ o, l# y
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
$ l0 o5 a% Z9 s 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
$ w5 O2 b' _1 P Blessing: " U/ ?& h7 j$ n+ W4 I3 I, q
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 4 P1 g% T( }0 U0 t
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
$ r% w0 X- J% _7 r2 E( U Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go / @8 s6 d0 E+ s+ {/ s7 h1 q
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
) \6 e! p3 z0 K6 B0 u+ M7 G# u3 `: L) c 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
& j! K" y5 V+ e( Q! q Food names:
. V& g3 F1 @2 A+ u4 I8 @ 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake 5 l5 a7 f3 K( B- i4 q, t$ a4 s
团圆饭 family reunion dinner 9 z3 W8 ]. H4 l% n) w
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve : W1 J% s' d7 x0 p
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
7 g1 q- V1 b4 _" `. x- N% j 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings 1 f" `; M+ Q6 z+ n
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding " H& O# |& [1 k7 D8 ]6 j/ Q
糖果盘 candy tray: : h! e8 p$ S) J& ?0 s0 r' B: A. C. T
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 2 g3 o! A" a Q. @
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
2 C$ e' H) I7 z; E+ s 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity " t: w, O" s0 L
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
6 k+ S$ W, m6 o- z# Z, Z! K: v" y 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come ( E+ I4 \6 [: y+ F4 F& w8 E0 A6 k w
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship ' A8 _5 p, @! f* P- X/ u
红枣 red dates - prosperity 3 U% {. n3 u6 N, F
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00