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Spring Festival Words ' w: C* G% _, ~) R0 A
Greeting Season:
9 j8 }1 B! W/ b9 Q9 Y 春节 The Spring Festival
3 [* a3 C3 `# D 农历 lunar calendar 3 N6 [( B% K* p8 S3 x
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
: h/ |: N: v' ]; w, v( s/ z 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year + T/ S4 L7 g' `, @; D
初一 the beginning of New Year & }* j0 h5 u/ K7 ~2 F# N* c
元宵节 The Lantern Festival " g3 }6 l' {+ `4 }3 c& M) A( {
Customs:
8 Z$ x# J# \3 ?/ R7 J2 ~: S 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival * I: F; l! D9 y8 @' n
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
& K1 ?* g6 a$ Q4 E 春联 Spring Festival couplets
+ \- l$ P3 @5 I' P `& O1 G 剪纸 paper-cuts ; E& y- o, h3 f( u% `+ w
年画 New Year paintings
! Z9 J1 F# _) K& D* q 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping + P' H- V* z( f" x
敬酒 propose a toast 6 @7 T# S% H) K3 h0 V, o9 Y
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
3 p: V/ D1 Z# Q% v 烟花 fireworks
/ \; ^; P5 q; _& ?! r% a1 z 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
/ t/ e6 G- k. C7 j) J: I$ Y 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) % }6 g, U* I7 V8 W
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) - X6 b( T P+ J7 Y4 T- ?( {
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) # w; ]+ r. ~: ^0 w( B# v
戏曲 traditional opera
8 B1 T0 z f. j ~ 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville - X# F6 v. b+ G- ?
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
3 |, L0 x. ~7 q" @ 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
8 B' k0 d; R% V% w+ ~) t 守岁 staying-up
; Y# z5 P9 x& J. x, \ 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit 5 N) s9 o# O' |! v3 o& p q- t
禁忌 taboo 7 A2 {6 h: a& s
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
4 }% E W$ @" q0 K- R( I 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
( ]9 G) @7 m2 q. f( O4 ^! C: |' N( u% O6 n 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift ; Z2 n/ M: `" ^8 B( j- v# l# P" M
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 . e- g/ p; X% o9 Z
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
! u7 L5 \1 Z5 F- n 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 1 O1 V! p5 `: ^1 |5 s
Blessing: - U# W, I# ^3 f8 a. s
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 5 Z! w+ \- w+ e+ G- Z5 h
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace 1 c" Y: d/ W$ [* H J
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go ' ?1 i4 A b$ d; a- r- {9 X
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! & U' L& r9 o5 ?9 E8 f
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! / _- k/ k* ?' r4 l' f
Food names:
5 S: a& r% S; }" K- Z 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
; M }. P. X7 M0 `3 \' F 团圆饭 family reunion dinner 9 I! C: t# W' K4 T, G
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 0 P; M. K/ W7 {, J. N
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli 0 q7 E. v/ P2 c r' e. @- \
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
; L2 E8 ^5 Z3 w' }5 z2 Q/ J 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding 3 U% \: L/ K' _. t& z$ d
糖果盘 candy tray:
5 F& g7 x) s. j! o2 } 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune * y: w W/ A" {
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
& c f- n+ U, C% b 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
8 g" D' g# q$ _( d4 ^9 v9 e 金桔 cumquat - prosperity - y1 N+ B, x* j0 [1 l
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
9 b7 X* z/ c% x 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship $ J. l- |$ w8 ]' ^% _5 w, [. w
红枣 red dates - prosperity
# K0 O0 \/ o0 o, Q' D$ c9 r) e 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00