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Spring Festival Words 7 M! o6 p6 V+ v3 D8 P, d
Greeting Season: + Z) E4 r% c6 d1 N# F, k
春节 The Spring Festival
. A6 R5 h. `$ z- U/ E; x) v4 V 农历 lunar calendar 1 n p/ a/ D% \# O6 E6 m* q
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar d6 P# w! s. E* i
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
1 w8 y" Q1 r1 p' h. D* w 初一 the beginning of New Year 5 }& K& p/ ^) n2 B% Z
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
- R y& p/ t5 L' I9 U% N9 Y Customs: ( y; ^% E) |- `2 n1 r3 q0 b& ^
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival W" z N6 c) l# a
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
9 R' o8 B# N, _7 C3 o 春联 Spring Festival couplets
8 y7 Z, P4 m D( z9 H$ K 剪纸 paper-cuts
. f7 b, u- b# T# E+ U 年画 New Year paintings ( f9 X- y, Y Y$ F8 x
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 9 O9 s4 i0 N) S, y$ S: @* G
敬酒 propose a toast / m2 U( f% k7 B& k* V3 H. E" r- H- L+ p
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
# X/ {5 n7 t0 r, f* s; P% ] 烟花 fireworks - H2 ?: }+ T6 \) e0 u) i
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) ' k2 R/ y/ y3 i/ _
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) ( I0 W$ C8 n ]' z' K$ g
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) / I$ a' T+ ^- E6 ]9 ?+ L9 j I9 Q& j
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) u0 W0 S2 I, U, M
戏曲 traditional opera
9 W. Y: F5 ?* p0 U$ L! ? 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
d; g; q# O4 ^4 |0 _* v$ N" [+ r 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
: P$ X, l$ |8 ?! i 灯会 exhibit of lanterns : ]7 v' [, a5 C0 X" I: \
守岁 staying-up
0 T. D$ `, n$ }! X 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit % R, f5 V" J7 M* p0 f: j& J
禁忌 taboo
% }: O( R( U% J6 ^/ B7 o: l 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune : f) A$ V, R) ?' H' U. m% G O& T
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
. ~: y) Z& g! W/ D7 T 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift % c+ w+ a3 @$ u" v( Z1 u7 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
# |' d' B1 f" d/ t- m 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year 3 z- W. U& Z3 J' D+ u
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
# s/ {( G) {" h) b; e, r Blessing:
$ Y( ~/ C4 M3 z7 T; ^( Z- ^' t/ \ Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
" U8 T* `1 u) O$ G C Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace ; X$ A& I) u' {" M/ H h
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go - w0 X+ c; j+ [
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 5 T; G$ c9 Z( h* O. H1 A8 J
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! + T2 Q$ N" S. {
Food names:
. K% E' S1 u" \# F+ X 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake % s3 o4 s' T$ z* o
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
% {; ~4 S+ ~+ j2 B- O) |5 X 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 3 [9 W) e' M6 ~6 Q& M
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
, T9 q) U8 }& G5 O1 s 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings $ D4 G6 l" u* m" \8 P* Q: }
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
" a+ T( i. Q4 U w3 R 糖果盘 candy tray: / x4 d3 ^) W l% S& x/ k1 w/ Q
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune : s- ?. t( o% [9 J/ u: e' L2 Y$ T! M
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health / c. X+ F' t- [4 M5 \7 \5 q
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity * S a( f! @. G8 V
金桔 cumquat - prosperity ) h" s$ f# ?6 k j# P
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
8 v5 {" [5 K: c8 v2 n/ u+ k1 z 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
9 h+ p6 H( b3 O. o 红枣 red dates - prosperity # G$ J0 b' K" n* Q6 q
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00