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Spring Festival Words 4 k' H6 W9 t+ J9 ?. \
Greeting Season: ; l" u! t) W, J3 l
春节 The Spring Festival
2 U ?, W/ F1 y8 I) c0 G1 C4 w 农历 lunar calendar
% U# n0 V2 P6 |& q 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar % H! d% N5 Z& I; y; f, J
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
9 ]! H* a+ V; \: W$ G: x% c 初一 the beginning of New Year & X2 ?4 L2 a6 I0 b7 \5 e( u/ \5 p
元宵节 The Lantern Festival ! Q/ U8 E6 y0 _( m Z
Customs:
, ^7 x- K U2 M; F- C% n1 V 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
' d* v$ G4 T( Q; f' r7 e) J 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
3 a9 e! q {5 k" m 春联 Spring Festival couplets 8 T, F) Y P) Z1 P
剪纸 paper-cuts ; O8 ~$ J D W( J3 E' h- V5 U
年画 New Year paintings
, w% g$ P- q" a# A: h6 ~ 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 8 W* L* c1 F5 S+ P9 U. l
敬酒 propose a toast ' C& ]4 c* F1 r% @* X
灯笼 lantern: a portable light ! V& i3 ]* B6 ~8 N
烟花 fireworks
. w4 N1 ~1 d2 G 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
8 D2 ?" s$ v' ~ O: F: D; C7 ?9 @ 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
+ C: D8 u" X1 G0 I7 O ^) w' I8 p 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) 3 f, W. E9 ^8 }
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
0 h; \2 p' ^, I 戏曲 traditional opera % K- H+ r' ~9 {. _; M
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
- J! X2 y7 h1 }8 N+ s 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns 8 Q, t; o6 ]+ N2 N$ v
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
/ l9 u, ^, a* Q& g 守岁 staying-up
# {4 N, w& X& k" D0 s, G( N$ M 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
2 Z A. q( B5 T+ w ? 禁忌 taboo ' R" B8 I+ v/ D2 e* [; s; M
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune , P' @4 X+ I. D7 R! U* v
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
1 L8 W- f8 M$ K4 A( P7 J# a 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift , C! Y% ~8 \& h9 o& _
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 ' C9 D- d( T0 @
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
4 f3 J, H# H2 U5 X9 v+ m 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
/ w5 w! S2 T4 K, o$ ]: j" E Blessing:
3 g/ W& i% r2 E/ J8 B Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity / @$ Z" p% h" K& N! S T
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace 7 v" a+ }8 D7 V, {8 E( r; S1 J
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go ' T! N& X7 `' w, {5 `& N3 @
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 4 `1 h- R0 y/ b( E
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! @0 r' f( i, c3 [, |5 Y
Food names:
7 X3 z! Y3 M. Q1 ?: X! o 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake 3 t4 y% j2 a% w! i% t' [; ]
团圆饭 family reunion dinner 1 y$ u' m8 s6 M
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 1 p: l) J3 x5 j- n2 w0 ^! r
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
+ S( g8 T7 i, V- W4 C 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
) y' e3 ?5 g; d 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
. C5 ~+ C/ b4 l3 I# N5 d) i 糖果盘 candy tray:
1 T0 T& y- c$ q/ g E4 d 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune / u' O o3 Z( o6 w
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
0 O* F; Y4 l' X# H" Q0 O8 q: W/ V 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
! x$ z; T# m6 a0 t! G7 o 金桔 cumquat - prosperity 0 @0 I, `1 Z0 G6 @* |
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
. f" q$ |$ s' A0 `" k) z% A: b# R 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship - z0 l% I* E8 [! g: _; _% ?
红枣 red dates - prosperity
' c/ h" b; S1 w. N 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00
