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Spring Festival Words : y8 F+ B# b. B6 h; { H) ]" p2 d
Greeting Season: $ G9 ~: W% T* j1 H" Q$ q$ } y
春节 The Spring Festival
; y) [" ^; B& B" T W 农历 lunar calendar $ n/ n# l5 f" Q2 i
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar / Z$ g# M$ w c1 B; K- i0 y
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
. G @7 Q' h+ @, j( a0 o 初一 the beginning of New Year 7 Q# p( D, ?* G5 j* i1 z+ N4 c
元宵节 The Lantern Festival & Y8 y& O: m2 `! o C8 m$ u
Customs:
" I3 k$ t$ L4 p; c4 ^0 c 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
- w1 a2 k3 t' r8 a+ F' o 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
2 w! k0 L# s: _ 春联 Spring Festival couplets ; \8 }3 r& ~! @, \: _! ~, O
剪纸 paper-cuts
3 ?- z) V; q3 P& H b9 ? 年画 New Year paintings + k/ Q0 J/ ]* J- v
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping # A; S; N; |8 E! n9 p
敬酒 propose a toast
; C+ c& z& P" {# F8 k/ u2 v 灯笼 lantern: a portable light # U" k- V' ?2 z
烟花 fireworks
( b) f! w8 z$ X 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) ( W+ a, i7 b1 l* v' J0 e
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) 3 i$ a/ l; ~/ d) j" V- F
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
8 w( @% z, ]0 p& e 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) 5 c0 v! `7 l% y
戏曲 traditional opera
7 Z ]7 O3 f1 m& A 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
& N) z7 R, p+ l+ K) M( X 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
# z8 t2 e" W+ Y" b5 [ 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
" T: ?+ J4 F [ U3 L* W 守岁 staying-up 2 w/ g4 t& B1 l1 G, `) b
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
0 f8 P/ O& }0 i& v1 ] 禁忌 taboo
" p# B4 c1 u+ _ 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune # s( [0 O; m$ |% k% I. j
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors 5 c( E( K. o# U( W& E. s/ Z2 _
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift ; F$ K3 z$ a, j0 T8 k. M" X7 Y
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
5 G$ F& p2 f( B# _3 [ 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
/ y7 S0 k. W9 E) M, F" u6 y M$ [9 X 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning A" Y# U+ x5 y* j) ?
Blessing: * `; t4 q: X5 M! _+ v, r- k
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity ' {. f A: \' u) R$ _
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace 9 G& R4 l6 ^7 B; D
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
$ j) q* H9 z. d7 q# O 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
6 x; H ~/ h3 c) F- G. x/ x$ j% B 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
4 z/ |" L& V% g2 a Food names: 0 u: L, C% T2 i8 x8 @7 T; [
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake . ]: u% |3 ]/ [3 I$ v3 w8 `! y2 J
团圆饭 family reunion dinner / T, `" l: \! d. K- R
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 4 W' o2 g' R) v6 O& V7 M' \# u
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
% Q" E. o4 E0 Y/ y1 B( K6 L 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
7 h6 k# C8 C5 e, s$ O* p {# m$ {% r 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
, `* _ y _7 f( [ 糖果盘 candy tray: & ]+ ?4 g7 F4 y4 b3 v7 L" w& |
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune u" Z& s# E0 E$ ^2 E3 h \
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
' H" b+ b) x6 W3 J3 ~ 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity . L) R- v" r" L4 X( g! _
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
$ f' o8 ?3 k4 }& N# s) t" p 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come & J4 \6 e8 A2 b8 {5 a
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship 6 d7 `) d/ Z4 V, J
红枣 red dates - prosperity + V: S4 a1 V3 }$ `9 r; }
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00