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Spring Festival Words a" d; e5 K- R# b! x6 a) ^1 ~
Greeting Season: 3 F+ Q0 H* [( g) m9 y8 u
春节 The Spring Festival
3 _4 q. h; ]8 a v: p8 k4 O% R 农历 lunar calendar ( B5 |9 i2 [0 Q) i% E6 d
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
0 L6 U, a$ B& o& P) N 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year : I \6 h1 S5 _" e _
初一 the beginning of New Year
$ L+ }+ a# u3 a) \ 元宵节 The Lantern Festival % w( p3 l- w% J+ N- E
Customs: , t% _. V }% ~ I* \( M4 v
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
8 e) O+ `1 U2 t% O k5 M 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
, ` g g0 ]$ Q# @2 T+ G6 [ 春联 Spring Festival couplets
7 r( M' Y* _7 `3 _+ j. ^ 剪纸 paper-cuts
3 |. R/ T0 o# w4 v+ S. ] 年画 New Year paintings
) c! \9 ]& K0 L7 ^ 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
2 a0 b9 c: a3 Z \7 f! X 敬酒 propose a toast ! q' i4 ?0 b- w% w, e: f: n$ j
灯笼 lantern: a portable light 7 K+ y( o( e7 Z0 ]* Q) o
烟花 fireworks 9 c* y6 z4 `/ x' R6 d
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
- ~7 G2 [/ \# x 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
* g0 r6 c x$ d* H! w, z! E1 m( U% d9 @ 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
1 n t! u5 T6 F7 h/ C 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
5 x$ y7 Q4 A8 B( i& m; _7 b. S7 W2 j 戏曲 traditional opera 7 {3 z! [+ ^ d& S4 s
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
6 P( o3 z9 e1 `3 u6 w 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
/ Q: v0 ~& K1 [) r' G. } 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
/ x, R* B, ~% [. E. f9 ^7 U 守岁 staying-up
! V% s( P' O. _# |+ _ 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit 4 [2 P7 h3 p3 r( o* g
禁忌 taboo
6 P$ j( U( Q0 m* S- z; G( h8 f 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
4 M- B' X4 w6 y: t 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
( g; f6 W$ `+ f6 b+ M: C- K; N1 n 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
! ^0 F/ `; c( b+ a( | 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
, j* j* O9 |: P9 a5 g# [. m 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
" \5 q4 e3 k7 V% @4 x T. Q 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
0 z( p0 G& Y. x L Blessing: 2 w1 Y0 N. Z& s/ [
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity , A j- c) {$ w+ Y/ J+ t' N0 U
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
' `( J$ i3 M- y! X4 A2 _ K" h Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
9 ^6 j" d- c" c5 R" x- ^ D* O+ f 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! * o1 w+ f! X7 c( _# B
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
: p) Y/ A. T/ A1 h; `' p0 x Food names: ' ^" @) c! Z3 A& p' q& ~
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
& S3 `' E D7 t2 u 团圆饭 family reunion dinner + J( i5 M [* E9 q' i- r
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve ) R7 i4 K0 e2 H& H6 {: A9 i+ z: d9 T
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
$ n+ [! U5 e$ l 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
3 V: O+ b, a# z, r6 l) l: n 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
l1 S6 V4 J- x2 f1 A# E 糖果盘 candy tray: C+ J0 y6 G( `& m) y
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 3 v" D, j; L2 o3 k
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
0 \3 ^$ M" @* Z f V 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
0 p- v8 ]& s) {" f$ l 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
. Q6 m4 P) C; G v. P 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come , @5 W7 P6 Y& N. _" c
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
+ c1 P3 _# G& |1 c& G0 \ 红枣 red dates - prosperity w* W% Z, L+ ?4 e1 O4 l' }! O5 _
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00