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Spring Festival Words " O- l8 {8 b8 ?: h
Greeting Season: # G$ L3 e+ b. L$ T2 Y+ K
春节 The Spring Festival 6 R: W8 p: j3 M0 S+ o) I' V
农历 lunar calendar
1 s$ l! v( h8 A0 Y9 R! T 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar - r0 [ [& y& T3 e
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year - s+ s" d# [6 I# G
初一 the beginning of New Year 4 f) d) j) t9 V& K4 K9 r5 v
元宵节 The Lantern Festival + w, p& F% ^; k
Customs:
# [! M# J! ?* _2 | 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival / s! @, Z4 E3 u8 T6 l, m
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry # [2 \3 O3 D; y( l
春联 Spring Festival couplets 1 s. b g# h$ \ X# d9 o& d) t: M
剪纸 paper-cuts & n! e5 ?2 x1 \7 s
年画 New Year paintings $ ~: W7 o; E q f1 E
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
L: K: M d$ v5 F. M/ I0 K 敬酒 propose a toast
' q' \4 z r* C+ c' |& U$ j" I 灯笼 lantern: a portable light 3 d4 P. H5 Q% B) i
烟花 fireworks * T) [( k5 q7 M7 r6 l* }8 Z* \
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
$ n, k! c5 X' }/ M% W# i( M9 [ 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
, h0 e5 `$ |# `3 \. Q 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
5 `% C1 c2 y: |' z0 p 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
* q; X+ l: y: P! K% Y 戏曲 traditional opera # \$ I, K; J @" I/ @5 L- w6 s
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville ) B+ w3 X& x! Q/ x1 z y9 H
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns + _8 h& z: F6 ^: U" G
灯会 exhibit of lanterns 4 e# Q- s1 k" Y) K
守岁 staying-up 8 s( M+ S0 z5 S( V) z; F# [
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
* V, M5 R- s0 \- E0 t; ?& P 禁忌 taboo t$ `# a+ F: g! S3 Q! _; t
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 7 c! d& S- B. S. d3 c
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
* N `2 R& V6 V* f. D' `7 s 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift 8 b* x7 n2 W# v6 d
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 8 \, m7 P `9 M" ?' e
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year ) x* b M; ]5 N# V/ ]
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
5 s0 s8 }. `* E* n* V Blessing:
9 D( v( u) }" T- P& Q% I Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity " l' r* I! @' u
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace & k5 X& H5 K4 F* q' C2 {
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
: p* w/ |% Q# N4 J 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! ( {" R4 g4 b1 U7 b% Z; t
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
9 B5 @, l# x4 f0 H% H Food names:
$ D: O0 @! U h0 ] 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
0 H7 m+ t/ u7 r/ t _ 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
b) E& L R- w( l0 U" P" |0 ^. M 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve ! A5 O' T; Z" _6 K5 M! K+ ]5 O. B }
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli , Z9 x5 m$ `2 o) Z" O/ Q
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
! E$ n( A9 z' j0 r$ v( S 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding 3 R4 ~7 d# K8 \. T* z
糖果盘 candy tray: 4 a0 V. T' ~# r+ X" e
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune ( V: N1 ]: @0 p, Q; J7 J' X/ p5 i
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health # L! {9 I/ i7 E! H& `- c( R t" m
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity 6 n( k8 y/ @: @2 \! T
金桔 cumquat - prosperity 2 j# G; a- t$ j2 k% C
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
1 G( g% j B+ ? 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship ) ~( Q F5 m8 C* z( r( y
红枣 red dates - prosperity
( Q; I# Y7 R1 X8 |% M 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00