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Spring Festival Words . P s5 h* ]# r
Greeting Season: % l h* }; K. w, B( j3 ]; p7 l3 ^+ j
春节 The Spring Festival % I( r. s8 j# z0 U
农历 lunar calendar
! @, f$ [* P: _" D9 t0 l8 g 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
7 t7 }0 v7 e% S 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year $ G3 _& h3 q2 Z5 h
初一 the beginning of New Year : a; K7 u+ B: u" }$ u! l% _
元宵节 The Lantern Festival % q1 ?! O# t# U0 j
Customs:
0 f4 Y _7 e) y" a! h 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
; Y" y& y V0 n1 E% b7 s. c: Q0 p 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry % ]4 P- j6 N! R
春联 Spring Festival couplets
( b" E/ g1 E( \; e8 S9 V; I0 c 剪纸 paper-cuts
- S; k4 @& E$ w! M" m 年画 New Year paintings 3 o, K, K. M2 f. m
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
+ _ m! H1 i3 N0 V 敬酒 propose a toast
) o4 u# J, X7 t! w+ A2 w" [ 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
+ P! F+ B4 [) {" H) T 烟花 fireworks
2 m3 k- n( k1 S4 D5 ] 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) 1 x' b; X/ @- l+ C5 W9 n. F
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
/ I$ i7 ?0 a6 {1 x 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) # i. K# ?, _* z
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) 3 v$ B# y/ t- T
戏曲 traditional opera ) F# h# z1 U3 E8 I* U9 @0 e
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
8 I- v0 X7 w0 s 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns 1 _% h X' ^: e) S1 v) F
灯会 exhibit of lanterns . [; D5 R5 D& T7 Z5 U+ }8 R6 N+ n
守岁 staying-up
) K( N- c" E( V) P 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
0 J6 \% V- c3 `1 L, K9 x5 k 禁忌 taboo
' b' l* Z6 b2 D7 Y Q 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
2 P% l. u: Q2 w: W 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
3 o2 |; Y0 F, t1 l c' p 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
1 O1 t" i9 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 / u" c" U. \; h1 q2 A$ j
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
$ p* ~# z6 I* g2 G" }$ _8 `/ k 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
2 n2 m; k. T0 V* j( P1 ] Blessing: ' z: r$ T7 H) d% z2 z! `$ J
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity . c7 Z; _) h/ y9 _3 t I
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
& d& y! I$ x0 H6 C, G5 Q( R1 A+ @ Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
. z! G( ^0 Y8 V5 M+ g# L% w 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! * W$ D% h. J# q# L- P% I; J2 m
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! % H' u$ b5 H" L, G* \
Food names: 5 [6 O' O! \. D0 s# f/ x4 f% M
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
1 R9 U$ p6 G, O$ N# f h 团圆饭 family reunion dinner ' n, z" R* c" U: p" F8 O
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 1 `/ \8 R/ f; T( i/ ^7 ^
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
2 z0 @4 y6 [; b: g- l: v/ [7 V' a 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings ( ~1 r3 @" \( l$ g4 n% u( u) B! z: i1 }
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding / {' p0 L5 U3 R
糖果盘 candy tray: ; P2 b0 A6 c7 } O; \9 z2 v
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
. M, B6 t% u5 j1 u 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
% v, u* @$ V$ D 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
& h: I- i- E2 l& ~* @, C" V 金桔 cumquat - prosperity 8 n- }# x$ _: v
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
6 Q3 l9 k* u! c" G 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship 2 h, d* K1 h6 T* ]
红枣 red dates - prosperity
1 }' D! J4 b5 }; _5 m- B) n6 j; p 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00