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Spring Festival Words " d; A/ D, p% W- }1 v6 T4 n
Greeting Season: O v: |1 N- G9 ]
春节 The Spring Festival
. J( u% u( R `5 `3 e 农历 lunar calendar 5 \( z- G' o5 t y# l/ p& R
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
6 K! e& R8 }- ~, l. a 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year # D- h$ u( V- n+ Y% W
初一 the beginning of New Year
; a0 q& v8 h5 S" T$ b 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
+ P( K' \, o, B Customs:
, L b, F' N3 p- W5 x 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival : P7 R7 E! ^# L* x% }4 @
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry * d) s' g; i# K7 @; M
春联 Spring Festival couplets 7 k1 K9 D6 N, c8 x. @' ~+ ~6 V. i
剪纸 paper-cuts
* }% c& J" t% G f n 年画 New Year paintings 1 x$ _5 [+ [2 C- V* M; ~
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
/ {8 G$ _. M: B: o0 P, W6 [ 敬酒 propose a toast 4 q( h) M$ \ M6 h1 Q; q( d
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
4 v* @2 U& f& w3 x" F5 M 烟花 fireworks $ {; ?2 }$ ~; Q7 J4 o" o% T! e
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
" S) Z6 Y k* Z" f! w 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) 1 b. Z# ~/ h. O( G$ z3 [# Q
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
3 `/ o7 j% n! ~6 r6 n" E' A) h 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) 7 ]5 n2 W$ ` A
戏曲 traditional opera / f4 m2 y- E1 d1 m& {( l2 i
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
+ z4 Q( e; a& f% Y 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
1 N$ K a. W* |) g1 T 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
y- `" J* S& p3 b 守岁 staying-up
3 b; f1 v3 A1 F- ~ 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit - P8 b8 \! `9 d6 C" E' e
禁忌 taboo
. g& e9 n1 \# t; }6 |. ]- I 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
( C- l) `. |7 {5 ]% r 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors + T* p7 c6 D$ |4 q( D/ w8 Y/ C s
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
5 m |( W$ @* x8 p, e, z 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
1 d8 ]: `9 v4 n6 N% Q 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year + J* B, r9 o1 N2 g$ u
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 9 T% ]1 X% A4 r2 e' U
Blessing:
* M' V0 c- Q( l$ p Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 9 l& ^' i8 u# M3 _) k: `7 u6 j4 H
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace # E0 Y1 j- ?3 H4 E- T
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
% @" S" V4 u2 _* H! E 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
4 y A- |; B o& U5 e1 ?1 i 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
/ Q7 a% i+ ]! u3 h6 j Food names: 9 k* J6 U8 g5 W! K& M
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake " ~; D+ {0 d$ J
团圆饭 family reunion dinner / @* M+ {# i) H( Y6 T5 S
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve \" t% r4 r6 L" P1 e
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
5 H/ I4 y* }, u8 b/ c0 ?& O% G 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
# y4 s, _: m9 S 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
; e1 N" {* O* g( a# k! z, w 糖果盘 candy tray: , ?, `2 e, _$ `, C1 D5 @7 G
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
+ e) v& J0 H$ u/ E 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health & F2 y% P2 |! z' |
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity * H- a' u) w$ d( W: U% T- T
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
/ e! ^1 M" V, Y' D; F8 u 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 5 R# `: t, j/ }; e v
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
% s( W/ z3 B$ A) K! D( K1 J 红枣 red dates - prosperity
8 I0 u2 g0 e* _& j 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00