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Spring Festival Words 3 n. i6 U; p S# l6 l' b
Greeting Season: 5 X: h6 c+ J' T0 N, a
春节 The Spring Festival 5 Q9 q: |8 h& f. |1 y0 L) [9 z
农历 lunar calendar - K" x# @1 l) `0 `* ~
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar 3 d; [: J( |) Z# E9 r
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year 5 H$ O! m S. g- H2 K& b
初一 the beginning of New Year
$ V3 A2 j- {: t8 g: ]) R 元宵节 The Lantern Festival ' _8 ^+ w1 ~* r7 ~$ ~0 R% B9 r
Customs:
1 }# s/ y6 V8 b6 h8 C 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
# F1 x$ s- B. a7 y 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 7 p7 T) y9 U- g) n7 c0 | E+ \
春联 Spring Festival couplets ) ~# L B* ~5 O0 Q$ d4 k( x" U4 c
剪纸 paper-cuts
3 X: G* ]& ?$ {; E" D 年画 New Year paintings
1 E# c+ G6 S0 Q/ V% O, v w 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping : `2 T. R- ?/ S2 j; P( U
敬酒 propose a toast
, f h3 b, a6 g1 b; Y 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
+ g' B3 K4 T4 X" p" Q 烟花 fireworks
& }: _5 X8 x4 H# H% q1 q 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
$ e5 J& o" M" g7 Q4 n 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) 1 x; H, @! T3 @
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) 6 B3 o, n# a7 B% f% z2 b
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) 8 o! S; h% f% i: l8 _. T
戏曲 traditional opera 2 B8 {" D0 @& }3 U2 Z
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville 2 g j- |0 U% \$ X4 B' A" t* H
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns $ C$ b3 k4 N' A) B5 i
灯会 exhibit of lanterns B) X H2 G( I: w" f) ~3 C
守岁 staying-up
* H( k/ J! C8 |3 A 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit 2 e- K8 a: @3 {% H2 x* \
禁忌 taboo : p& Y) h5 g) Y2 U% ?: y
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
A2 R* m7 h8 n. B+ U 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors 2 q) M. x1 `& {( ?2 ?7 O6 _
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
2 h* y a& R) {$ e# w. U 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
7 p# k2 A( O( m& r$ e* U 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
7 j9 R+ f' X/ c( [/ y 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
* F; a- q! d1 M& ], t; n8 W* @ Blessing:
" C9 E# F# C/ h2 d3 G b6 n Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
0 h) m" M- U: d/ g7 Z0 h, x J g Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace ) z* l' S3 R7 z" s- d1 F
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
, h7 E/ [9 b, n 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 8 C2 p+ n- H, {- p0 r: {1 Q
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
0 X$ t6 b4 T/ D Food names: % c+ ^, V, X' V8 R! W
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
0 k5 k, [8 v/ X 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
# T! H. J" ]5 J( [9 {8 R7 n( Z5 U 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
# {. q" I$ N. T! t3 T {8 p 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
T O! A( i# b& W { 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings : d( B3 N# E2 y/ m9 x6 R9 o9 v
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
( `: c1 A; v7 D% w4 E: d& l 糖果盘 candy tray:
/ D% h8 n- i3 |0 ^# J+ L0 k3 q 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
. |0 b( [8 P4 _7 g) D% _# X 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
* m) d0 n/ }. t; w { 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity 1 V6 m8 z- E6 ~' l
金桔 cumquat - prosperity 0 {0 L& T: {; p1 v
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
8 z3 l; s/ _. H 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
( R# L O& S$ p 红枣 red dates - prosperity ) z! `3 C6 g2 @7 I5 v
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00