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Spring Festival Words * }, [; z" h2 @0 v! ~! X
Greeting Season: ' a3 w& s7 s: O, Y
春节 The Spring Festival
# f4 l g$ w/ [) l5 @5 z 农历 lunar calendar % Q' h9 a3 b5 T$ w" w0 [' K! z1 T
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar * \# y) b2 S+ x- w
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year ; X8 }, v; `* a( U
初一 the beginning of New Year
. ^8 _+ d* q: H7 l5 Z 元宵节 The Lantern Festival ! O) `/ M% n q7 P: c2 `3 t8 `
Customs:
9 q/ {) o! A% |( }7 n. F4 V 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
; ~" `- v! r _& \: s& a, K- v 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 5 T7 d% ?/ b y
春联 Spring Festival couplets
# M- A3 A, k" ]' H( W$ b$ ` 剪纸 paper-cuts
$ d4 ^3 _9 F, |* S# U( L 年画 New Year paintings
) f# W$ P4 U+ }' H$ G 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping " h7 K) \$ W+ v( I! j' ?4 K
敬酒 propose a toast
2 r6 r& l- c" T7 o" l P4 }! v 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
& q2 n: J/ h) G* {$ S/ y 烟花 fireworks
' O5 l( C! w8 K6 i$ {" ` 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) 6 [* d' S4 V0 s
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) " c( K, I, ]1 N9 [ g% u
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
3 _) [; Z: z5 f* x3 m 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
1 Z& `# v( {7 I2 F 戏曲 traditional opera 6 ]+ y: Z2 i' X* D6 k7 Z/ w# B; G" b
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville ! s$ W1 A& ` U3 V8 @
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns + g8 y1 p0 I. X
灯会 exhibit of lanterns 3 H P4 @5 o* M
守岁 staying-up
# S/ @! m' O2 H$ `$ F+ L 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit ( F1 E) X' y) l9 d0 G
禁忌 taboo " W. D8 E- T. q3 s5 M0 {
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune & l' w" H% P3 F+ Y: l
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
2 D' s, q1 U! r9 m; e 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
. R) h0 i* b8 `* j2 l 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 E1 m+ Y6 ^" U
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
: w0 P0 S% K) R7 h* Q4 | W 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 3 B |4 i* s; S( ^0 ~$ y# f
Blessing:
& { o1 n6 K7 g7 _: r/ s5 w% i+ Y" X U Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
, o# _) F1 G: S+ t Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
) E' Z+ q1 Y3 g1 t' M4 t5 j Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
! X. o3 d& f2 K; N+ w& K3 e 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 2 g/ |# [, u2 O$ Z
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! * j: }7 @: [1 O% U4 X
Food names:
& s" V H( n! b2 v 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
# V/ Z: m( o$ |7 K/ J, k+ d 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
; B" h8 r; U( e! H 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve ' X0 o2 z- F4 y
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
9 Y3 @8 Y3 w* W6 N% V; x 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings : n/ p" L4 a2 Y. V
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding c# j; u( v+ N% h5 \4 e6 {8 j
糖果盘 candy tray: ( G- a1 O: @4 V$ B- o& q
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
7 a% V/ \+ h, O0 ^" ^! r0 b6 y 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health - n3 G1 ], w! u$ m1 P$ @
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
1 [& Z8 b: p* ^ K: E3 R 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
4 {" |! K4 I; ?5 C* f( K 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
3 D: c5 S) f3 Y 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
& u9 A- A* S/ e6 Y$ O" ^1 L; F 红枣 red dates - prosperity 4 G" A/ m6 Z2 _1 S* c
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00