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Spring Festival Words ; ]8 w$ v9 r0 d& ~3 M& ~
Greeting Season: ; m4 L& U( b! f( M
春节 The Spring Festival " y) {, V6 L; ` w1 u. J+ g
农历 lunar calendar
" N1 E/ K. b" e" I* P$ {9 j 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
, e8 W0 i- ^' F+ U 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
% `: n G# n7 {1 M! e 初一 the beginning of New Year ; X, c; I. x4 j' f
元宵节 The Lantern Festival $ Q) M# q! T: [# V; d4 I- w
Customs:
# t9 E4 T8 S* A7 F# ~ 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival 5 {" f% a' b0 e
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry - _! T6 ?2 H9 {7 Q
春联 Spring Festival couplets 3 f |/ I7 k6 s ^" R
剪纸 paper-cuts 5 z- _' O8 p9 V3 i) k9 `
年画 New Year paintings
) g+ a$ Y z9 N3 \ l2 z4 e- i3 Q 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
% k$ @. _4 ]. V0 o# m 敬酒 propose a toast
9 C' J0 j( V3 f4 _7 q# |1 S& \ 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
7 [+ x8 V0 {; P& ] 烟花 fireworks
+ U, ]( o9 v# d2 Z4 a" M } 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
- ?& q7 [: ~+ L 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
$ i3 H. q6 h; q7 x$ ]# W" z2 O; {5 ~, V 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
) p" U j% b9 n5 X4 c5 K+ N 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) % M( \; r \" T# p' y' {
戏曲 traditional opera
6 M9 k1 {3 f6 a* J, n$ _ 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville . i- H! {7 ~0 a P% [4 B% T
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
2 K, x0 T! ~* j6 W# f; O' D$ x" R 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
8 o- o4 {5 _% N$ ~8 v; A& j 守岁 staying-up
9 T1 J! j; J) {$ `( }( S 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit - v, l, T* I- }4 v/ d e0 U( b
禁忌 taboo 6 h2 j/ o* m7 u/ p+ p* g' S
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
. G p' A3 q5 b" m 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors & I* l2 I+ }$ }% I& ^. u6 P7 ~3 a5 {
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift 1 Z9 ~6 Z: W! p: X) A* g! E! 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 ; C! |, K; ~/ t# [2 a- e# R V
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
* Y! P$ M8 m# K+ G* x$ f. } 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 9 Z, u4 g9 ^5 m# \: D" F
Blessing: 2 H( @. r6 q( J& y
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
3 _3 y% Y0 C( z Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
- }* N4 ]* e0 X4 A4 U7 o Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go ' n8 S0 d' d" A3 }
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
( \0 `0 k9 C* A5 X; j 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! # o4 M4 ]4 M' ?0 `4 s0 P
Food names: 2 J9 r" ]" V% |4 ~; v0 u6 p
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake - ~, X# d4 q! E! b
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
w3 i) f: n+ W 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve % e! W/ R+ H a8 @
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli 5 [& d, T- n. E$ B" ]. Y
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings / ~0 l2 g! c8 U: K/ f
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding " ^. v/ S2 W/ W% r6 R C2 d3 F' Y
糖果盘 candy tray:
+ K9 k. Z% A2 E4 y: Z+ f/ M6 j 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
* C$ r8 K1 \6 }! a% H 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
" A/ b& {/ d' b" C 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity ; ?7 T4 ^$ S) d9 \7 j" e- ^
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
! _( K. A5 k" c: e" c2 E$ [# a 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
' E" t2 R, W; G. Z' ? 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
: \; H5 w5 M' l# N5 b 红枣 red dates - prosperity
8 O7 J( J# w7 x4 [2 L0 U! @% C4 ~0 j5 G( { 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00