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Spring Festival Words $ P8 j3 i; m( T* j
Greeting Season: % t( m, N) {- y
春节 The Spring Festival
$ o5 R* M& \+ a y 农历 lunar calendar ) z9 [& y6 i+ c1 s
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar 3 t, {; i. d# E; H C P. l
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year - z" O- y- Q9 m* G( Z( k
初一 the beginning of New Year
8 F( {( c6 @9 t 元宵节 The Lantern Festival ) B1 R$ S* } }7 `9 @5 t# |
Customs:
" C% X4 L- g$ `. a 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival 4 y- c" R* U+ F6 I
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
1 ~: @5 Y3 H0 [% b6 G3 w2 c 春联 Spring Festival couplets
/ M5 [' A9 @: ~; E) W$ }2 f2 n5 ] 剪纸 paper-cuts ! O, d* M3 r( ]9 \$ F5 _$ M
年画 New Year paintings 6 `: i/ P. Y' o8 \9 S
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
/ ?7 W: V0 p* x. z 敬酒 propose a toast
+ X* N* ^" f& _" E 灯笼 lantern: a portable light |3 V' o+ S) G- I5 ?# H
烟花 fireworks
. L! E4 k( f1 H+ r 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) ' i; O2 K' x- [; G! Q: ?' r; q6 W
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
4 b* T I! B/ q( K% [2 V# I 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
# \4 i. _* n& A& @8 A 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
, c% ]/ {% C% b0 K/ \$ A+ d 戏曲 traditional opera
$ B+ q2 q# m7 B 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville ' L7 M3 S$ o3 X" @" o8 T
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns 8 O! u7 b& X/ H0 a- [1 ^
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
: [9 |8 v# L! N* p) K+ i7 y N 守岁 staying-up ' \/ R. n! j: {/ v) q, O" Y
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit , o% d$ o; }) e7 K
禁忌 taboo & V" }" D* l- K' Q0 V1 E
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
) }2 k ^$ M; z: ~& A 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors $ B5 U4 ~: c) V' V
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
) u# { L( X0 f: S0 G 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
, g, t: W# Z5 r8 ~ 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year . O5 y" r' O& ?
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning E2 q+ _$ u2 x/ w- T2 m4 r d: D8 Q
Blessing:
0 |1 a9 T6 a" e Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
: f! X( ~% x) W( W& N Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace ' p1 I, v" ?9 w
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
) b g: t3 @4 p9 K 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
* l! ^" g) Y! c" F 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
6 [0 \. T! O P" r0 t Food names: 7 u9 ]& v0 k* L+ m
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake 1 f3 Q, x' m2 m- H7 i5 [' o
团圆饭 family reunion dinner 3 d$ f& X9 \+ m/ ?
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve ; m" g8 L& \ y5 e0 f
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli 5 L- k( E1 a) I7 N
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings " n. G8 D; h$ M. K
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
- V. P+ R+ m/ N/ m+ C4 U- e( H 糖果盘 candy tray: - R0 [- n4 p$ m# G' M- [
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
8 Y7 i0 ~* B5 X: \! s. z6 t6 D Z 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
, C% j. r3 D: n+ G; o 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity * j5 W, u, y0 v: A% l! B( I3 R
金桔 cumquat - prosperity - o$ D* l1 p# }5 I
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
0 y, X# w& _+ X8 l6 c 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
" O" z* y& I6 D7 n; n 红枣 red dates - prosperity 2 X" r; H: Z9 j$ I
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00