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Spring Festival Words
! O1 H7 r- O0 E( m( z Greeting Season: - v- w, H5 _; }0 X& k
春节 The Spring Festival * l; x. q$ F+ d. N: G' B" V
农历 lunar calendar / L* i8 _" _; [$ O, ^
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar 2 I6 @2 P; |" p& g# ?# H
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
& s4 `; _; x, S+ `) t2 r' Z$ Y% F 初一 the beginning of New Year # G- e8 f8 {' X8 S# \7 d
元宵节 The Lantern Festival 3 Z! s' }' Q* }1 ~
Customs:
- h' J3 C; z. r* O; A 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
% a4 P2 F8 L7 A7 l' S! x1 v* t 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
: y8 y3 Q' m& Z8 n" p6 A9 c 春联 Spring Festival couplets : _' w2 [# P. E9 v" k+ N7 Z
剪纸 paper-cuts + N' p. q0 Q, a* v G$ L
年画 New Year paintings ; y- m# ?3 e7 b8 V6 p+ a7 {4 P
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
7 ~1 i2 ?0 s* _. Z, s, Q$ Y: ] 敬酒 propose a toast
! \1 b h' y8 b' s5 _" m 灯笼 lantern: a portable light 8 S0 x% Q3 ]6 b1 ]6 T
烟花 fireworks k) [- C2 v& o( t) d
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) . C: A) f& B! {; b
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
2 \% r" D% X1 W/ }9 k 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) . b5 v6 H H( p" X% x& f
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
! M' p2 s9 s0 L 戏曲 traditional opera
' I) l3 `$ A' P& N4 J 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville , k6 X9 D9 f% g N
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns ( _# A0 k; o6 l' |/ J" ~, g' I
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
* x$ Y {1 L4 u9 h, | 守岁 staying-up . u7 c$ ~* e7 j6 T
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit 3 z: i5 l$ h2 z; C4 A+ y
禁忌 taboo 9 b8 X' I3 ]3 x$ `
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune ) f- ? e2 r/ x b, @
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors $ t6 n5 i" p/ J! z; v
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
7 X/ ^1 c9 e0 Q5 n 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 ' \ d! k' N; r' ]7 ^% e9 h& m
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
6 H( d i" Z2 F; ~, N. G3 B 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
4 k. E& Z+ R, p" c) W3 W. \ Blessing: . y# w7 E7 i3 ?: ~" N& n) _- N
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity $ N6 w, L1 x% U" T
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace : E& W7 r' V" O" p8 X
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go ) B4 @9 d( V* a* Y f4 v
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 9 ^8 z# f# v' n+ l& \
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
! Z* Z5 P# S. V- r! m5 C0 L# { Food names:
9 ^" `& _0 y+ ?* h* A) d3 m- A5 H 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake : T7 j8 o: {3 V3 V+ s# g8 P* |. `- E
团圆饭 family reunion dinner 9 f0 q+ b2 e- G; X0 n
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 1 M4 q, z4 i/ g4 O
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli : K# H8 F5 s0 o% o( h! y8 \
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings " i0 M3 K1 i2 s" @7 m2 B
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
1 f; s% [# R4 n$ {8 w' c& E+ a 糖果盘 candy tray:
p" {* j r% h- q7 d. s: R" G 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
) z% _1 r9 t- b2 t 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
) @5 E% G4 Y( o! u% N1 E 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
: {; l: ?# i. t% x. u( } 金桔 cumquat - prosperity : r7 ~) {0 F! d, ^7 c- p6 w; s8 g
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
6 b& M9 F2 W) w8 g" |" ?$ g( |* G 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship - e o0 i* P' m; b# i$ }9 b
红枣 red dates - prosperity
, y* M% r+ p0 B# O 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00