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Spring Festival Words 8 ?( g& R) H. e `, ~# e5 F
Greeting Season: # K7 Q$ s; u8 G6 B1 A8 N
春节 The Spring Festival ( s3 G( O0 B& r8 W+ I
农历 lunar calendar
8 p2 C. w+ P9 l% A# s# e5 a 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
/ i5 O+ r" P( h$ Q4 }/ P1 V( M 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
3 J5 T5 p7 f! {& ?$ M% I) ?& | 初一 the beginning of New Year 3 ?6 ]6 M3 }7 I: w
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
$ _" ?3 i4 R* R" e+ [$ ~7 a Customs:
6 {. K2 P( A5 |; R0 h 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival " A5 K# Z5 a; `! S8 t
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry ' N/ b7 j* c" e. h
春联 Spring Festival couplets
$ O% N# J- C- j0 _* u5 n i 剪纸 paper-cuts
( c% p. {: ^% ~7 v. {' E& M+ t 年画 New Year paintings 8 f! V; G5 j3 y" Z
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
3 e5 H, T' G6 Z) j 敬酒 propose a toast 0 t9 ?$ @0 c z) [" D9 w, G
灯笼 lantern: a portable light * I- q) `! d( I& m
烟花 fireworks
3 p. I) N" k& Z* |; C 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
7 M5 [5 d4 m3 h9 g 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
6 {' E1 E) G) \: I: f2 h. A 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) + U5 O& r$ F4 S: ` D$ N
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
9 T7 H/ k8 A! ]& J5 G, Y 戏曲 traditional opera ; a1 q# M4 ~ m, B( c2 ^; s
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville 1 h, c8 p1 [5 {
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
; |9 e/ [( r! S. ^9 V" { 灯会 exhibit of lanterns & U& [' `/ h$ z3 R8 E
守岁 staying-up ) A& v4 y9 f" b+ r$ h
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit / \* u, b: |% o7 e0 p! ~8 h8 Q( n
禁忌 taboo
5 A* n2 j3 v) Y& ?+ o 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
! }9 s( O& ^1 A 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors , `; h% G3 c1 r0 M# O
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift 9 ?% _0 I, w/ b! ~& \$ o9 W
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
$ M0 ?. t9 ]- d4 a$ |! Q 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year 8 L5 W1 w% w, U8 \* X: |
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 2 p) ^* g% W D6 ]6 `
Blessing:
4 P7 z$ | z# d Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 1 B9 r3 d8 q9 z
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
% w4 e5 }' P" E" B Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
7 T* ^7 m2 U S7 y8 b, l5 K 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
0 L" J3 v1 w9 v3 K 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! % m' _: Z( m ^6 \% R. [% x
Food names: * b: W8 A. F/ J0 k7 V2 [
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
0 z# s8 f7 E8 S: h/ p$ j3 Z) h 团圆饭 family reunion dinner 4 Q* [3 V4 y# q3 }9 \
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
( |+ Y+ u& D8 ` @9 m 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli . ~/ z6 H) {+ v! j/ k! C& X
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings 3 S m% q: y4 U7 ? i
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
' `% O1 o1 E9 M4 S4 F | 糖果盘 candy tray:
# J6 r0 Z" {: P! } e$ I 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 7 V5 o- [! n; p
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health 5 t. @) N1 i; g: u* S2 B9 @3 m8 q
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity * ^$ a2 A2 {0 q
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
' q- g# V ^; i 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 9 S0 T: s5 K& K9 Z+ t! F
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship 1 @# s; o( r' E" a7 ]3 }
红枣 red dates - prosperity G8 Q* r4 ~8 |4 I! r- y
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00