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Spring Festival Words
O6 Q8 g) l4 J2 h( H Greeting Season: * H' ?" M3 U7 H( J
春节 The Spring Festival
7 f* F* }4 ^* { 农历 lunar calendar , _) U- }& w) i5 v* U' ]
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar ) e; J3 D( J5 X8 O7 e4 a* J5 k
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year 2 L: c2 J4 c0 U- j) }
初一 the beginning of New Year
) q) ?8 { P) o1 W 元宵节 The Lantern Festival * U2 v/ W( D! R
Customs:
; q( b, @0 C7 [3 ]8 K+ j 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival 3 L* G! L" _- s
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
* ?% z1 q# b% v+ W5 t# S- x 春联 Spring Festival couplets / R" ?# ?8 {: y. b
剪纸 paper-cuts
! Z0 X5 A# r/ f 年画 New Year paintings : x" x4 V# v, N
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
5 |* D5 _$ l; z7 D0 S0 V6 G1 S+ b8 D 敬酒 propose a toast
4 g1 e7 a$ B9 \% N( s( Y 灯笼 lantern: a portable light ; S3 [* V/ M- B# B
烟花 fireworks * Q' w7 Q' q, y
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) - G3 A/ }9 \. g- {( j/ Q6 v
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) * p) }: L; q& i$ \! t, V
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
, p" E7 W& D- G$ a; k% \/ H 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
* z' r8 H# W- K- U 戏曲 traditional opera 7 W+ M6 @" V. {0 @
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville 9 t5 Y( P3 U2 D7 P$ T: n+ M
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
1 o N8 R; q4 C& ? 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
0 d3 ]3 r; t7 Q6 |6 Z! E7 p1 u0 l 守岁 staying-up
6 n0 l, h6 D; q0 O 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit 5 J" J$ O; u6 r
禁忌 taboo 8 U7 } K& L R4 s& z' H) ?
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune ; B8 s/ X6 S: `2 m$ p5 @! ~6 Z
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
) }0 h Y* L+ n# L: Y# |; n. G 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift : v. Z5 N2 o v, R V
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 $ }( c3 l+ W* r1 d$ A0 S. s! d T
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year 5 e0 }! |8 X, R" o6 a( d
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
( G4 l% A8 p. n; n Blessing: 4 n: B8 e; m7 [" F3 d2 d4 M6 J
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
' H: B: j# E1 g e( a# p* Y Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace # i. q' z+ K( \% Q
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
6 g& e& z; o+ P, m: E 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! / p( G+ r* m3 b" D+ A+ u3 |, G$ c
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
7 O$ W6 z5 R- U8 q4 E; z- A3 J, r Food names: 0 f4 x. b: N L! q0 ]. D$ d/ m
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake , H0 a0 i6 y$ a1 G- P' ?
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
, v) R l" x$ c( P6 p% }% v 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
2 e/ X k$ i3 X' ^; n7 ~' D 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli 3 q% @; x& q' S2 `1 y' F* g' |
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
+ ^; v! G$ t' b/ i( |' ] 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding 4 E/ j- @4 H9 Q# c' l! S D1 E8 C
糖果盘 candy tray:
) c' ~$ _, t) c. c1 g) Q1 e$ E 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
{+ K* l7 a$ \4 L, r 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health - ~. m' i+ u1 b9 K; z( e% U
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity ( v; G8 E: V) R2 n% y
金桔 cumquat - prosperity # E2 g Z6 }. X
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
G) S; U6 g& `' p# g 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship 2 |/ s3 o1 ]0 W1 G4 b
红枣 red dates - prosperity
' t+ q7 a& z% f4 q$ [2 w5 T 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00