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Spring Festival Words
' S* N* u; z2 v Greeting Season:
) q- i7 J9 D& C) O1 u4 E 春节 The Spring Festival , Y$ o& C% v- l
农历 lunar calendar $ C ~; C- Q) u; \3 f5 z8 G% v
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
7 n; N1 g5 ]) _, T2 j7 a+ L 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
9 Q$ m0 {" L/ I( X 初一 the beginning of New Year ; ]9 ~! a3 k A" x( ~+ o3 b
元宵节 The Lantern Festival 4 o7 V; T9 [% {! p$ `, S O; O# t3 Q
Customs: + N; F8 X, R( b, D4 z! p K6 T
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival . E1 d" ^( k* d9 b1 G
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
( K: b6 b$ T! ^8 e& T% G4 U9 _* f5 I 春联 Spring Festival couplets , a! I1 ]. }2 z+ O- F# Y# Y
剪纸 paper-cuts
% k/ i9 D9 X4 E( f1 l; \* A 年画 New Year paintings
) I; ^8 F4 B/ \7 X& W 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
* I$ ]7 `# X- M! J; d 敬酒 propose a toast 1 E( |, y/ ~ O" R8 q& x9 b- r
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
! ^4 G( M7 G! ] 烟花 fireworks $ _5 e+ @! B! p1 w2 M$ E2 V
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
3 I: q' H( p0 k# D- D$ g 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) 1 o6 H: O# O0 _& [6 ^- h/ w0 b+ L3 g
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
8 K4 z9 Q: I1 \+ ]7 ] e 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) " P6 X% P6 Y2 G) G$ X3 {0 g0 E8 Y
戏曲 traditional opera 2 |3 j' }( H( X) g. q7 l
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
" t5 C4 n |3 y) t# z) T 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns 5 `, a4 U* d1 F. B7 s9 E
灯会 exhibit of lanterns 6 c W3 C! r# F% f
守岁 staying-up - c: |. A% B5 ~# \! T6 F5 p
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit 2 G: O% b U: C/ q/ k3 }: O! e
禁忌 taboo
8 u k( Y* p3 Q 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 8 F$ Z# x+ [/ Q! Q
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
* h* K/ c' N' ^/ M" G 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift # i$ ~" ^/ k. W/ j
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 ; r. P9 g X& V2 v& |1 L1 | F
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year 3 H$ J ` \- ~5 @& E3 V
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
8 L4 H8 H1 y% S5 o0 u H Blessing: # s9 l2 e$ v6 D, M
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity - w# f4 |4 F% v8 E# V$ B
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace 9 z) [" X( j5 Z% D" X; p3 {7 l
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
- L8 `' z9 M& O 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 4 m4 e* A# d5 n: b( D. r) v
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
. Z5 {) i4 g- t; h( s Food names:
( d: f [" r) h+ G 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake . b7 @: l! [ @/ s' t( K$ ]
团圆饭 family reunion dinner ( k+ a# L: u8 g1 r! q V
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
7 A( S+ G/ C. V n, c: @. A2 B' W, U 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli 8 C1 N ^% m' c- Q% r. m
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings , h+ ~# n# x' e: b1 A4 V* v4 R
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding ' D7 {+ h* f" C) @
糖果盘 candy tray: 6 d1 J" T% f/ p2 T
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune & t. R4 a/ j7 }% i! i: Y L! W
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
# `, d) a' A& N! B5 D& K" Q 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity % L. {+ d! H8 s
金桔 cumquat - prosperity & B. l# g F% D, X1 h
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 6 t& O& t. B7 m4 N7 V
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship ' d/ m% ]; B q
红枣 red dates - prosperity z2 T% F6 ~$ ~7 z
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00