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Spring Festival Words
4 v$ x0 y1 K: k- v* m7 f: h Greeting Season:
7 S {$ G% j: j v6 D, _ 春节 The Spring Festival
+ t& W8 n2 B' o- g; n 农历 lunar calendar 7 j6 B5 b& Z k# }* |, g, F7 L( p
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
8 R& T8 v& J, Y+ A6 m4 H0 c 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year 0 L1 Q- _( {1 Z1 Q8 K4 J0 X
初一 the beginning of New Year
/ F/ z2 }, L+ N3 f 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
. ]' \1 |6 s8 j" t& \1 z Customs: - G- k% P, w ^0 J i, ]; Y
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
# W3 `4 y9 ~. \1 m+ r! ~ 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 8 t# c% f6 s# D+ U3 z' s4 o
春联 Spring Festival couplets
3 l+ Q# r m1 M' o. a" D 剪纸 paper-cuts
) |1 A, q. V/ ~+ u( d$ R; G 年画 New Year paintings
; @' M [( I; j$ n 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
, z4 x4 N+ O( \1 A+ x! w+ o 敬酒 propose a toast 5 Q% f; e) a" v3 s! _/ _
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
+ r; g9 e& ~+ {3 S 烟花 fireworks % F! }* V* k6 E' e$ S) R/ J& I T
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
% O `5 W( L! W2 P8 T( R% r* Y 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) : z& s% D/ `; `: w, V8 k
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) 1 _1 L9 Y- O/ N# `
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
& N2 H" e7 j7 ]0 A 戏曲 traditional opera + u) R4 ?6 S0 e- x0 c
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville ' Q$ K( T. _) F i8 G
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
, q9 M/ Y6 x, b( R 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
7 E! ^$ H$ B8 z9 { 守岁 staying-up
0 N+ V2 @% w) Q& W3 b0 L$ W# j 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
$ q5 M& w) c# Z1 | 禁忌 taboo " @% r5 C! N, o( h
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune ' d$ ^* K5 u. C5 }
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors . b; w( t: g6 c' b* D7 @
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
- \2 p- [; w1 I, u) R' k 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
; H* K; K5 M: [& P. D+ } 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
& E* N7 X8 Q+ h 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
2 Z" h5 y; |& J Blessing: , T& z& U4 ]. Y3 i, f( j* H$ [1 u
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
0 ?' `( N! D0 |2 M R7 l Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
% ~* d8 Y& n+ q- I) x% {5 k" y Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 4 o' y8 d3 D/ }' U* m2 C
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
" q$ ` Z \. \4 t6 P 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
/ N# A8 s* ]0 p' s. ]; t5 j l Food names:
6 m9 a# K, Y: k+ T 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake ' G" Y" U6 f3 f, W6 U. E6 h
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
; t" B3 D! q& e a s 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve ' {+ e4 w# O* Y+ {0 Q {
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
8 s' D5 h- ~: Q% @, T0 U 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings $ n! ?( q; |9 K: J1 X
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
3 y7 }3 V$ Z/ T 糖果盘 candy tray: 0 }: |3 T4 i7 L. W
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
0 N) i8 [2 B$ [9 V 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
2 p a, q" H4 ?: g 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
: J1 a. l2 P5 t ^ 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
5 E( w2 F! S. J8 u9 M( P 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come ) X" |& N# a5 @3 B% U5 y
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
) q2 {8 \' j) V! x6 q' u 红枣 red dates - prosperity
8 ^$ |( ]1 v4 j1 m. N9 x. `& Q6 A 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00