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Spring Festival Words
3 T0 w' z& w% X Greeting Season:
+ ?1 Z0 K6 k' `1 u$ ^: B% f: G 春节 The Spring Festival
3 O& T5 O! N: q7 e. v 农历 lunar calendar
" C j/ Y1 A' ^1 c, W( z 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar ' K: ]: x9 _2 b2 D8 v: \) A f
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year ( X6 q5 `' l; B7 x) C. h
初一 the beginning of New Year 8 {" _. O9 b7 F" D, }. i* [
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
2 a8 h- F7 A# C5 o- I5 ^ Customs:
) @5 a7 x+ o! N$ G" C 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival - W8 Y6 n2 W0 R n4 L" S* o
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
+ M+ M* |- h1 B+ v* r& {2 g 春联 Spring Festival couplets 5 h% l2 v- C# w
剪纸 paper-cuts
3 i. y o! I" f: N# Z% V J 年画 New Year paintings
# ~# N- {8 Z2 m# f i4 R+ h' z 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
2 A/ r7 K9 F* e* Q' y7 c 敬酒 propose a toast
. F6 v; v; v: j. T" u 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
4 H5 n" a, \6 Q! ? 烟花 fireworks
: T* k4 w) c. w) p+ Y9 H* ^" C2 Q 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) ! Z# j2 X( J4 |- @& _
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) 3 s! |9 u; e0 k9 x
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) * }$ f. o' d2 V- T9 c
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) / \1 K& V, o) c1 e
戏曲 traditional opera
; H( i5 I2 D4 S$ \ 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
$ A) |* q7 A5 v. l 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
+ d% i1 g3 O! d% }3 ~7 x) ~& n 灯会 exhibit of lanterns & b& G# o; J5 A e2 [* n! E6 p
守岁 staying-up
9 y7 T V( r, s9 l4 \ 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit . W1 {* v ?8 Y0 z2 u0 b2 J+ U
禁忌 taboo 1 h$ t& T5 c. l. @6 p
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 6 {) `+ q7 h# Y7 v3 ~/ u! Y
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors 8 F& q [) ?& S# _' {: N
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift ; E! `' V4 M; ~2 ~
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; B% i4 V; T2 A, J 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year 0 X0 y- ~9 i7 J1 _# K! A
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 2 s( a$ f6 t# O
Blessing:
9 g0 J. _7 W( a1 l1 c$ U Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity + Q4 h+ b1 x, d' @+ F
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
3 P% `9 q; M3 _- w Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 6 v* b- g: T' `6 `: J: ], S! G
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
0 B ?7 f) x3 N! q. m 事业成功,家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 4 v% i1 }' S+ O/ v! e/ S
Food names: + T7 e" C$ k a* G% Y3 c. ~4 c
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
) e0 G# _; ]. x9 J" F4 C 团圆饭 family reunion dinner 4 ?" X$ ~, z3 y* }+ e
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
$ m& v& i! j/ E* f 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
9 U* h) ?: x4 Z( |6 g 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
+ g# |, e4 `. b/ f0 C1 G# Z 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding 9 K7 c. V) Q+ E! L! u' [0 u
糖果盘 candy tray: * T) c* [2 E/ \6 }! v
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
, y, x" ^; P; |: F, ] 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health / z& R; ?6 o: P3 j
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity 4 K$ z. x: _9 b( J( g' c# Y
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
5 L) |3 S* N) ]7 g" Z 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 7 s5 Q2 I" R9 r
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship ' R8 M# ^& k& [: Y8 N, U& k
红枣 red dates - prosperity . g0 {2 E& v5 b
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet |