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Spring Festival Words 0 U' U( j5 ]# u& r% X
Greeting Season:
9 M! X' p0 Y- X& { 春节 The Spring Festival
8 z3 h3 c+ o8 p4 s 农历 lunar calendar
0 i$ b! L' Q0 M0 w 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
; b% B1 M6 Z: c* T4 `. E0 e! x+ P 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
/ d* ^3 y% Q; L 初一 the beginning of New Year
% Q1 s8 D. N! X+ X 元宵节 The Lantern Festival * p* v7 M' }/ H4 I- i
Customs: 7 [/ e; f# `' a7 v
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival 6 ]& |& i! f9 ?8 i
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
" }% D# ^$ a' a( l 春联 Spring Festival couplets 8 f9 u8 B4 i+ a6 m b/ G
剪纸 paper-cuts , F. z0 f$ d* m5 r# o0 `5 |
年画 New Year paintings
' X, S2 B( w3 g5 k7 ~# R: [ V- ~ 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
7 H4 r0 _8 l! a1 q/ a 敬酒 propose a toast , {' `3 l/ _% [2 e
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
* G3 ?- I7 Q$ N6 F6 O0 g. |1 l 烟花 fireworks : L% L% b q, S( a3 O1 {" P
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) 7 V2 k9 D+ B6 V% r: M0 G
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
5 ?0 U1 I8 z* [ m' n# u) s Z: ] 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
9 B1 l: x$ M0 f6 ^" q 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
9 x) t' N, V0 q 戏曲 traditional opera
3 k% [/ f& K& c( ^1 y" i 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville & w8 f4 X$ ]4 @
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns @* ^' U5 i- Y- x% R' p# `( D
灯会 exhibit of lanterns 6 J# h( j# S g; a
守岁 staying-up " z4 O q5 O! p3 G/ O* q5 j
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit 5 t* ?) J/ E# Z+ J
禁忌 taboo
3 R" E! E% M6 P7 g. C5 M$ H 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune ; W7 J1 p- V2 K: A& v5 k
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors 1 r+ _, V# |0 `$ s. c0 @
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift 6 @; W- Z, O9 }1 b8 G0 L
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
s% F% M- t5 ~) W& }" R 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
: ]1 {" E* e p- a# I( I 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 9 J$ o8 t7 u# j5 z2 _$ o
Blessing:
X( V5 h; r2 T1 t( m# i! Z w Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity / P! z3 F3 J& x5 Y" ~/ w4 o# `
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
$ Z" q! s4 o6 _6 B$ ]* C: } Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 1 x6 ~& F, y! `; J
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
4 p) K' i# Q5 O( t& X 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
- P0 w. E( h: j1 p& v! \ Food names:
! |# R# W. x" z) V- @2 I5 @ 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
+ N5 |0 x0 [5 ~2 t0 x 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
7 Z1 z1 A, u2 [# O 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve $ g P* Y2 {' A; c2 D0 z9 X! c
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli 8 r$ G( }# f+ S- R1 U
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings T2 H; M! v7 G' q% _/ e' t0 ^2 {- C
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding ! P H" O5 R2 Q- @& B! q% ^
糖果盘 candy tray:
6 \: ^% }9 D# A1 J2 Z d; s 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune * [1 F: h; F1 p9 ^0 x
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health 8 |4 N/ w/ B/ W O% d* i
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
* p, f3 {0 `/ x. c0 G 金桔 cumquat - prosperity 3 x2 V5 j: n8 ^) ?" U6 ^
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 7 E; g( T5 @; G+ x$ |7 u. S
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship 8 S' A* u$ }* `% M- V3 U
红枣 red dates - prosperity
* h' {0 @& a- @6 e+ e 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00