|
Spring Festival Words , \, `# V9 f% {1 p' I
Greeting Season:
. K4 g# o5 D, i) _5 O- J 春节 The Spring Festival # ^$ r% @0 {- B+ w. u# J; c% f6 f+ G
农历 lunar calendar
; H* S0 A( U# Y4 o 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
& R/ V) ~" `$ Y# j1 {$ v 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year * m( h% }0 d/ m c% u" J* i. [; L& l
初一 the beginning of New Year
' ]- b9 [% ~/ m: F 元宵节 The Lantern Festival ' k" X3 ]1 v5 s
Customs:
3 V' z; I1 S. A, Y% L 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
* {9 i: U7 Q- _! ~& ?, ~0 U* e& b 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry H( i0 Z- E& V. A1 Y0 I r
春联 Spring Festival couplets # {3 Q2 e) n5 h: u8 n7 Q% \
剪纸 paper-cuts
C% H, k+ F, v) q 年画 New Year paintings
7 s$ R3 Z# `+ @ 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping , `% I6 D j7 ?9 q% M
敬酒 propose a toast
" B2 t0 {9 Y/ P$ x) Q# X: z 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
" {0 Q6 p- G$ R" T7 A V 烟花 fireworks
1 i9 |& {3 L9 i/ a) N 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
8 J& J( d# f1 b$ o+ _) n 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) " g( i1 M7 e, A# e1 y! m$ y
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) ! k. f# s! c( K6 m6 N8 e
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
' g$ s* C- I. L$ [ 戏曲 traditional opera . m" r7 c- B( h! e [+ v/ J3 |
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville 4 s' M8 X. s) u1 x
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns ) B- } }4 N% K7 O2 G. {
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
& u& g, W }) R- a 守岁 staying-up
6 P! d6 I: a! y/ Z 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit 0 {: M& O* ]% c _
禁忌 taboo ; b" J, S. \2 V: t/ A
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
- _& v. I6 Z6 j1 O# }! L, o( O 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors # y) ^! t0 y# k
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
" ]5 V+ W0 H! m. ^ 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
3 k k: v8 g! p1 W8 q 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
' s3 Z. K# Z) Y9 d# ~, _. D9 F# [ 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 7 o5 e, m+ p' N8 o, s' c# l
Blessing:
0 K, W; c$ J( {* h* D/ k Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
; n4 @* W8 m x1 {' U# X+ ]% _ Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace 6 g. y5 L( k+ N" ~
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
+ V3 b$ R2 \4 C2 |2 k" A6 t 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! . F4 X! O: G. w% b' m1 w8 E5 `; I
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
+ r" }! r( C5 _$ F3 A8 G0 @ Food names: ! P1 U$ G X# e' z9 K- M
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
! @6 p' t _* \ 团圆饭 family reunion dinner ; I/ O+ S# q4 T; N! ^7 M7 m" n
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
$ E4 y" _7 n' b' D* @2 |# o/ v/ L 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
A g- E0 b* e 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings 0 @) n+ n' L+ |# _/ V. H, s" v
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding 7 n H! F1 n; f1 e
糖果盘 candy tray: U+ H7 _7 @5 f! c, d
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
/ F) M: u' Z( ]* K 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health + Y4 p' J1 P$ _ {5 _
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity 2 b& A" G' W( E" G4 ]
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
( {' H$ _7 s4 a! S( k 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
6 U; E$ t% O* l7 s" F6 m 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
8 o* S& r8 o3 { i$ ?1 r 红枣 red dates - prosperity 0 h( P% t2 i' A' V
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00