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Spring Festival Words
7 {, F0 r% ?7 J# x7 O& p& | Greeting Season:
5 Y- E6 t3 g7 p) z4 n+ Q 春节 The Spring Festival 4 ^3 l. f* f- S$ Z. }+ F8 K- a
农历 lunar calendar 5 p5 v( Y$ F6 L7 ^% n [" u
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar $ f8 G* C; t ?% g( G
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
+ r0 w2 \0 @' r; ^" ] 初一 the beginning of New Year / a: ~9 H: p% k+ N' D2 q
元宵节 The Lantern Festival 6 |" i7 x& L8 W7 u, M, Q( O
Customs:
, W0 w1 L4 X/ |$ b* `- p 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival 4 Z9 }8 ]1 w# w7 o$ M* v) c
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry . |9 U' D0 `. ?, L) @- w* `# O ^
春联 Spring Festival couplets 9 U5 E/ D$ X; E! T6 q% A
剪纸 paper-cuts
" r) k- ?$ ?. o/ O5 y9 e; N* S, ^; Q 年画 New Year paintings 7 n8 a, C$ g1 @
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
; U/ I& i% F% D1 q! s' s4 S1 M 敬酒 propose a toast
- E4 a7 p5 w4 V# v* H 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
& @; h: c" g. k/ E* u, A i 烟花 fireworks
9 f) u3 K; F$ \+ q! y 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
0 M% z- T6 A' C; I% H$ ^5 [ 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
, y+ J7 C+ n k. N8 ]0 g; A ` 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
# `! V0 d4 T, |9 D# l* o7 S 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
R7 U# Z2 \6 c- h; X2 x6 u 戏曲 traditional opera 7 v9 X$ m0 x- L
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville 1 s; K2 p) i0 ~; x
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns + c& p; L& H/ e+ ^4 n/ I" ^
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
) x; ]3 Z8 j5 c2 r 守岁 staying-up
$ Y& b6 t: J2 G7 G 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
; ^- @" G: N1 I/ { G% ~ 禁忌 taboo
$ ?, M7 h7 m# R# o1 q) d; T 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
; `3 F1 W& {( t2 S$ ~ 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors . u$ b9 B% I/ r3 _7 h9 e, Z
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
& f1 u9 t. d2 V1 @6 ^) S. z 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
% Z- [( a& e ^7 z" Y1 m 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
3 h3 G) o$ D$ {$ A/ O, Z2 ^1 J 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
+ _1 G2 O& N8 U7 B- f Blessing:
; S% e: r1 d% T! j3 h Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity . |" c0 v% U: ?4 g
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace [- D( U- d3 W9 v4 f, T0 M
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go ( V5 o8 A2 o1 L
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 5 a5 i% U/ C' y
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! % u" H' W2 ~; M3 T+ q
Food names: 7 a: a; {! G* t: B2 U N: ]
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
$ F" P) E! V( R' d: _) I 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
0 k: \$ n; b( Z' a 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
3 o( i" s' o+ W 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
) U) X- M( u+ W- _) ]9 x; F0 r 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings . ]0 M3 M5 X Q+ i# k1 h6 _
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
D8 V: X. }* s6 [ 糖果盘 candy tray:
0 |, @. G* f O* k# U& {( a 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune # W- }8 |: D j8 {3 N
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
. u' e) A5 b9 R+ g/ ?% j 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity ) J" N* \# w9 @6 Z- o
金桔 cumquat - prosperity . L/ |6 A! j8 [5 c' E* e6 r3 y
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 9 H! s5 z& I0 m5 x) b, w( p
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship & m, E& W; `- B4 n4 s5 C0 G6 o
红枣 red dates - prosperity
* l: z" x, Y% o# m) }1 b$ U 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00