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Spring Festival Words + ]$ K! c1 \! l6 F5 @; _' P" f
Greeting Season:
. j' w+ [! [8 ^4 i* J 春节 The Spring Festival
& l! M8 Y# o# ~: b; v. X9 r 农历 lunar calendar 3 c4 H" m4 P; a0 `2 T$ D
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
, [& Q3 a$ W8 \3 z* ` 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year # |, ? H# H4 i4 M
初一 the beginning of New Year
4 ]: x, D- H. b4 g& T2 C. U 元宵节 The Lantern Festival $ b+ E1 y* f, Q& S, g/ F) K4 v, l6 Z
Customs:
+ Z6 |# }8 D4 w! Q" T; H. Y& T" L 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
3 B# M: M: E' R( `6 O 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
J2 r. ]% d' T U; \2 N6 W 春联 Spring Festival couplets , v/ V1 i8 m2 \+ d- |# W
剪纸 paper-cuts , J" M" p D! b* ?
年画 New Year paintings
* D8 U8 E# {: j7 T2 a$ m6 A: ] 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
: n3 `9 F& L6 G# G4 [: n 敬酒 propose a toast # ]3 p8 H! m; d G% c
灯笼 lantern: a portable light : z* Q% i! O x% |
烟花 fireworks
- z$ Q+ I, f* P& J. W8 w 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
' S7 y' o, e4 u# z 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) % w- y$ d1 ]& Y) S8 d, {0 `
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) # x, j9 ~' i" O+ t8 _* G
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
% C* l; r, h+ K# D+ @7 u 戏曲 traditional opera $ q- ^1 w- [. Z( h# P- Q
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville 0 @+ K8 q( h# Z
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
0 F2 E( w4 _3 w( I0 M; m: \' f 灯会 exhibit of lanterns # y4 E8 K2 U, a6 B, z/ J
守岁 staying-up
# q" R; ^# g1 C5 g8 n 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit m' \5 N8 x7 V! E0 S! a# i) R
禁忌 taboo
9 x2 q* O4 G: \7 ^* x1 T; d 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
/ ^2 U1 `8 g" h& K 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors & Q M5 U. N( p
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift 1 Z8 N1 }# t7 E) U: H
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
1 g9 Y3 m |+ _, _9 @; l$ g" u9 T, i 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year R9 _6 c2 `- I7 G- T3 ~
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 3 _1 D$ k# Y$ J( { C; [ O6 ^
Blessing:
8 }0 e0 v; e9 k) D- j' W4 N- M Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 6 F4 g$ K$ h7 a* h7 ?7 o# x! Q
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
. y. v! T$ u! }7 a+ T Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
* v$ D- ~1 V: ~2 s7 I4 y+ G% P$ H 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
[9 \8 p1 M# V* i/ X 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 0 |" F, ^- T* C
Food names:
- m. a& S4 T) j3 E7 ~3 B5 J0 p 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake ; L* q: }, F2 C4 W2 t. V3 }
团圆饭 family reunion dinner 3 U6 e1 u! O6 l% h
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 4 ?* W' |: S" r/ L, z7 Z. B
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
. w- p4 P) ?. K$ W0 w 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
- h/ O& a0 A, o2 q/ T 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
Q8 T$ D, P k1 a4 p2 X: v. y 糖果盘 candy tray: ; t3 l* }# u: ]$ k3 s8 a
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
2 j- b! e) M/ p 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
0 J; U1 N" N- } 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity / p- ?- }, u. \; \7 [" I
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
, p, z a* E" f6 m8 Q% J7 w 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come ; u, e% B) R- m, e8 J
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship 7 x5 {; r) U2 Q8 p
红枣 red dates - prosperity
8 ?: I" b* N: G8 |' q0 N# Y- K 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00