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Spring Festival Words
; X. h. C( g3 p4 Z4 { Greeting Season:
k/ |8 A$ q: x% x 春节 The Spring Festival 5 d2 u3 ?* A7 V$ c0 z' I8 F
农历 lunar calendar ; W; g# I7 X7 j; H
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar : k) H% ^+ y- f
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year 6 v9 X2 x3 O& Q' T
初一 the beginning of New Year
& m1 o8 T) m3 d( W; i1 j& U: x 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
. |2 P$ J& K# r6 N# W Customs:
/ D' K, g. m6 N, o; N4 ? 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival + L) h3 m" r7 ]8 y+ i& @2 f6 L7 L
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
* i' P0 b9 D5 D; \6 [" E4 W+ G! K 春联 Spring Festival couplets
: |9 V/ E Z7 s 剪纸 paper-cuts
9 Q, {& I) \0 o2 P. M 年画 New Year paintings & k% M, g5 S8 ~% }: X: t
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping " W1 F8 f$ u0 a' C: s
敬酒 propose a toast
; \$ q( @1 _: h6 j6 H2 y& `) x 灯笼 lantern: a portable light % s" n/ e3 p! R! h6 ^1 }$ ^! [1 d
烟花 fireworks
) X& E2 S% \8 L4 I. g& \ 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) + Q) e2 N$ x2 I8 K
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
& c0 U! e E2 B* i2 T 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) 9 z, w- e8 f" k
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) ( S( D- w- j, }3 s7 Q' S- H, o
戏曲 traditional opera * H6 ]: U. B$ x* [8 A
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
3 U2 O- J1 @9 F. J 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns ) l+ V" h4 H2 `; r
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
+ B3 m5 y& G, _- ?7 W8 b' k+ `: d 守岁 staying-up
. w) C3 `8 t8 k% i 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
! _& t! n3 Z9 Q! ^+ t2 U6 D4 o 禁忌 taboo ! C X e) h8 {) a
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 8 z1 i% r3 R1 I7 G" x
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
2 @: C% {" [) g5 P+ j8 o 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift ! w8 G& I' ^: f3 B
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 " e% |' Y2 @, ?/ c: I) p) c: h+ G
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year ! X1 ]# A' ?0 I0 h
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning $ E$ S! J9 W% I" R. `, U$ g* _
Blessing: 3 W) k- M0 n! A' p' w ~' n
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
8 G4 ?3 o5 o6 Y; S Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
4 h; ^! t3 l l' k$ M; _ Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go . X6 t# Z3 e k- k0 f7 L7 f
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
( P' A1 H6 i' R" w 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! & F5 v% U) V8 y, v) e) i) g L
Food names: + \7 m) g$ }" Y/ D2 z' o1 S
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake 7 w8 U, u2 z* m5 T
团圆饭 family reunion dinner ) [1 o& }4 @- j* v
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve & w. I5 d% W+ j" A
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli 3 r, s6 |2 }9 v# k. p% |
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings ; V- ~5 t! Z# c. F5 u
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding * v' \& v: k* H
糖果盘 candy tray:
# k+ `( s* k! } 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune J$ `( E. ~" l" l
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health . q$ N1 u# p" ~8 ?
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity ! P0 e! I2 R0 W
金桔 cumquat - prosperity 3 C0 r+ V' M9 ^8 I7 q! @# v$ A
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come , E/ b! s: K0 R+ y& z
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship ' v, @" c- @% O: s
红枣 red dates - prosperity
# C3 N7 k7 l& }$ o6 \, F8 t 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00