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Spring Festival Words + x- Y: t: `& ~/ _& }
Greeting Season:
( B! a/ p8 W) U 春节 The Spring Festival 1 A( T4 |9 B; ]; O' M0 A% o
农历 lunar calendar ( o' ?% R V% e6 [, T# R
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar 5 ~! ^) l& s, V+ g& a
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
# x$ k5 u! }2 {1 @0 w 初一 the beginning of New Year 9 f, b9 M o* U0 ~* {0 S7 ?
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
/ @ O9 c* E, N* L! v Customs:
0 u& |: i5 n9 [3 b 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival 6 I$ G! E, F/ I& R. A
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 2 ]- S* T7 L" M9 n# `3 t3 a: ?
春联 Spring Festival couplets
! i! s* h; v3 `1 s! n# z 剪纸 paper-cuts
1 ?' x4 a2 z' I 年画 New Year paintings
1 q: ]8 M6 p, u {, z 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
v# \: p2 \3 A6 m6 s 敬酒 propose a toast # U; m3 e* U7 G S* t* ?3 Z8 L& N
灯笼 lantern: a portable light # q. F) ~6 T" b* o
烟花 fireworks
, A: A g! {( n' J 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
' |9 D7 |' w+ n3 |* e 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) 0 B2 f1 n9 l) U: u" \
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) ' _0 x& ~, N2 [: \
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
) F6 e7 q5 m+ U; |, _6 \& D 戏曲 traditional opera ; |( d- ?& _& D- M; l; d) Q$ M& J% Y; G
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
& I, G8 K: | J) Q3 g 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
) e8 g; y6 ^$ n7 {2 `) ~* h% w 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
, ^7 y( h6 F: W: U9 Y8 S+ y7 w4 K 守岁 staying-up
8 D% I8 s) g- G/ \* b 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
! X1 g. |: s. F3 L 禁忌 taboo
7 \( ]$ |. l: S$ z( g 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune / S# f6 h- m" c' g6 s# }, C; t4 t
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
+ F Q1 R% P' b 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift 3 ]2 C% `) M0 ~; a U: Q' |6 `( u
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 ( `/ l8 s7 u) I$ K
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year % Z$ ^2 T% K; X @! r' L
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 0 I$ Y* ]( x9 ]$ e- E1 F5 g! P
Blessing: 5 v# p- [7 C2 m9 Q) s* u: q1 P( n
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 3 t4 T- Z6 i" [+ G) }
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
) {7 V) J1 S/ c: Q* Q- X+ V Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go - X) K8 E0 g6 P. m, d
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! # }! X. [- o0 C0 |1 w
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
. R4 z4 X) p: M* i5 x$ p x- b- `3 C Food names: 0 `' z' Q5 j0 n$ O ]) _
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake . {9 W7 f3 L9 l2 l9 j4 x4 H. Z: P9 \
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
( C' {2 K- E; {% h/ f9 B4 n 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
! {5 F1 a6 h; d! K. g 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli ; M# g. @" B9 `2 t* o
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
# X+ q/ z& D, L9 w' g 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
+ S" F. j D3 F* e' q) ?, N) S 糖果盘 candy tray: }$ Q. g& b. b% b" \2 ]8 u/ k
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune # V2 m; k# \, `' `
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health 9 K3 y; _+ x/ Y
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
2 i" O: \7 @: n% L) c: j 金桔 cumquat - prosperity . e/ d) Y7 r e2 \1 l; f
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
) C3 m8 w/ z9 y7 @4 E% }3 r' p0 m 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship & @% U( @9 a, S* n
红枣 red dates - prosperity 5 ~- K$ k6 v; E* p; c
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00