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Spring Festival Words * i! }1 H0 C* x5 x5 q. s
Greeting Season:
1 g @4 V9 a; q/ _( {; C# t 春节 The Spring Festival
4 v& e$ U6 a1 k) `9 ^ 农历 lunar calendar & n& P5 E i! E& D
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
8 A# Z3 b" m" n7 F7 d8 X 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
3 P9 v0 U' T+ }4 d7 D 初一 the beginning of New Year
( z) b! v6 J U6 N( P' s# O 元宵节 The Lantern Festival 5 q8 L d) J7 [
Customs:
9 { {8 y+ f. F/ G; K' a 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival 1 @; @: _5 s3 b& Z) o( ]
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry * g3 Q8 ]9 d2 N) b
春联 Spring Festival couplets
( s' w) E* C6 Z3 D" C- I) q 剪纸 paper-cuts
; e8 l$ s0 o9 y7 \/ O 年画 New Year paintings 2 {5 f9 u& I4 O: M4 H
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping }* [; U: ~! t# f$ @# V/ R
敬酒 propose a toast c" p2 l2 H* ?/ m! v% j3 |: f
灯笼 lantern: a portable light ' \+ `& y' O7 H0 l$ V
烟花 fireworks
6 D% u: K# v- s8 A f2 k y 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
- A! m7 K# W6 n7 l \1 L 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
0 y3 j% x* `8 g9 {( c {/ I9 |8 C 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
: j& @7 \4 M. A, U% f1 d, ]; P R 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) / ~; v0 T' P( z/ L. l
戏曲 traditional opera
! {& B5 v; R: i& }- Q$ Z7 r 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville 5 D* F/ K! H# n9 `
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns # n" n' \7 S1 ^ m7 |
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
- @' Z% T. |% D2 @% |. u4 b 守岁 staying-up
) J- Q. z, U- ~3 _. A' [ 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
5 k6 s* y- I) {" g+ Y 禁忌 taboo
+ K3 b2 W( f9 k F5 c# E4 C( u/ [ 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
% E2 H0 k0 L8 f+ k 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
z4 i; h8 n: {' c. S 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
G" s4 e' @- b& R* [3 ] 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 9 i9 F' W8 T, ~
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
4 M2 M" k# J8 d! d* H2 A7 z5 d 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 2 m% o! M1 i+ }, h6 x9 L" M
Blessing:
0 R1 v1 h2 f% p8 c4 _ Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
& G. o: x& q2 n! I: r1 R Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace ; v. s; c, H3 w/ K* D
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 3 S* ~' {9 W1 \
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! B& ]; c! F( n+ [
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
8 a7 p7 A" }7 o, K3 O! Y Food names: 6 `1 N y9 H8 }' _
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
) j3 c' p* t( C N8 j4 W4 ~8 b 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
3 d6 g# X) |& h9 x 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
& \# A4 F8 w4 C# t1 h 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli 8 g [, u( |, b1 s) J1 v% G
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings 8 K% b& R: T$ U0 b
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding ( R" F3 F& d. ]% [; F2 Y) V
糖果盘 candy tray:
+ e" W* Z& }- b Q% Q/ |4 b 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
9 H2 x' a. X# e1 y0 B 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
; |* ]5 H" E e" y 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
7 D! o, \) c# u* e 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
. `& k+ G9 L h 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
( V a" D& Q+ g; J* t) o 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
" e% A I1 a. b5 C2 B- n6 Y 红枣 red dates - prosperity 0 _. E8 d/ s/ z" y4 z1 h! a
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00