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Spring Festival Words . C H" C# T- C y' t7 ^( b/ h
Greeting Season: - j9 N2 k# \2 m1 E; L
春节 The Spring Festival ( q$ m- b7 g8 d' E- _
农历 lunar calendar
+ U: C" X) i5 s* U, Z$ ] 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
7 J; v9 @8 J3 t v' V) [6 ^% m 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year , l! _+ B2 d& n. a
初一 the beginning of New Year # e: k0 T6 C2 l! ^
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
2 O, ?& E& @; \0 _3 A Customs: . Q: y3 A2 j) a5 M% s" r; i
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
, K0 O. Q+ j0 y: N 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry , {% F9 V( ]4 l3 ^2 \* Q5 {
春联 Spring Festival couplets
; d9 {8 r5 F8 x$ v 剪纸 paper-cuts % a( n9 S' r8 i( a; ]% p4 a
年画 New Year paintings 8 e: t, r; R0 v" @- x
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
( d0 M! s5 J. B7 p0 W 敬酒 propose a toast + r1 x h: f1 D, M) u+ V
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
0 c: K' V# o! B 烟花 fireworks ' [- {# D8 J0 ]; ~3 X% M g6 u
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) , d( k3 G! r5 U& s6 x1 X; n
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) 1 w; M3 J! G N8 O2 i6 F* k
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
: d- G; g3 N9 S t, | 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) 9 G6 E [5 W3 P# _; T
戏曲 traditional opera 7 D$ D+ A; \- X; U# Z+ m
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
9 Z# m# t5 D. F+ O2 j 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
: K" \4 y% m6 P% Z3 F: ^ 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
. [# m2 C" \. K8 D 守岁 staying-up " f {+ |: x: r; J8 R: {
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit ( H2 _/ ~( H; _8 } y- W& @1 }
禁忌 taboo
x/ b4 c7 F0 S% Q# e. X 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
: q" C" p( J$ c n5 g 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
5 m/ a3 L$ v3 u4 e, n 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift o0 [0 J$ m4 e t( P! c; ?
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
6 [& g3 x6 v# v5 U4 n, Z3 Q- q 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year / h4 \& y8 g( I- ]- H4 X$ M
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
/ k5 p0 m2 ~& [% u$ R/ _; p2 s Blessing:
( Y8 G! l/ f# |& w Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 4 z6 X) C* h$ t1 |# Q
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
' u4 @) R {# a3 z. s+ W Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
8 J4 x/ V2 X7 P l0 x% m& H 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 0 w' Z+ l8 {7 T7 b( ^# u
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
+ @. Z. l$ ^8 e: b, }) s; u Food names:
& @" G$ Y; K/ Q 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
% [% S8 y8 N* \% A. N 团圆饭 family reunion dinner ; S/ q$ B) J. P9 T h+ M- z$ Q
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve & O) u: |( d' A: D, h* p
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli ; s8 n& b7 C- g; K) @8 m0 b. T- h1 l
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
/ P: w, P3 _# a# Z8 z* y: d6 G* s* i 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding & ]; h' d C; A/ ` W5 p
糖果盘 candy tray: ! T% B2 o7 s7 y1 I! v9 a
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune ( V; H$ {5 U j/ k
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
7 S3 x4 D: H5 @0 D( R6 \ 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
+ A& p2 h- u' _2 e& p 金桔 cumquat - prosperity & c+ T6 W; f N2 b1 w
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 0 Z" l N0 H% o: Q
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
- g. s6 c/ F3 ~& N" ` 红枣 red dates - prosperity
- @. p" L' e- u( g6 q( C 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00