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Spring Festival Words 4 P, T: _# _5 V* ~4 O9 D$ a5 |; s
Greeting Season: % V1 y4 |5 v0 T9 T: ~; A1 [' K# h
春节 The Spring Festival
m. u! | R3 u X 农历 lunar calendar 4 ?8 N* o, f) u( f5 J1 L% I0 M
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar " S* j4 P* O1 M- k
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year 1 c% p% Q% R/ f+ @$ N
初一 the beginning of New Year
$ G( E+ W; P1 B7 R2 ?# H* a 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
' w! W0 k0 y0 p Customs:
$ A# T. K5 P& t0 [# ]# ] 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival # C3 ?8 ]) w1 r( ?+ R* d
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
+ |7 p1 s. o" b6 N0 e, q* l 春联 Spring Festival couplets
: p; S! A1 x9 k& D; Z) o! A1 Z: u0 m 剪纸 paper-cuts 7 B& F# r1 C T- B g
年画 New Year paintings ; ^' J, W2 s& g
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
, {* v1 ?( ]( O: U6 u0 o, F* J 敬酒 propose a toast
) r* Z2 n( L' o; b$ G$ A$ W 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
. U" n/ o/ I: S: I 烟花 fireworks , ?6 K) ^( e9 v; ~+ {
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) # |( h- Y! Q8 X' S5 k/ `* d6 U
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
. `5 m: i. x+ O 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
9 X- n4 W) ?8 |' ^3 g 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
$ ~0 i2 y" v- t2 G 戏曲 traditional opera
0 k( j7 z8 c. Q) ~8 ? 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville 3 ]( M, H( S) F- y$ H) ]
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns / h. Y$ _! u6 \# j x. j
灯会 exhibit of lanterns 7 @8 V5 \9 K ^: K9 G
守岁 staying-up
. t6 M, a9 ?; T6 F5 Q+ L V8 b 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
) ~8 o3 k( G* `! @ 禁忌 taboo
* T! @# f; F# _7 `5 L+ H- O 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune ' ~2 m) Q* y& s& m
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
4 l/ x% o, X2 m N3 e6 Q/ J1 Y5 H 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift 3 j: Z$ Q: Z, ]1 L0 Z8 _8 N
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
% l5 v% j- p3 ?1 ]. p 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
# G6 U: f% l% g 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning # O' X L1 _9 `; g3 C: x
Blessing: 6 o& [' S/ Q! ]: s4 M( F
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity " g& q; p! I0 M( S/ w: R0 @* q
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
& m. h# B Q* Z: C0 t Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
1 i8 V! F) t- }( _ 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 2 o6 f1 T8 M( J3 ?
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! , v- I" N" M: s) w
Food names:
: `. ?' v$ S, y8 V2 O! `: Q, R 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake " m( L$ x, t) n& Q: G- A
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
/ N; Z2 m8 s( W6 N1 } 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
8 z: `) Z' ]2 U4 z 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
* k* q9 K& U; {+ x 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings ( n J" h! P- y/ z# ^; C
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding + A, `, q0 F7 m6 t% }$ J- S
糖果盘 candy tray:
+ q4 O, u% J K# ]3 C- ~ 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
- n( Y3 w# M) c" _6 m/ @( M4 T 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
) ?5 I3 g5 C: K 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
& P1 J6 Q0 A- }( d 金桔 cumquat - prosperity 1 R" [% I; H5 T
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
: p3 Q$ Z: N3 q* u9 N 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
+ f, @( X: y) y- b, `# H 红枣 red dates - prosperity ( g6 [! \1 w) ~
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00