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Spring Festival Words * v! \: U/ Q1 C! K6 c4 b
Greeting Season: 1 M( Q8 X% V8 y" d1 B! b* Q
春节 The Spring Festival
9 b- c9 _) ?# u/ H4 \( D2 j4 K 农历 lunar calendar 0 X. h! I- b. q$ G
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar ' A- Y0 _- O4 v% l- [0 Q5 y
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
4 u1 v/ i5 \6 H3 \9 ~. Y 初一 the beginning of New Year 2 r9 B- m( z+ H1 Z
元宵节 The Lantern Festival * e: p, ?; J1 p5 ^
Customs:
* v* f9 |/ y) N Q& K$ z' G9 O: k 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival 2 m! r% h* o9 ?. d7 c: D) `
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry " @ t& x. x* J4 z
春联 Spring Festival couplets
2 n- L3 s+ G# A6 ^+ y 剪纸 paper-cuts ' D+ U3 ?& m+ Z& [* u
年画 New Year paintings : m* ^' u4 |/ q0 M2 Y
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 4 Z, M. i& K* X
敬酒 propose a toast O7 ?* s; n" i& T7 m3 `/ @
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
" _' X" Q& |9 K7 P# F 烟花 fireworks
% M6 ?5 A6 |2 I- A; t- s9 i# T 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
3 C/ T- A& o1 r* s8 ~2 n9 E 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) e/ t e3 S0 j
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
P# Y# P& ]' r' l7 b 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) + D) O& f9 G: N
戏曲 traditional opera
% o! P1 C$ L" j$ M) ]6 _ 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
* d, B! o' r5 W; k$ t' s 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
+ g. e% z) b( D( Z- [% h$ D) f4 t 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
7 }7 }$ R3 S6 I" \ 守岁 staying-up 3 c: @* j% r, ^% [& j
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit 1 z, o" @# z/ ?: V8 y+ S
禁忌 taboo 9 [% ^9 P+ q/ n5 J7 f, N
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
) G9 I! ?$ C# w# v0 V# M0 T 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
+ @, ]8 G; |5 S5 t. i6 _% l 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
0 X+ w: f- i/ F; J0 Q5 J 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 2 g! ~0 s- t) K9 X& Z4 W5 M
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year - i3 Q* o. r9 z7 [
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
: \, i: ^% E# r4 P5 r Blessing:
1 b. q+ K/ j7 [( K Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity + ?4 a( \7 T+ b" d
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace n& E6 H8 ~: F4 v# K) [
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 2 _! @" U3 U( J8 ?- c
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 8 H, L1 E; L8 T$ n0 a& o5 i
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
; {2 ~% Z. s2 d" d Food names: ' W5 H6 s% n% a
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
+ s$ c: u! s; y6 F 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
9 [3 c+ _: M* R% i' y3 S) v 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve ( z0 L: J5 H5 Z$ O; W3 M6 w
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
! m0 [+ O4 Z: \0 | 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings + ?/ w9 v% `3 j" {6 a
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
9 k8 S" _: c4 z* T, q& p 糖果盘 candy tray: 7 p& e" _' p. l) Y( ]
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
2 j' \% G3 | P- } 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
. K0 ?) H: ~+ J0 S% `! ]2 G 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
* k3 T0 T$ C$ I1 Y, [/ q' Z$ u 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
4 v6 h6 g, _3 s- N0 T( V" {6 K1 ^ 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come . m+ h9 E0 x9 {7 D4 v$ }$ d% T
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
- I/ C( y: T: K% T 红枣 red dates - prosperity
- H" m4 z. B" }3 Y9 y 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00