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Spring Festival Words 6 Z- D: Z7 x; s' S7 r- t4 U
Greeting Season:
$ ^" L9 r; C3 ~ 春节 The Spring Festival ' ^/ E4 Q5 ]1 ]2 B0 n5 e3 Z2 L
农历 lunar calendar " `7 B& {, @( e/ ?
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
% L# f v- R y9 N. W0 s 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
; o+ g8 { s/ [% w! ? 初一 the beginning of New Year % X/ w1 V v7 o- ~ `4 u
元宵节 The Lantern Festival 7 Z4 k: s q8 t: e5 w
Customs:
6 S% b; Q9 M* v0 f7 P 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival % `$ s7 B- A" y- p
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
+ M% f( }# G& v) W! g 春联 Spring Festival couplets 2 s, T8 y' V* H, o" U* b
剪纸 paper-cuts . [ k0 h5 p( M$ _' o
年画 New Year paintings ! A0 V( v X8 S
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
5 ]& ]* F* q& s 敬酒 propose a toast 6 {1 E @; X& ]) p0 l- g+ r
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
G3 X9 I H8 l3 [3 v P' t8 g/ v 烟花 fireworks
% P, v/ Y& k& d 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
5 ]2 Z& n5 I- B. l y 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) ; X6 W2 Z' ]( L) {- I# Z
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) & Z, v8 k: [% G2 h r1 Z
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) 0 h) i/ O. |+ C! b0 e
戏曲 traditional opera
I% A$ b# ], {2 U9 @; j 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville . e* X m1 _7 S3 q
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
0 x/ `2 R0 p/ m/ A; r2 L 灯会 exhibit of lanterns : Q* M" b$ Q2 X# B
守岁 staying-up
+ z3 `( {6 V; G+ K 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit 2 W+ f6 X& K f
禁忌 taboo
r( f. V$ m. p# V3 ^: I, \ 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune : ?7 O6 b" N) L& p% q5 A4 x
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors / B; h# o1 {( v& q0 z s4 K$ `
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift q* y, a' v) W: }6 f7 d
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
a. C. f- m: f% ?$ |( ^ 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year - q9 \& i' @3 w$ e9 F1 r4 a; e
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
( @3 P! x; m- W4 x. J. b- | Blessing: 4 F& N" x# S* f, \. b I# M
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity - v. L" y `: a: V
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
; S! _( N2 ]/ D5 D1 J6 D2 ^5 [ Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
0 l; {: n. K! w2 i' b! y5 S. M 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! ) X& k& F2 V. B$ Y
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! - B$ ?; Y2 L% B# J
Food names: . k# i$ ]- O1 M- `1 m0 C
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake 3 k, j# P3 J3 V% X
团圆饭 family reunion dinner ]9 ]+ b0 O$ a+ ~% n8 Q5 k% D
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
8 m% e* f! F, {0 s( c 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
; p; u# o' N& _% |7 ^9 x 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings 0 j7 K, u( _" k0 i' V) l3 C
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
' b% ]* Q- k: H! X$ ~' b/ P+ Q 糖果盘 candy tray: 3 T- X' E) O+ C3 f4 G# u/ _1 \
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
% v( n: [6 N3 y: W) O- Y 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
/ N1 `& l- ]' ]! ]8 L5 Q 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
- S O& L- r0 I# O" i: _) q 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
+ d9 @. S, N% Y4 L 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 4 p3 {& a5 }9 q% N6 S6 p# |# `
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship & m- j c& M0 }! {
红枣 red dates - prosperity
( O. C8 X4 F1 [ d 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00