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Spring Festival Words ) c8 G% l: z) z0 g4 v/ c
Greeting Season: , k; i2 E! p9 U# s' z$ S
春节 The Spring Festival 9 \$ w( [( N. X- @
农历 lunar calendar
: W( d; j1 E. ?& J/ O& l 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
; {, q! D4 n5 d( l 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year * G- o1 e3 o# C: Y/ E$ [& t
初一 the beginning of New Year & H* C+ x: a4 P- [1 w' F: o
元宵节 The Lantern Festival : B8 V5 S8 ?" h
Customs:
' k$ [8 G; M" R; e5 F/ \5 | 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival & L, F" b! G r+ ]; t. u8 L1 K0 x/ W+ B
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
) k8 v! z8 t" N! g9 B \: V H! X! b 春联 Spring Festival couplets & t1 _& e7 C5 G3 h
剪纸 paper-cuts
2 G7 b3 c# c, g 年画 New Year paintings
C& i$ l# J/ i1 ]4 k 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
1 }' C* B4 S1 y9 E/ s: r f f: E# @ 敬酒 propose a toast
" X6 Z1 Q4 |# R# i+ J p$ @ @ 灯笼 lantern: a portable light P( L3 j9 d- V8 x! h' Q* X
烟花 fireworks
, e$ ?3 k3 C# a j( `0 r$ s! [ 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
2 I) G" _8 G! {5 m2 e/ R 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) 0 Q8 {0 ^9 ]. b; E7 {7 ^
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) ) N0 S; N5 q9 r- v+ l# @. \: F
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
2 E1 ]- }) D4 ^ 戏曲 traditional opera
1 D% w3 G2 c' [4 G, e9 g3 J 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville % X( f* A- M L) h- ^3 {. g
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns + ^: X8 h: ?1 k' }8 @6 y* [
灯会 exhibit of lanterns " i8 t _- Q3 C O/ y
守岁 staying-up
: x8 F* U# ~9 [ 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
/ a0 a/ S) I6 b j% h/ q6 N 禁忌 taboo ! y5 e- v: _6 x" d7 ?
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
1 f2 M3 n' o0 g2 l 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors 0 b H# W' c( S. z
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
- h1 M& I2 i0 O$ X; d: u6 [ 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 3 ~5 \( A4 ?- p' K& T
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
) Q/ g6 s8 t7 ^ 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 5 V# n5 y5 T4 {- W( l
Blessing:
9 i4 `2 a7 [9 S; L- r Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
+ ?( V9 g q- I9 @) G Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
" Y8 {: Z5 e9 k" V Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
/ _; o$ @4 @+ D, \ I6 w 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! ( a. S; B/ H% Q5 g8 m& _
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! & n& n* p5 N0 x R0 b
Food names:
. |5 a9 v1 j3 J+ B 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
" U8 d- T( u+ W2 ]0 h 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
9 O5 F; A( L+ S0 _/ l7 j7 C 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve , S7 y7 x; ]. h( R2 h" v
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
! a& s, O( h' }% u/ _; E O# i0 L 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
. A( [5 D# K0 I( f* b3 Z" g 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding % e1 C$ [8 T0 T+ H3 n2 Z% w; ?
糖果盘 candy tray:
+ r2 B3 B1 i: C( \ x: Y 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
# Q) P! E$ P5 _0 t" _& g7 o. ^4 X. J4 ` 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
- {" Z$ \8 G; |+ _ 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
- O* V! V9 X c: L1 I- D0 w( b 金桔 cumquat - prosperity . }# u1 Z6 L! v& H6 o3 |) ^3 X
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come ) i3 t. V5 t8 [& U' b3 F: }. A4 {
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
: \' I4 C- h4 g% z 红枣 red dates - prosperity 4 i3 g0 ]1 A- i( {3 h% ]% P
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00