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Spring Festival Words
6 y( L, Y: G- e Greeting Season:
/ O: \. B+ g+ _$ o0 n8 |: K9 ? 春节 The Spring Festival
6 d* g7 Z( a0 X1 Y! W5 t/ x 农历 lunar calendar
& Q" }% @, \" A2 z! }( c1 O5 D 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar % O8 ?1 I. o+ ]1 w$ o! y
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
4 u$ y' X' U! ?5 W. ? 初一 the beginning of New Year 8 B& h2 L r% [4 V J. b' ? ]
元宵节 The Lantern Festival ) I4 e% d, P& J& W: D& v" f4 q
Customs:
8 N( l0 k6 ?& V 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
& j9 Z3 o* q B& H: l/ s* c. ^ 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 0 m& @ n4 F0 W% d9 ^- h! n1 V
春联 Spring Festival couplets
% \- l5 p6 b# F 剪纸 paper-cuts
, p2 L% g1 Z) P: `2 x3 J 年画 New Year paintings
4 V: ?& A% E* ~4 v8 q 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
4 b: H* S% @# k% ~, }" ? 敬酒 propose a toast . ]8 L, L# m" M: N( p- @* b
灯笼 lantern: a portable light & i# S9 T. R9 }2 d* c! N
烟花 fireworks 0 o& d' l2 g4 L, k* Q1 W. L( k: w
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
; J( q3 W/ L$ B 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
4 L! u7 J" o! Q( e( ^/ J& k( ] 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
: D' `4 D: j2 j4 \3 |5 p* z' h* d 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
) q- t! R6 A$ C; [( O2 L% m 戏曲 traditional opera $ Q Z+ m+ x# I/ u% ~$ U7 }: s
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
, {# K" r, j, S' E* e 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns / U5 t; o1 `5 D0 b
灯会 exhibit of lanterns 2 t8 j6 T$ m9 r( `9 K
守岁 staying-up
* {! k: ]- Z" `1 s9 Q# c 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
" _7 J$ P6 R6 m+ {: M 禁忌 taboo ; \. m1 F7 S8 F7 K3 I% Z
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 3 `8 c( f% |- I8 k2 v
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
4 Z- q/ U; n! {, e- ~8 j2 q8 m 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift ' q, R2 v [( \
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
( S2 |! l. y) o, {! J1 R 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year # {- a+ J$ I) P8 F* Q) P8 ^
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 5 _; t0 O7 ]( E# x
Blessing:
- ~: K$ }- w' h& U* L/ w Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 2 y+ r x8 s- v! L
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace 8 d! P! \; Z& } y$ x4 M+ }
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
/ s1 k& K1 z$ c3 ]" j 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 9 S0 G( [/ \& K3 R* D: N9 E
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! / T- d; M3 O: V/ c) j& V
Food names:
- E/ j8 }6 i) w: `) E" Y L7 W 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake : h" w2 X& X, T* P/ U
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
! ]' P0 `+ m: E9 H$ c 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve ) x j7 X; a4 L5 {' U
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli 0 ` U5 ^. @ Q8 Q. [) @& h" g5 N) Z
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
z, ^ \) c& P2 |5 u( d( c( J 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding 1 i- w. n; e* a9 f. ^( N
糖果盘 candy tray: " ]0 A6 c6 L# G E. F9 s0 v# c
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
* @8 m$ e3 k% D. ?# u 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health 1 Y4 V& |! X/ @1 r
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity 5 g8 t" i; }* s7 w }
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
2 m7 ]" v; t3 \4 I6 B; d6 C 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
; A$ Z/ l* u( @/ z! f0 G" c8 e( S 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
1 R2 E: N6 ^1 n3 | 红枣 red dates - prosperity
- A, Z8 f" n/ H4 r3 l: \3 h 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00