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Spring Festival Words . {2 V! M) M3 J* L# s
Greeting Season:
8 V- a M/ F: K# O3 J; x; g 春节 The Spring Festival
6 B r! G8 w. x- z! O9 w 农历 lunar calendar
: B+ A* q8 Q4 c8 T( B 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar & N9 W f, p4 g+ X; |
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
% e& s; K% A# y9 g2 J) @ 初一 the beginning of New Year 3 M* L! a1 c# t( W" d
元宵节 The Lantern Festival 2 J: v$ ]) {" M" E9 A1 o
Customs:
) g% V* F1 s( a, S% A: ?% M 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival : d5 i3 A7 [: M+ m
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
5 u; O" l& k$ A+ E 春联 Spring Festival couplets : h9 Y2 E+ k! { M- w' I2 Z
剪纸 paper-cuts
& |( ^8 ^: \4 p& [2 J' q 年画 New Year paintings
- O1 l# J2 \1 J8 F$ D# n 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
% C% ~( O6 [' D2 } 敬酒 propose a toast 0 }4 E6 ?9 R3 k/ C9 w
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
0 d+ l& _& B1 @3 ?: p 烟花 fireworks
2 }! O( @- H% l0 I. u 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
! l6 f! K* f, P. E: g0 b 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
0 _. Q4 ]- n$ Z 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) . @! G8 ]- R5 J1 |
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
$ G$ n0 h' F- Q T- U* { 戏曲 traditional opera
3 U( E( f8 p, k9 | 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
3 Q% Y7 H# A5 ^8 ]/ A 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
, c7 o4 O; o' ~8 C$ N! t0 ]) d 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
: g% b- _) u8 B 守岁 staying-up . H) _/ }! O0 W- m# q) g& j, E
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit . b/ J) y# z& C
禁忌 taboo ( P5 L4 \4 t4 c! Q8 W
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune * R) r k% A, w, Z% f
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
: `2 ]/ C9 w; I; z 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
+ \/ }0 \5 q* 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 ; B/ n( N9 G Z+ ^
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
% q: E+ h/ C. b2 A9 M 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning ) O N- z; r; w5 S) P# B' j& r/ L
Blessing:
m; s$ ~ U' B5 ]4 w Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
/ I- m( |. ]4 ^* C- \; @! X: S Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
. t, M' w* J3 G. x Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go % s) h' v# S4 A% h: c" A
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
8 R2 I# Q! h+ _. M$ @! K# p! z 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 0 t% l& {. d1 k# Z( q1 M
Food names: 9 A7 Z# g2 B* n6 Z
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake ' x0 @ S% R7 \0 q+ w6 ]+ x
团圆饭 family reunion dinner / g+ t. y) @# g- _
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
& C4 }* x2 l9 q6 C2 i 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli % W5 P6 U2 b7 }
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
T' ]: Z% ?: ~3 | 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding & T% s/ z0 _4 {' d! e$ B# j2 T
糖果盘 candy tray:
! i' B$ R0 Q o 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 6 `; W& Z; V0 }& a" K
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health 9 ?/ G b5 z7 `9 o6 h
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
# [1 N! n8 F3 P$ ] 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
- _2 l2 @( }* ~1 I; N) l/ j( N 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
0 b# j; r% @' \& D" M: s+ R 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
z1 k! Q" q7 g 红枣 red dates - prosperity " N+ D& F5 Z* b. ^! U
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00
